LEED New Construction ArticlesFinding Grants for Green ConstructionBy
Zack Verde When
it comes to new construction techniques, grants are often a way to cut costs.
Federal grants for green construction are plentiful with billions literally available. A
federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a Federal agency. It is
intended to carry out a public purpose or support or stimulate a purpose that
is authorized by a law of the United States. Federal grants can be found and applied
for electronically. The site Grants.gov is the central clearing house for Federal
Grants. There are twenty six different agencies that offer over 1,000 grant
programs. The grants that apply to green construction are mostly offered by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The total amount of grants available
exceeds $400 billion dollars. The grants offered by the feds fall into twenty
one categories. The categories that have the most impact on green construction
are Energy, Environmental Quality, and Health. Most of the grants are directed
toward specific geographical areas. Some of the major concerns of the grants include
water quality improvement and the prevention of urban storm water runoff. Many
of the grants are connected with the Leeds certification program. Leeds stands
for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a program that is run
by the United States Green Building Council and it establishes green construction
standards and awards certificates to those that maintain these standards. Although
there are federal grants available, it is on the state and local level that the
large majority of grants can be found. The green movement is a grassroots type
of thing that appears to be strongest at the local level. Environmental concerns
are often very local, and the problems that have been caused by the neglect of
the environment are local as well. The pollution of waterways is a good example
of this. grant programs exist that are directed at the Great Lakes or at Puget
Sound, for example. States that are bordering these waterways usually offers these
grants. The idea of environmental impact areas has led to the localities that
border or are inside the impact area being the best source of funds for projects
that will address the problems. Private foundations like the Kresage Foundation
are among the best sources of green construction grants. The Kresage Foundation
has been offering grants under their Green Building Initiative Program. It is
specifically geared toward the area of planning and design. While it is true that
State, local, and private foundations are the major sources of grants that can
be considered pure green building, the federal government is also a source. Research
is the key to finding a grant for your project, so take the time to explore the
various options mentioned above. About the AuthorZack
Verde is with GreenBuildingCompanies.com - providing green
building articles. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zack_Verde
http://EzineArticles.com/?Finding-Grants-for-Green-Construction&id=447495  | This
website was created as a public service to promote LEED New Construction certification
and LEED general contractors, by Bob Moore Construction and General Contractor.com.
Bob Moore Construction has been a leading commercial general contractor in Texas
since 1946, winning several awards including the AGC General Contractor of the
Year. The company is the first Platinum Level member of the U.S. Green Building
Council in north Texas. It is also a member of AGC, Tilt-up Concrete Association,
and the OSHA Local Partnership Program. For more information about Bob Moore Construction's
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