Smart Coast is an advocate for resource efficient green building. We have hosted three green building workshops and plan to continue to provide educational opportunities on this topic. Our hope is that our coastal region will soon become more involved in all aspects of resource efficient planning and building.

In many areas of the United States, municipalities are requiring that new municipal buildings be LEED certified as the mindset has shifted to awareness of short term as well as long-term resourcefulness. As areas have gained experience with the multidisciplinary approach of green building, the additional costs to “build green” have continued to drop. Now the additional costs may range from 0-1% and these costs are quickly recovered by the much lower maintenance costs. Municipalities as well as private homeowners are very interested in saving money on heating/cooling, water as well as enjoying better health due to improved indoor air quality. Smart Coast believes it does not make sense NOT to be building green.

We realize there is a learning curve involved for local architects, engineers, landscape architects, and contractors. We also realize homes and commercial buildings will sell quickly in our coastal area without being resource efficient. The time will come when the tide will shift and most people will look at the bigger picture of the economic, environmental, and social benefits of resource efficient building and Smart Coast looks forward to being a part of this shift in thinking. To learn more about green building, go to www.usgbc.com.

June 13, 2003: Green Building Integrated Design Charrette A charrette (design exercise) was held at Faulkner State Community College on June 13, 2003 to discuss high performance green building design and construction techniques. The charrette followed the structure of the LEED Rating System, which serves as a clear and organized tool for examining the environmental aspects of building. Approximately 45 professionals attended the high-energy event that was facilitated by Southface, Inc of Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, check out the design charrette report.

November 9, 2004: Green Building Workshop - What it means for your Customer Thirty-one professionals gathered at the Mobile Homebuilders office to hear Stephen Guesman of GreenWorks Design and Charlene LaBleu of Auburn University talk about issues such as What is Green Building, The Economic Effects of Green Building, and how landscaping practices can handle pre/post stormwater problems at the construction site.

July 14, 2005: Green Building Workshop - What it means for your Customer Thirty-two professionals attended this workshop at the Baldwin County Homebuilders. Stephen Guesman and Charlene LaBlue teamed up to present the same workshop that was held in 2004 in Mobile. At this workshop, even a few homeowners who attended requested we offer energy saving workshops for homeowners.