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What is Green Building?

Green building is a process of building or renovating the structures that we live, work and play that eases the burden on our environment by conserving the natural resources we take out of while lowering the amount of man-made things we put back in it. To do this is easy, use products made recycled/natural materials that minimize the impact they have on our environment.

How Can Building Green Help?

While major developers continue to build cookie-cutter “McMansions" there are few regulations, and even fewer efforts made to build homes Green. Why? Because builders and consumers believe building Green is more costly to the builder and less attractive/luxurious to the consumer. The concept of building Green is simple...build long-term sustainable sites that are water and energy efficient, and use materials that are natural, low-polluting or recycled.

What Does Building Green Mean to Me?

As you look at your next home, do a little homework first and see if the builders and developers incorporate these simple concepts into the homes they build. Do they use recycled and low polluting materials? Do their designs look at the environment around them (urban/suburban) and take into consideration the Eco-sphere around it as a means of natural resources as well as impact? For example, how does it address the use of the sun (heating & cooling), water (groundwater pollution), wind (energy conservation) and land (erosion and landscaping) into consideration? Are their homes built to last? Most importantly, do they “walk the walk" when it comes to claiming Green Building processes and materials?

What Does Green Impact?

Building/development has a vast impact on the environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we 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 deconstruction. However, the most significant benefits can be obtained if the design and construction team takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project. Potential benefits of green building can 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 life-cycle economic performance
Higher Property Values & ROI
Lower operational and maintenance costs
Faster Re-sales

Social benefits

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

Refer to the following EPA Document:

So What Does Green Mean?

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

Getting Green by Going Green
Green, contrary to the opinions of many builders, developers, lenders, appraisers and consumers, is actually a smart investment. For several reasons, properties that are developed/built Green hold many advantages over those that are not, or developed with a "buffet table" approach of picking and choosing when to use Green processes (publicity) and when not (cost). In general, a study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), concluded that building Green has many economic benefits in addition to the environmental and social benefits.
Additional Information:
There are several sources of information on Green Building and the environmental/financial advantages of going green.

For additional information on how building Green can is a great investment, please refer to the following paper, "Green Value - Green Buildings, Growing Assets" at RICS Report.

Information taken from EPA Website on Green Building: http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.htm - or -

What is Green?

In a world faced with the dangers of Global Warming and it’s impact on our environment, our earth and our future, the concept of Green is to rethink how we live our lives on a daily basis to help slow and eventually stop the deterioration of our environment.

How Can Thinking Green Help?

As nations and politicians continue to debate the reality, validity, causes, impacts and solutions to Global Warming and Environmental Change, most of us just want to know what it means and how we can help. The answer is very simple, anything you can do to conserve a little more and pollute a little less!

What Does Green Mean to Me?

Again the answer is simple: look at the elements of your day-to-day life and see if you can substitute or change things to be more efficient and less polluting. You don’t have to live in tree house or grow your own vegetables, just look at basic things like how much energy your home uses/loses, types of light bulbs you use, appliances (home computers) or lights left on when not being used, use of recycled materials in your home and natural products in your yard! Most importantly, being Green doesn't mean you have to pay more or force you to sacrifice the life style you enjoy, it just means spending a little time to understand the facts.