What Is Green Building?

Green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient manner. Green building:

• Protects occupants health;
• Improves employee productivity;
• Uses energy, water and other resources more efficiently; and
• Reduces the overall impact to the environment.

Characteristics of green building include:

• Environmentally-sensitive site planning;
• Energy efficiency/conservation;
• Water conservation/water resource protection;
• Conservation of materials; and
• Indoor environmental quality

Benefits of Going Green

Environmental Benefits:

• Reduce waste generation.
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce impact on streams, habitat, and existing terrain

Economic Benefits:

• Reduce energy bills
• Create, expand, and shape markets for green products and services
• Improve occupant productivity
• Optimize life cycle economic performance

Social Benefits:

• Enhance occupant comfort and health
• Heighten aesthetic qualities
• Minimize strain on local infrastructural
• Improve wellbeing through natural lighting, healthier air, and improved comfort.
• Improve overall quality of life

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 carbon dioxide emissions