Healthier and more resource-efficient construction

The county has always incorporated the latest technology and information in its capital program to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental impacts.

Currently, there is a heightened awareness of developmental impacts on air and water pollution, climate change, and energy costs. This has resulted in stricter environmental and performance standards for buildings and the creation of building rating programs such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The building techniques used to achieve these standards are often referred to as “Green Building” techniques.

The county incorporates green building techniques into its capital projects and explores the use of new technologies where appropriate. County employees are educated on green building technologies and look for grant funding wherever possible to reduce the costs of construction, particularly when utilizing newer technologies with shorter performance records. The county engineers the highest performance in the buildings it constructs and manages and promotes green building techniques for funded construction projects.

More information on green building techniques and LEED standards can be found at the U.S. Green Building Council and the EPA Green Building Web sites.