Beyond Recycling: The Green Building Initiative

Recently, a movement has emerged in the housing industry in terms of environmentally friendly practices: “green building.” Although the concept of green building has been around for a while, only recently has it grown in prominence and been adopted by builders, property owners and the real estate industry in general.

Green building is an approach to construction that promotes the use of renewable sources, reduces waste and limits harmful environmental effects. Green building addresses a wide range of issues including air pollution, energy and water conservation, renewable power and recycling. Specifically, green building focuses on efficient plumbing and water systems, renewable building materials and energy-saving lighting, heating and cooling systems. The green building initiative does not just refer to new construction; it also pertains to existing buildings and other structures.

The components of green building encompass both small and large changes in how buildings are constructed, upgraded and maintained. For example, the green building initiative promotes the use of EPA-approved Energy Star appliances and WaterSense® products, both of which meet energy conservation guidelines. Solar panels for heating and cooling, energy-efficient double-pane windows, self-regulating thermostats, use of insulation and rain barrels to collect and reuse rainwater are just a few of the other components of green building.

Beyond the obvious benefits to the environment, green building also has benefits to property owners and building owners. Tax incentives and rebates from utility companies for green building are become more common. Also, in order to make green building more affordable, many builders and utility companies offer homeowners the option of paying off more expensive systems (such as solar generated electricity) in installments over a number of years. Finally, green building is beneficial to homeowners not only because it’s linked to the overall “livability” of a home, but also because green building is considered to be an asset when it comes time to sell.

As for organizations that promote green building, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is leading the way with a set of sustainable green building standards that are widely accepted by engineers, developers and architects. The USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ provides a benchmark for design, construction and operation as well as a certification program for building and real estate professionals.

For more information on green building, visit the USGBC website (www.usgbc.org) or the Build It Green website (www.builditgreen.org).  ∆