Green Buildings Take the "whole building" approach to new construction and rehabilitation. Congregations undergoing new construction or major reconstruction are urged to consult a LEED certified architect to assist in carrying out building programs which maximize environmental health and efficient operation. LEED is a self-assessing rating system designed to evaluate environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building. Certification is provided by the the U.S. Green Building Council, the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Certification considers a building's relationship to its community, involving among other things, efficient utilization of energy, use of recycled and recyclable materials, use of healthy and non-poluting materials, efficient landscaping, and its location within its natural and social environment.   Green Building Standards on the web: US Green Building Council -- LEED Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network EREN - Building EREN - Building - building topics   Additional Web Links for Green Buildings Extensive information on the internet may be found by clicking this LINK   Environmental Commission of the Diocese of Newark Co-Chairmen The Rev. Fletcher Harper e-mail - StLHaworth@aol.com The Rev. Edward M. Hasse, III e-mail - edhasse@aol.com   Return to Environmental Commission Homepage Return to Diocese of Newark Homepage