If you’ve come to this site as someone “green” about green construction then you might be asking yourself “Why Build Green?”. I think there are many people asking this question every day now that gas has hit $4 a gallon. The answer is fairly straight forward when you look at some basic statistics about buildings in this country.
In the United States, buildings account for:
- 39 percent of total energy use
- 12 percent of the total water consumption
- 68 percent of total electricity consumption
- 38 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions
It doesn’t take much convincing with numbers like that. In fact, Building Green has positive effect on the environment, economy and social atmosphere of our communities. I hope this basic outline of these important benefits will help convince you and others the importance of Building Green.
Environmental Benefits
- Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce waste streams
- Conserve and restore natural resources
- Reduce our dependence on foreign oil
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
- Become stewards of the environment
My goal with this green construction blog is to share issues and information that effect all of these aspects. Green construction is a very broad term used to describe what I hope to be the blueprint for construction for years to come.
Todd – what is your opinion of the LEED for Home certification program administererd by the US Green Building Council? I see you talking about a lot of the items and methods that LEED endorses, but I haven’t seen a post yet where you endorse (or don’t endorse) the LEED program.