HHC Services, Inc.

Need VOC testing for your Green Building to certify that it is Green?

Call HHC Services today! 

What is a Green Building? 

A green building product is:

• Made from reused, recycled, rapidly renewable, preferably local, or other environmentally preferable materials;
• Easily recycled at the end of its life;
• Free of pollutants harmful to the air or water;
• Energy efficient, water efficient, resource efficient, or durability enhancing; and/or
• Effective in minimizing the environmental impact of the building.

A green building product must meet at least one of the above criteria and be neutral in the other categories. But using green building products in a home does not necessarily make the building green. No one should consider a poorly insulated house with solar panels, for example, to be a green building.

So what makes a building green?

• The use of energy in the home is minimized. Energy efficiency is achieved through intelligent design decisions like passive solar design, insulating and air sealing, and choosing efficient HVAC, lighting, and appliance options. Net zero energy homes are the epitome of energy efficiency. How close can you get to zero?

• Water use, both inside and out, is also minimized. This is reflected in practices like rainwater collection systems, xeriscaping, and smart plumbing and appliance choices.

• Material resources used to build the home are minimized, and come from local sources. Many types of building envelopes are available, but if you use wood, choose locally grown, sustainably harvested wood, and minimize its use with modern practices like advanced framing.

• The home offers a healthy and comfortable living environment for the occupants.

• The home should be durable, with minimal maintenance requirements.

• The environmental footprint of the home should be modest. After all, does a family of four really need more than 2400 square feet of living space? Really?

Need VOC testing for your Green Building?  Call HHC Services, Inc. for industrial hygiene testing and clearance samples.

Still have questions?  Call Janine Legg at 717-718-1906, or 717-509-4618.  Fax questions to 717-718-1907.