8 Feb

The rise of ’sustainable’ vocabulary: Green terms, key words, phrases, and hashtags

Posted by Connections Prep in Carbon Footprint, Ecofriendly, Going Green, Green Building, Green Business, Green Energy, Green News, Green Vocabulary Terms, Sustainable, Sustainable Architecture.

The twenty first century vocabulary is changing and eco-friendly words are becoming part of everyday American Vocabulary.

Expanding your knowledge bank about green terms helps to improve your own understanding on how to reduce the carbon footprint of yourself and your family while helping you improve the quality of local small talk in casual conversations.

Add the hashtag #sustainable to your ecofriendly posts to join green tweeps in the global environment conversation. Look for the hashtag #ecohouse or #greenbuilder to learn more about ecofriendly home construction.

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AMERICANS GOING GREEN IN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS

Here’s a list of the top 100 phrases people in neighborhoods all across the country are searching for daily that include the term “sustainable“.

The best part of seeing the list, ordered by the hierarchy of sustainable phrases that are searched for the most daily?

It lets readers know that the word #sustainable really is keeping its momentum up in an online environment as a word tied with green living.

We’ve bolded the top 20 vocabulary terms we tend to tweet (@) and retweet (RT) about the most @greencraftsmen.

However, when we do a quick search on Twitter to get the eco-friendly national pulse, we tend to use the hashtag #sustainable to find other green tweep posts.

[SOURCE: Free Key Word Tracker]

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SUSTAINABLE KEY TERMS AND PHRASES

1 sustainable development (search) 285
2 sustainable tourism (search) 202
3 sustainable building (search) 201
4 wisconsin sustainable (search) 101
5 sustainable living (search) 100
6 sustainable (search) 95
7 sustainable architecture (search) 78
8 sustainable agriculture (search) 64
9 sustainable energy (search) 63
10 sustainable tourism development (search) 59
11 definition of sustainable development (search) 56
12 sustainable product (search) 52
13 sustainable design (search) 50
14 why is sustainable development important (search) 43
15 examples of sustainable development (search) 41
16 sustainable communities (search) 37
17 sustainable products (search) 36
18 sustainable farming (search) 33
19 sustainable construction (search) 32
20 sustainable house design (search) 32
21 product sustainable (search) 30
22 what is the importance of sustainable development (search) 29
23 sustainable business (search) 25
24 what is sustainable development (search) 25
25 definition of sustainable (search) 23
26 sustainable power corp (search) 23
27 sustainable buildings material (search) 22
28 sustainable construction techniques (search) 22
29 concepts of sustainable development (search) 19
30 sustainable furniture (search) 19
31 the core concepts of the sustainable development (search) 18
32 sustainable mouse pads (search) 17
33 sustainable studies online (search) 17
34 education for sustainable development (search) 16
35 executive gifts sustainable green promotional (search) 16
36 sustainable development logo (search) 16
37 sustainable housing (search) 16
38 sustainable transportation (search) 16
39 sustainable fish (search) 15
40 sustainable promotional pens (search) 15
41 solid wood bed sustainable (search) 14
42 sustainable wood (search) 14
43 sustainable building house construction plan (search) 13
44 sustainable investment funds (search) 13
45 sustainable technology ho chi minh city (search) 13
46 business travel sustainable (search) 11
47 guiding principles sustainable design (search) 11
48 living a self sustainable life (search) 11
49 online degree in sustainable agriculture (search) 11
50 sustainable community land development template (search) 11
51 sustainable materials (search) 11
52 sustainable process engineering bachelors degree (search) 11
53 4 acre sustainable agriculture farm (search) 10
54 architecture sustainable design (search) 10
55 can tourism in antarctica be sustainable (search) 10
56 global sustainable health (search) 10
57 how to promote sustainable lifestyles (search) 10
58 ornl sustainable development (search) 10
59 social learning toward a sustainable world wals (search) 10
60 sustainable energy ireland (search) 10
61 sustainable food (search) 10
62 sustainable gardening (search) 10
63 sustainable process engineering batchelors degree (search) 10
64 sustainable technology (search) 10
65 teaching kids about sustainable living (search) 10
66 heritage sustainable energy (search) 9
67 ho chi minh city+ sustainable + technology (search) 9
68 non aerosol sustainable commercial air freshener (search) 9
69 sustainable home floorplans (search) 9
70 sustainable homes (search) 9
71 sustainable partnerships (search) 9
72 delaware valley sustainable painters (search) 8
73 evaluation plan for sustainable energy using stem (search) 8
74 online phd sustainable education (search) 8
75 sustainable development europe (search) 8
76 sustainable housing on the national mall (search) 8
77 sustainable marina development (search) 8
78 sustainable technologies (search) 8
79 bmo sustainable climate change (search) 7
80 california center for sustainable energy (search) 7
81 degrees in sustainable design (search) 7
82 eau claire sustainable (search) 7
83 more companies move to sustainable (search) 7
84 sustainable community (search) 7
85 sustainable competitive advantage (search) 7
86 sustainable development plan for an industry (search) 7
87 sustainable living homestead (search) 7
88 sustainable marketing (search) 7
89 sustainable purchasing practices (search) 7
90 sustainable renewable green energy image (search) 7
91 sustainable seafood (search) 7
92 sustainable trade show booths (search) 7
93 sustainable unsustainable sources energy ireland (search) 7
94 air freshener sustainable (search) 6
95 germany sustainable transportation policy (search) 6
96 green and sustainable building technologies (search) 6
97 gross sustainable product (search) 6
98 i need a sustainable gift for a baby shower (search) 6
99 in what ways can we be more sustainable as a society (search) 6
100 portland oregon sustainable (search) 6

Green key words list news brought to you by green building specialists Craftsmen Developers LLC (MD, DC, VA, PA, DE land developers offering national construction management project consulting).

5 Feb

What is LEED? Green builder in Maryland answers questions about eco-friendly architecture

Posted by Connections Prep in Carbon Footprint, Craftsmen Developers LLC, Green Builder, Green Building, How to Go Green, LEED.

The term LEED is an acronym  for  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  LEED refers to a Green Building Rating System™ and is the benchmark for green design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings that is a nationally accepted rubric of evaluation.

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WHY BUILD A LEED CERTIFIED BUILDING?

Taking part in the LEED certification process gives building owners and general contractors a clear cut map towards the production environmentally friendly structures. Each benchmark element laid out for possible compliance can be seen as a tool to help reduce any building’s environmental impact.

Architects doing their jobs as green building designers have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance if constructed in compliance with LEED certification. Green builders ensure that architecture meets the vision of offering building owners energy efficient structures that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and respect the local environment in a way that is both eco-friendly and beautiful.

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LEED GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY  CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

Effectively, LEED standards encourage builders to think with a whole-building approach to any construction project.

The term sustainability helps land developers, city planners, and the architects behind each project think critically about thier choices in design with regard to form and function. LEED building standards create a framework of building standards that enhance rather than restrict design, as buildings become part of the living, breathing architecture of sustainable future cities.

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WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AS IT RELATES TO LEED?

Sustainable building reduce the use of natural resources, use energy efficiently, and enhance rather than damage their local environment.

Sustainable architecture recognizes  performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:

  • sustainable site development
  • water savings
  • energy efficiency
  • materials selection
  • indoor environmental quality

Aside from the obvious benefits of reducing carbon footprint and general impact on the environment, LEED certification or compliance allows building owners to benefit living and working in the designed structure. Complying with the LEED  standards also has fiscal advantages from the short term benefit of hearty tax credits to reduced future energy cost (a long term fiscal benefit that always brings an owner back far more money than is originally involved in the investment of green building production).

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For more information about LEED building in the state of Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware, or Pennsylvania, contact green builders Craftsmen Developers LLC. For more information about meeting LEED green building standards nationally, contact the USGBC.

3 Feb

20 Green Builder Tips for designing EcoSMART communities

Posted by Connections Prep in Carbon Footprint, Craftsmen Developers LLC, Energy Efficient, Green Builder, Green Building, Health and Fitness, Land Developer, Landscaping, Preservation, Public Transportation, Residential Real Estate, Subdivision, Sustainable Architecture, Urban, Water Conservation.

Craftsmen Developers LLC owners, builders, and architects have been building EcoSMART communities for decades — and adhering to a checklist of community design principles since long before the creation of LEED certification.

Craftsmen Developers land developments all contain elements of EcoSMART community design (with or without LEED certification)

Here’s a brief outline of the green building design techniques and community planning mantras we’ve followed for years to the best of our ability on each project we’ve built:

  1. Encourage owners to install the most energy efficient windows, roofing materials, appliances, and light fixtures in every project to reduce future costs of electricity
  2. Develop tracts of land in configurations and locations that allow residents convenient access to pre-existing communities and places that are already developed nearby to reduce negative environmental impact associated with urban sprawl
  3. Create inviting public gathering spaces in each neighborhood to promote a sense of community
  4. Preserve and protect natural habitats through conservation of water bodies and utilize low impact drainage concepts while simultaneously promoting water conservation in each individual residential home and commercial property
  5. Preserve natural landscape and existing tree canopy; landscape using native plants; plant vegetation that will cover loose soil areas with high density growth; use drought resistant grasses and encourage planting bed areas that will not require daily watering to beautify smart growth communities
  6. Conserve open land spaces by promoting diverse uses (walking paths, bird sanctuary, natural habit)
  7. Keep it local: centralize common areas and commercial development for transportation efficiency; keep exercise areas like pools, playgrounds, clubhouse areas, and plazas within walkable distance
  8. Be sure residents have easy access to public transportation whenever and wherever possible
  9. Promote the physical health of residents by creating many outdoor activity areas for exercise, physical fitness, sports, and family activities
  10. Keep climate in mind and work to reduce electric cost to maintain any building at a comfortable temperature in any season
  11. Ensure design and construction of a main portion of each development utilizes green building practices for fiscal prudence; if LEED standards can be met, endeavor to do so whether or not the client is seeking LEED certification
  12. Build structures that at energy efficient as well as being able to conserve water; reduce consumption of natural resources whenever and wherever possible to save the client future energy costs and related expenses
  13. Design villages and lots with a healthy respect for the power of the sun; utilize existing shade to preserve and protect buildings, streets, parking lots, paved sidewalks, walkways, and commercial shopping plazas; use natural lighting to enhance the value of any structure
  14. Build common infrastructure elements using materials with recycled content when available (such as sidewalks, streets, grading sub-base, road paving, sewers and curbs)
  15. Utilize local building materials whenever and wherever possible to support local economy and reduce the carbon footprint of any project as it related to the incoming transportation of building materials
  16. Work with local and state transportation agencies to bring convenient public transportation access to each community whenever possible; encourage residents to use public transportation
  17. Endeavor to make communities in areas where walking to school is possible; make family areas and play spots abundant in each Craftsmen Developer LLC community to encourage community citizen health
  18. Use the LEED Neighborhood Development criteria as the basis for all planned community areas;  create walkable neighborhoods
  19. Promote energy savings for all current and future residents with choice of building material
  20. Always leave pre-existing subdivisions and land developments greener than we found them by adhering to principles of building ethically and responsibly

Why have we always followed these guidelines? Because green building is better for business, and the cost of a housing development built without thought or proper planning damages the value of the entire community.

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For more information about green building, contact Craftsmen Developers LLC.

Craftsmen Developers LLC

7524 WB and A Road, Suite 101
Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061

(410) 766-6565

Online form to contact Craftsmen Developers LLC

1 Feb

What is an EcoHouse? #EcoMonday question and answer

Posted by Connections Prep in Carbon Footprint, Ecofriendly, Ecohouse, Energy Efficient, Energy Saving, Facts, Green Builder, Green Building, Home Owners, How to Go Green, LEED.

As eco-friendly builders with lengthy experience in traditional “General Construction” techniques, we get asked the following question all the time…

What is an ecohouse? I keep reading about green building but I don’t know what it means.

EcoHouses offer energy savings that translate into real green money!

Here are a few LEED based excerpts (below) from the National Green Building Program, and organization sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders and the NAHB Research Center posted for our clients, green tweeps, and other building professionals to share with their social networks and on Twitter for #EcoMonday.

They are one of the expert resources we turn to all the time for answers within our own profession — so we feel comfortable sharing their definition of a green home with folks so the world learns more about the green building industry:

Key Components of a Green Home

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home’s overall impact on the environment into account.

Energy-Efficient Features

Many of the energy-efficient qualities of a green home are easy to spot. Appliances, windows, and water heating systems will likely have ENERGY STAR® ratings. The home should also include efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems, further decrease the overall energy consumption within the home.

Water-Efficient Features

Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, and ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines all conserve water. Programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, and hot water recirculation systems also save water.

Resource-Efficient Features

These decisions—from home size, to orientation on the lot, to floor plan layout—are made in the design of your home and development of the lot. The house orientation and design should take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting needs, and should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The home should contain renewable materials, including rapidly-renewable wood species such as bamboo, and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles, and concrete formulations.

Indoor Air Quality Features

The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) must be appropriately sized for an efficient and properly ventilated home. Fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air. Low-VOC paints and finishes and wall papers should be used as well.

Outside the Home

In a green home, care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. Landscaping should contain plants that are appropriate for the climate, and grouped according to water needs. Driveways and other impervious surfaces should be reduced as much as possible, and may be composed of gravel, permeable block pavers, grids, or other permeable systems.

Craftsmen Developers LLC

7524 WB and A Road

Suite 101 Glen Burnie

Maryland 21061

(410) 766-6565

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