Green Building Design
The energy consumed by our buildings not only impacts our personal finances, but it also impacts the environment we live in, and the environment we will pass on to our children. When planning the construction of a commercial building, home, addition or remodel, the building’s future energy consumption can be minimized by making informed decisions on the mechanical system types and equipment selections, building envelope performance and orientation, and the actual energy source for heating and cooling the building or addition and heating the domestic hot water.
Marra Engineering can provide consultation services to individuals with the desire to produce and live or work in an efficient, environmentally responsible building with the added bonus of avoided energy cost.
Prospective advantages of Green Building Design include:
Economic Benefits:
• Significantly reduce energy costs
• Potential incentives and rebates from the Government
• Improve occupant productivity
• Improve the marketability of real estate
• Environmental Benefits:
• Improve overall quality of life for the occupants
• Our children will live in a healthier world
• Improve air and water quality
• Minimize burden on local and national infrastructure
• Reduce waste going to landfills
• Conserve and restore natural resources
The best time to incorporate energy saving strategies is at the very beginning of the project! Contact Marra Engineering at the beginning of a projects inception to maximize your potential results for the least amount of capital investment.
Please feel free to call or email us with any questions or to discuss options.
Below is a list of useful programs and links to get you started in the green building process...
New York Energy Smart Loan Program
This Program provides an interest rate reduction off a participating lender’s normal loan interest rate for certain energy efficient improvements that have been pre-qualified by NYSERDA.
Eligible Parties Include:
• Residential borrowers (existing 1-4 family homes)
Oners of existing multi-family buildings (5 or more units)
New construction multi-family buildings (5 or more units)
Commercial buildings. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.nyserda.org/loanfund
Energy Star Qualified Products
Energy star products use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. For a product list follow link below:
Energy use for typical family
A link to a pie chart for the typical single family home illustrating the breakdown of where your money goes for energy use. For more details follow link below:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie
Energy star home energy yardstick
Compare your home’s energy efficiency to other similar homes and receive recommendation for energy saving improvements. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=home_energy_yardstick.showStep2
Solar Electric Incentive Program
Program provided by NYSERDA that provides cash incentives for the installation of PV, photovoltaic systems, and solar electric systems.To learn more follow link below:
http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1050pon.asp
Wind Incentive Program
Financial incentives fro small wind systems. Open until 12/31/09 or until funds are committed. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1098pon.asp
New Construction Program Financial Incentives
Incentives are available for new construction or substantially renovated buildings to purchase energy efficient equipment. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.nyserda.org/Funding/1222pon.asp
LEED for Homes
This link provides information on a rating system for the design and construction of high performance homes. A LEED home will use less energy, water, and natural resources. It also provides a more healthy and comfortable environment for occupants. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147
LEED for New Construction
This link provides information on a rating system for the design and construction of high performance buildings (i.e. office, institutional, manufacturing, recreational facilities, etc). A LEED building will reduce yearly operating cost and a healthier environment will increase productivity. To learn more follow link below:
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=1095