Green Building in South Carolina

 South Carolina Environmental and Conservation Organizations

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 compared to a standard building.

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

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
  
• GreenHouse - North Charleston - demonstration house showcasing sustainable building techniques
  
• Half-Moon Outfitters warehouse achieves LEED Platinum certification - North Charleston - learn how the outdoor 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
  
• Magnolia Development - mixed-use redevelopment of the Charleston Neck area
  
• Mixson Avenue - 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
  
• Oak Terrace Preserve - North Charleston - earth-friendly development of EarthCraft certified homes
  
• One Cool Blow - Charleston - environmentally friendly, mixed-use loft development
  
• Southern Living's First 'Green' Showcase Home at Furman University - The Cliffs Cottage at Furman
  –  Interactive virtual tour - scroll down for audio tour
  –  Press release - outlines project
  
• 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 Green Building Resources

• 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.

• The Sustainability Institute - educating SC homeowners looking to build or renovate by holding workshops on green building techniques. In 2007, they helped 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
  
• 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 SC in the dropdown, then search
  

• AM Conservation Group - Charleston - shop online for everything from weatherstrip to low-flow showerheads and energy-efficient lights
  
• DwellSmart - Mt Pleasant - retail store with sustainable and healthy products, shop online too
  
• EverGreen Concepts - Charleston - sustainable home consulting, assistance for homeowners looking to make their house green
  
• 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
  
• Solar Hot Water Works - Charleston - solar hot water installer
  

• 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
  

• 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
  

How to Make your Current Home Green

• 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
  

• 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 - 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

How to Build or Buy a Green Home

Green Building Products

• 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