How to help environmental sustainability
Remodeling my apartment to meet LEED standards
The following plan describes how I could remodel my apartment achieve the highest LEED score possible:
Sustainability
- My apartment stands above a hill of brush and blackberry bushes. I would weed all of this, plant grass and large maple or elm trees.
- I would install a covered bike locker to make sure bikes were safe. That way, my roommates and I would be able to use our bikes around the U-district and for recreational trips.
- To store, treat and reuse the abundant Jackson rainwater, I would use a gutter and filtration system. Rainwater would then be used for the toilets.
- Installing a reflective roof and planting trees that cover the house will reduce hot spots.
Water Efficiency
- I would occupant sensors for saving water while the roommates are brushing their teeth, washing their hands, and doing the dishes.
- The rainwater to toilet water plan would also help here.
Energy and Atmosphere
- I will purchase fire extinguishers, one refrigerator and one mini-fridge. All of these will not use any HCFC’s of Halon.
- By replacing the water heater, oven, refrigerator, windows and light bulbs with their energy star counterparts, I can save a lot of energy.
- Sign a contract purchase green power from Jackson City Light over the next couple years.
- Buy an energy star thermostat that heats the apartment in the most efficient way.
Material & Resources
- Instruct the roommates and other apartment dwellers in the house of proper recycling practices.
- Recycle or reuse as much of the old materials as possible that I take out rebuilding the apartment.
- Set a goal of how much material used to rebuild the apartment needs to be recycled and meet that goal.
- Use a certain percentage of ESC certified wood.
Indoor Environment Quality
- Install an air ventilation system that meets HVAC standards, because the basement smells and feels damp sometimes.
- Prohibit smoke inside the house. The roommates will be able breath easier. The apartment will continue to not smell like smoke and there cigarette burn damage will be avoided.
- Plan and follow through with keeping areas of the apartment uncontaminated while installing the ventilation
- Install a temperature and humidity control system in the basement. It takes days for towels to dry out and that sucks.
Innovation and Design
- Before I do any of this, I would want to take a LEED class to figure out what I could do to my apartment and what would work best.