Going Green With PRA

Confused about “green wash” - defined by Wikipedia as “misleading information regarding environmental benefits of a product or service”?

Lots of companies out there are jumping on the green bandwagon...but here are some bona fide environmentally-friendly building methods and products you can feel good about:

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PRA is a proud member of the
U.S. Green Building Council

Steve Risk
President, PRA

    Some “LEED” Facts!
  The National Buildings Institute and CoStar Group have recently released two studies in regards to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) certified buildings vs. Non-LEED Buildings. After reviewing over 1,300 buildings, here are some interesting facts that prove LEED is beneficial:
- LEED buildings are performing
 25-30% better than Non-LEED
 buildings in terms of energy use
- Gold & Platinum LEED
 buildings have an average
 energy savings near 50%
 - LEED buildings command rent
  premiums of $11.24 per sf over
  their Non-LEED peers and have
  a 3.8% higher occupancy rate
- LEED buildings are selling for
 an average of $171 more per
 square foot than their Non-LEED
  Peers.

• Geothermal heat pump system - Ancient Romans knew how to heat buildings by tapping into the relatively warm air that exists just below the earth’s surface. This climate control system is gaining popularity for its practicality and low cost of long term operation. Just below the surface, the ground’s temperature is stable year round, typically around 55 °F in the Northeast U.S. When this air is pumped through a building’s HVAC system, it only needs to be cooled or heated a few degrees to reach comfortable room temperature, providing a tremendous saving in energy costs.

• On-site recycling - Construction and demo materials currently make up approximately 12% of the waste stream. PRA is increasingly salvaging used building materials for re-use during the de-construction and demolition phase of a project. Some commonly re-usable building supplies include: plastic, cardboard, gypsum, metal scrap, concrete, masonry, appliances, fixtures, lumber and plywood to name just a few.

• Lighting - Each 32-watt Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CFL) that replaces a 100-watt incandescent saves at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Here’s a startling statistic: If each U.S. home swapped just one standard bulb with a CFL the pollution decrease would equal taking one million cars off the road!

• Building Position - Taking advantage of the sun’s angles when erecting a building can create enormous energy savings in heating, cooling and lighting.

Still left with green questions? Contact PRA, we are happy to help!

11 West State Street, Quarryville, PA 17566  |  6 South Main Street, Port Deposit, MD 21904
717-786-7308 in Pennsylvania | 410-378-3333 in Maryland | fax 717-786-2848
email: info@paulrisk.com