Shelter

The shelter presentation was given by my group.  Our main focus of the presentation was LEED Certification.  LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.   We felt that the nine categories which make up LEED touch on the most important points in sustainability and environmental ethics of shelters.  The nine categories included Sustainable sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Locations & Linkages, Awareness & Education, Innovation in Design and Regional Priority.  The research we did on our topic was a great learning experience.  My favorite quote was one from the U.S. Department of Energy, "buildings use 39% of the energy and 74% of the electricity produced each year in the United States".  The numbers prove that a significant amount of energy is being wasted each year.  They really show how important LEED certification is if we want to become a more sustainable society.  LEED certification not only saves money by reducing energy use and waste but it is also environmentally friendly as it focuses on reducing the amount we interfere with non-human life forms and their habitats by using sustainable practices.  LEED certification provides people in any construction situation from new constructions and major renovations to existing buildings and remodeling with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building designs and construction solutions.  Currently, becoming LEED certified can be an expensive process as some of the green products required are more expensive than standard products.  However, the money saved and the environmental impact make it worth it in the long run.  Hopefully as the green movement continues to expand and sustainability becomes a norm we will see a drop in these prices so LEED certification can become affordable for everyone.