United Community Bank – Savannah announces a special offer to support sustainable or "green" development practices. The bank is offering property owners, qualified builders and general contractors a 25 basis point reduction in construction financing for any commercial or residential project that achieves sustainable LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council or EarthCraft certification from Southface Energy Institute
The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. EarthCraft, a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Southface, government and industry partners, is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment.
“In the spirit of stewardship and sustainability, United Community Bank – Savannah wants to do its small part to promote a greener, a healthier approach to development, an approach that fosters better stewardship of our limited natural resources,” says United Community Bank – Savannah President, Mike Lee. “The longterm ‘greening’ of our communities must begin one person and one structure at a time.Through this special initiative we hope to motivate and facilitate green construction and help secure a healthier Savannah for decades to come.”
There are currently several registered LEED construction projects underway in the greater Savannah area including, Frogtown Lofts, Park Place Outreach Home Youth2 Shelter, Savannah Country Day School, Starland Lofts, and Live Oak Library Southside Branch. In residential development, Barbour Pointe is a new EarthCraft Coastal Community, which will have over 30 homes built to EarthCraft energy specifications, and a historic residence on Taylor Street being developed by Melaver Construction Development Services, is in the LEED for Homes pilot program. United Community Bank hopes that this incentive will encourage more business owners, home owners, and contractors to consider green construction when planning their construction projects.
“A community is built upon its heritage, the current dedication and practices of its citizens and forward planning that will enable the community to sustain itself over the long term,” Lee said. “United Community Bank celebrates Savannah’s rich history and works each day to be a positive force in the vitality of this community. More importantly we are interested in helping to sustain Savannah for future generations.” For more information on United Community Bank’s green construction initiative, contact Deepika Paul at (912) 235-3147.