Essex General Construction is committed to the development and construction of projects which minimize impact on the natural environment. 

As part of that effort, we stay up to speed with the most effective strategies and technologies to produce more sustainable designs.   And we work with developers and architects to balance these opportunities with the myriad other factors that direct a building project.  This section gives an overview of some of these ideas. 

(The picture is of Food for Lane County, an award-winning project for energy savings, part of which was accomplished by these innovative shades, which let in light, but shield from direct sunlight.)

What does "Sustainability" mean?

• Most simply, the idea of sustainability is to ensure that our actions and decisions today do not inhibit the opportunities of future generations. 

• It means making sure that our efforts work with the Earth's ecological systems rather than in opposition to them. Given that all human actions alter the systems we live in, the challenge of sustainability is a complex issue.

• It includes looking at how we attain the resources we use, using them in a way to get the most from them and eliminating the idea of "waste" from our vocabulary. 

• There is no way to know with certainty how complex ecological systems will react to our influence, but there is an undeniable responsibility to act with the best of our knowledge.

Some of the most important ecological issues impacted by the building process are: 

• Global Climate Change:  The result of increased pollution in the upper atmosphere;

• Energy:  Declining sources of non-renewable fuels and increased damage from their extraction;

• Habitat Destruction & Loss of Bio-Diversity:  Conversion of wilderness into human developments, combined with resource extraction;

• Toxic Pollution:  The over-reliance on synthetic chemicals as an industrial by-product, and;

• Managing Developed Landscapes:  This has many consequences that have complex interactions once released.

Is "Designing for Sustainability" a fad?  

Although public attention comes and goes, the impact of human development on other natural systems continues to grow and compound itself.  Since many of the best ideas of sustainable design also help reduce waste and costs to building owners and managers, many of these ideas are here to stay.  While some designers and authors have picked up the term "green building" to describe what they do (and it is a useful concept), it is important to realize that the real goal is "greener" buildings.  Since every building project requires significant change to ecological systems and uses energy and resources, a perfectly green building is not truly possible.  Instead, every building project presents the opportunity (we would argue, the "responsibility") to improve its environmental performance, within the inevitable constraints of budget and building codes. As a general contractor, we welcome this challenge.

Essex is proud to be a member of the U.S. Green Building Council.  The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.  We are currently in the process of becoming LEED™ certified.

What is the U.S. Green Building Council?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is leading a national consensus for producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out. Council members work together to develop LEED™ products and resources, policy guidance, and educational and marketing tools that support the adoption of sustainable building.  Members also forge strategic alliances with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies to transform the built environment.

The LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.  Members of the U.S. Green Building Council, representing all segments of the building industry, developed LEED™ and continue to contribute to its evolution.  LEED™ standards are currently available for:

• New construction and major renovation projects

• Existing building operations

• Commercial interiors projects

LEED™ was created to:

• define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement

• promote integrated, whole-building design practices

• recognize environmental leadership in the building industry

• stimulate green competition

• raise consumer awareness of green building benefits

• transform the building market

LEED™ provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals.  Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED™ emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.  LEED™ recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.