Why Build Green?
- Organize and utilize the space on your land and in your home for optimum efficiency and enjoyment
- Save energy and money throughout the life of the home
- Live in the healthiest possible environment
- Diminish impact by using renewable and sustainable resources
- Increase the future marketability of your home
- Make a personally significant contribution to your local community and to the well-being of the global environment
The consensus is clear among government and the private sector that green building makes economic and environmental sense.
The U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) makes the following case:
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. 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.
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
Social benefits
- Enhance occupant comfort and health
- Heighten aesthetic qualities
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Improve overall quality of life
