Green Building

The following information on Green Buildings is taken from the Environmental Protection Agency. The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect us from Nature's extremes, yet they also affect our health and environment in countless ways. The design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of buildings take enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials; generate large quantities of waste and air and water pollution; and create stormwater runoff and heat islands. Buildings also develop their own indoor environments, which present an array of health challenges. Where and how they are built affect wildlife habitats and corridors and the hydrologic cycle, while influencing the overall quality of human life.

As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a new field called green building is gaining momentum. Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that when buildings are designed and operated with their lifecycle impacts in mind, they can provide great environmental, economic, and social benefits. Elements of green building include:

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Water Stewardship
Environmentally Preferable Building Materials and Specifications
Waste Reduction
Indoor Environment
Smart Growth and Sustainable Development, or the ability to achieve economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet and providing a higher quality of life for its people.

Why Build Green?
In the United States, buildings account for:

39% of total energy use
12% of the total water consumption
68% of total electricity consumption
38% of the carbon dioxide emissions

The built environment has a vast impact on the environment, human health, and the economy. Adopting green building strategies can maximize both economic and environmental performance. Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction to renovation and demolition. However, the most significant benefits arise if the design and construction team takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project. Potential benefits of green building include:

Environmental benefits

Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Improve air and water quality
Reduce waste streams
Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic benefits

Reduce operating costs
Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
Improve occupant productivity
Optimize lifecycle economic performance

Social benefits

Enhance occupant comfort and health
Heighten aesthetic qualities
Minimize strain on local infrastructure
Improve overall quality of life

LEED®, the "Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design" Green Building Rating System, is the nationally accepted standard for green buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) membership.

LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) is designed to compliment the LEED Green Building Rating System for new construction and renovations. LEED-EB is applicable to existing buildings that are seeking LEED Certification for the first time as well as projects previously certified under LEED standards for new construction. LEED-EB provides the opportunity for building owners and operators to meet their sustainable operations goals and to reduce the impacts of their buildings on the environment and occupant health over their entire lifecycle.

Green Building

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