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CLC Supports Green Building and Green Lending

CLC Goes Green…because we care about people and protecting our environment.

What is Green Building?

Green building (sustainable building) is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Green building involves finding the balance between homebuilding and a sustainable environment. Successful green building leaves less of an impact on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for construction needs.

As the green building progresses builders will increasingly face pressures to use or not to use certain products. In a handful of states, proposed regulatory language and tax incentives have already been introduced to incorporate, or not to incorporate, certain products based on “green” attributes.

Design

Integrated design is an important part of green building. Specific products, particularly those that deal with energy, are typically not green but can be used in ways that enhance the environmental performance of a building. A dual-pane, low-E window may not be green in terms of its material components or manufacturing process, but it can reduce energy use by maximizing the collection of winter sunlight and blocking out the summer sun.

Five Main Categories to Green Building

Save Energy

• Products that either reduce heating and cooling loads, such as building orientation, high-quality windows, and insulation. Open curtains and blinds in south and west facing windows for free heat.
• Products that use less energy, such as Energy Star-rated appliances, efficient heating and cooling systems and florescent lamps/bulbs.
• Products that produce energy, such as solar electricity generation systems. Geothermal heat pumps are good upgrades for heating systems and solar pool heaters pay for themselves.

Conserve Water

• Products that conserve water above and beyond what is required by law, such as low flow faucets, dual-flush toilets and under-sink flow restrictors
• Products that consume less water, such as native landscaping and drought-tolerant plantings.

Contribute to Healthy Indoor Air Quality

• Products that don’t release significant pollutants into the building, such as no-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free cabinets, and non-toxic caulks, sealers and adhesives, CRI Green Label carpets and pads, and nontoxic cleaners and bath products.
• Products that block the spread of or remove indoor pollutants, such as duct mastic, effective ventilation equipment, and air and water filters. Household plants are used to purify the air.  
• Products that warn occupants of health hazards, such as Carbon Monoxide detectors and humidity sensors.

Protect Natural Resources

• Products with recycled content, such as carpet, tile, wallboard, and wood replacements made from polystyrene. Reduce trash by recycling plastic and glass.
• Products made from agricultural waste material (compost), such as wheat straw, sunflower stalks, and rice hulls.
• Products that reduce material use, such as drywall clips and concrete pigments that turn concrete slabs into finished floors.
• Products made from rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring, natural linoleum, cork and textiles made from wool, sisal, hemp and organic cotton.
• Wood products from sustainably managed forests.
• Salvaged products, such as bricks, lumber and plumbing fixtures.

Site Integration

• Transportation can cause pollution and if your home is situated in a town where you can ride a bike, walk or use public transportation this will significantly reduce the impact of pollution on the environment.
• Landscaping with native plants requires little or no watering.
• Planting trees towards the south side of the house provides shading in the summer and evergreens to the north side provides protection from the cold northern winds in the winter.
• Avoid adding concrete or asphalt pavement because it does not drain properly and it causes erosion. Using permeable paving allows water to filter through naturally.

Why Build Green?

A typical construction building contributes significantly to environmental problems. In the United States, building accounts for:

• 65% of electricity consumption
• 36% of total energy use
• 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
• 30% of raw materials use
• 30% of waster output
• 12% of potable water consumptions
• A 1700 square foot wood home requires the equivalent of cutting one acre of forest.

The hierarchy of human needs shows shelter as the 2nd most important need to humans (food is number one). Everyone wants a place to live.

One of the best and easiest ways to lessen the impact on the planet of fulfilling that need is to build environmentally-sound structures. Not only can we improve the global environment, building green can improve your local environment.

For more information:

• www.ase.org - Alliance to Save Energy
• www.energystar.gov - Energy Star
• www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx – Habitat for Humanity Restores
• www.usgbc.org – US Green Building Council

Green Lending

The Construction Loan Company, Inc. (CLC) also promotes Green Lending and a Green Workplace. CLC borrowers can help our environment by utilizing our Green Lending Services!

CLC strives and maintains a “paperless” mortgage origination, processing, underwriting and closing system. The average loan file is comprised of over 250-400 sheets of paper. CLC offers a state-of-the-art loan origination system which allows us to offer “paperless mortgages”.

• Applicants may complete a construction loan and/or mortgage application via our secure website which saves 4 sheets of legal size paper per loan.
• Applicants can receive their Good Faith Estimate, Truth-In-Lending Statement and program disclosures online to reduce paper saving on average 15-20 sheets of paper per loan and envelopes.
• Applicants may view their mortgage application status online throughout the financing process saving on printing and mailing updates.
• Applicants personal loan documents (paystubs, bank statements, tax returns, W2s, etc) can be scanned and securely e-faxed to CLC saving on average 75-200+ sheets of paper.
• Construction loan applicants can maintain their Sworn Construction Statement and Specification List via Excel documents saved on personal computers and emailed to CLC for the loan application and construction draw process saving on average 20 sheets of paper.
• CLC’s loan processing system houses the loan documents, internal checklists, forms and disclosures resulting in significant paper savings.

CLC’s Green Workplace Initiatives

• Copy and print double-sided in order to save paper.
• Reuse paper that has been used on one side only for memos, drafts and taking notes.
• Recycle all waste paper.
• Share the same original copy of reports as much as possible.
• Buy office products in bulk from local dealers to reduce the impact of transportation.
• Use low-energy light bulbs, and turn off lights and computers when not in use.
• Weatherproof the workplace.
• Do not use toxic products for office cleaning.
• In washrooms, promote use of water-saving devices, e.g., toilet dams and low-flow faucets.
• Require employees to bring their own coffee mugs or provide china cups. No disposables.
• Recycle bottles, cans, corrugated cardboard and newspapers.

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