Green Building in South Carolina

South Carolina SC Environmental Organizations SC Green Building

Also see: SC Recycling Centers | Recycling for SC Businesses

What makes a building green? A green building consumes less energy, water, and natural resources. It creates less waste when built and is healthier for its inhabitants than a standard building.

On this page: SC Green Building Resources | Renovate Green | Build Green | Green Building Products

SC Green Building Sponsors

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Green Buildings in SC

Circular Congregational Church's green roof - Charleston's oldest church has added a vegetative roof to its new addition
Dewees Island - Charleston - low-impact barrier island development, access by boat only
Half-Moon Outfitters Warehouse - North Charleston
– Half-Moon Outfitters achieves LEED Platinum certification - learn how this retailer renovated an old transmission shop into the most energy-efficient building in South Carolina
Hunley Waters - North Charleston - eco-friendly neighborhood featuring EarthCraft certified homes
LEED Certified buildings in SC - case studies from the US Green Building Council of South Carolina
Mixson - North Charleston - new sustainable development with LEED and Energy Star certified homes
Noisette - North Charleston - public-private partnership fostering restoration of the old Navy base and surrounding areas into a sustainable community
North Charleston Elementary School - one of a handful of schools in SC to achieve LEED certification
Oak Terrace Preserve - North Charleston - earth-friendly development of EarthCraft certified homes
One Cool Blow - Charleston - environmentally friendly, mixed-use loft development
Our LEED House - Blog about one Upstate family's experience with green building
Southern Living's First 'Green' Showcase Home at Furman University - The Cliffs Cottage at Furman
– Press release - outlines project
Sustainability Institute's Green House - North Charleston
Upstate House - Greenville - EarthCraft and Energy Star home
USC's West Quad - Columbia - one of the largest sustainable university residence halls in the world

SC State & Federal Financial Incentives for Green Buildings

Financing an energy-efficient home - energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs)
SC and Federal Tax Incentives - broken down for homeowners, commercial builders, residential builders, and businesses
South Carolina incentives for renewables and efficiency - includes loans and grants available to homeowners who make their home more energy efficient
Federal tax credits for energy efficiency - while it is too late to apply these credits for the 2007 tax year, bill H.R. 5351 was passed in the House to extend these credits for 2008. It still needs to pass in the Senate and be signed by the President.

SC Green Building Resources

Statewide

Smart Business Recycling Program - Offers information, technical assistance, and workshops to SC businesses
Sustainability Institute - educating SC homeowners looking to build or renovate by holding workshops on green building techniques - in 2007, they helped SC homeowners save over $400,000 in energy costs!
– SC Green Building Directory - South Carolina products and services that support green building practices
SC Energy Office - helps residential users save money on utility bills, a good resource for various state incentives for energy efficiency
SC Habitat for Humanity - good source for salvaged furniture and construction materials
Recycling Market Development 2010 Annual Report - PDF - South Carolina Commerce provides information on SC's recycling economy, recycling resources for businesses, and related employment statistics
SC Solar Panels - information on how to improve the efficiency of your home, and resources on solar panels in South Carolina
South Carolina Solar Council - state chapter of the American Solar Energy Society
South Carolina Sustainable Deconstruction - deconstructs old buildings to keep waste from landfills
– Sustainable Warehouse - sells used construction materials
South Carolina Sustainability Network - examples of how people in South Carolina are embracing sustainability, also has informative resources and support
SC Sustainable Universities Initiative - fostering sustainability education and research, helping SC higher education campuses become more green
US Green Building Council SC Chapter - LEED certified buildings and green building practices in South Carolina
– Members - list of professionals involved in green buildings in SC
– LEED Accredited Professionals Directory - select South Carolina for State/US Territory/Canadian Province

Lowcountry

Carolina's Eco-Unit - Charleston - reduce your home's energy use
DwellSmart - Mt Pleasant - retail store with sustainable and healthy products, shop online too
Fisher Recycling - attractive countertops and flooring made from recycled glass
Gaylord Design - Summerville - green kitchen, bath and interior designs
Global Energy Systems - Summerville - tankless water heaters and portable energy products
Home Energy Group - Charleston - green building and energy consulting company
MaidPure - Charleston - house cleaning service uses all-natural, non-toxic cleaning products
Solar Hot Water Works - Charleston - solar hot water installer

Midlands

Argand Energy - Columbia - installer of solar electric, wind energy, and solar hot water systems
Green Building Council of Greater Columbia - holds regular green building workshops to educate construction professionals

Upstate

Building Spartanburg Green - EarthCraft house case studies and resources for homeowners looking to renovate or build a green home in Spartanburg County
EarthCraft Builders, Vendors, and Resources - where to find help in the Spartanburg area if you're interested in building an EarthCraft house
Living green in Spartanburg - GoUpstate.com article showcasing a green home
Upstate Forever - promoting economically, socially and environmentally sound growth in the Upstate
SunStore Solar - Greer - design and installation of renewable energy systems

Renovate to Make Your Current Home Green

While some of the more glamorous green building techniques like solar power and wind energy garner plenty of attention, the basics of an airtight and well-insulated house reap real benefits for both your pocketbook and the environment. One of our favorite resources is 45 tips to green any home.

Interested in finding out where you can save energy in your home? Use the Home Energy Saver, an online tool that calculates your energy use and highlights savings opportunities within your home.

Take it one step further and use the Household Environmental Calculator to determine the footprints of your home and lifestyle. Completing the quick survey will generate your Low Impact Living Index and recommend projects that can save you money and reduce your environmental impact.

Sealing and Insulating

Insulating and sealing the outer envelope - what was done at the Sustainability Institute's GreenHouse in North Charleston
Selecting energy-efficient windows in SC - technical info on window efficiency - requires Adobe Reader

Appliances, HVAC, Water Conservation, and Indoor Air Quality

Equip your home with efficient appliances - a good summary of HVAC systems, efficient appliances, and indoor air quality
How to save water in your home - interactive website with info on how to reduce water usage in the various parts of your house
Indoor air quality in residential buildings - covers the various sources of indoor air pollutants and outlines steps for a healthier home
– Ten common plants that help reduce indoor air pollution - NASA study of plants that remove formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air
Rain barrel how-to - rain barrels catch rainwater from your gutters for use in watering your garden. One of the easiest ways to save water and money

Green Landscaping in South Carolina

Green landscaping - how to use less water, control pests naturally, and start a backyard compost in SC
SC Native Plants Society - find out which plants to grow for low-water and low-maintenance landscaping in South Carolina
National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat Program - make your garden even more eco-friendly by welcoming animals
– SC native plants valuable to wildlife
Urban Permaculture Institute of the Southeast - Walterboro
– Earth-Friendly Lifestyle Finds Sustenance Close to Home - 2008 Post & Courier article explores permaculture in a Lowcountry yard

How to Build or Buy a Green Home

When purchasing a new home, consider going with an energy-efficient house. Achieving a building standard (such as LEED, Earthcraft, or Energy Star) will not only save you money on your utilities bill, but will also add to the quality of the house, consequently adding to its value. The SC Energy Office provides a guide to understanding sustainable ratings and certifications in SC - PDF - requires Adobe Reader.

For more technical information on green building techniques, the Southface Institute in Atlanta has an extensive library of factsheets and technical bulletins that go into detail about each aspect of your home, and how to make them more sustainable. Most of their info is specific to the Southeast, so is useful to SC residents.

Green Building Products

An important aspect to consider when building a green home is the use of local and regional materials as much as possible. The LEED certification process requires that all materials come from within a 500 miles radius from the building site. This is good news for South Carolina businesses, as the push to build green would benefit our state economy.

Green Products Databases and Directories

Green Building Pages - sustainable building materials database
SC Green Building Directory - South Carolina products and services that support green building practices, developed by the Sustainability Institute

Thanks for using SCIWAY's guide to South Carolina green buildings!

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