Green Buildings

The US Green Building Council certifies buildings as environmentally friendly with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. The Green Building trend has been growing but mostly in new construction rather than renovation of existing buildings.

The Rose Smart Growth Investment Fund – an environmentally friendly investment fund- focuses on updating existing properties in areas close to mass transit. Projects are planned and targeted in Seattle, Baltimore, Boston to Washington, Rocky Mountain Region, and Chicago.
They found that renovations including updated heating/cooling systems, replacing old windows with double hung windows, removing carpeting, ‘light shelves’, and providing improvement manual for tenants reduces the operating costs over time and increase property value.

‘Finding the Green In Building Renovation’ by Lisa Chamberlain
New York Times 1/10/07

The Chicago Center For Green Technology is certified at the U.S. Green Building Council LEED Platinum level.
Christy Webber Landscapes "Rancho Verde" 12-acre former brownfield site is a LEED Gold-rated project.
Go to the US Green Building Council to find out more about the LEED certified projects in Illinois.