GREEN BUILDING

GREEN BUILDING - is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water and materials. This also reduces a building’s impact on human health and the environment through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal. The complete building life cycle!

 Green building leads to numerous things. The first, is reduced operating costs. By building green you are increasing productivity and reducing energy and water use. The second thing building green leads to is improved public and occupant health. This comes from higher in-door air quality. Further, building green reduces environmental impacts. For example, by lessening storm water run off and the heat island effect.

 To look at a green constructed building is no different than looking at a conventional home. Their appearance is indistinguishable from the less sustainable counterpart.

Green buildings are scored by rating systems. One of these is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED. This rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Green Globes from GBI and others have also developed rating systems.

Buildings have a huge environmental impact, in the United States alone buildings account for:

1.     39% of energy use

2.     12% of total water consumption

3.     68% of total electricity consumption

4.     38% of carbon dioxide emission

Building green can greatly reduce these figures. By using materials considered to be “green” such as stone, recycled metal, non-toxic products, low-flow fixtures, low-e windows and energy star qualified appliances, we are helping everyday to keep our planet green. 

Good “Green Architecture” also reduces the waste of energy, water and materials.  During the construction phase, one goal is to to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Green building usually takes advantage of renewable resources by using energy through passive solar, active solar and photovoltaic techniques. Using plants and trees through green roofs, rain gardens and for reduction of water run off is another technique that is widely used.

Along with building green comes recycling. Recycling prevents the waste of potentially useful materials, reduces consumption of raw materials and reduces energy costs.

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