Going Green
September 29th, 2008 B. Slade
With the rising costs of fuel and gas prices, and the incredible advances made in building materials green building is beginning to make a buzz in the construction industry today. Green building is the practice of creating structures and using practices that are environmentally friendly and resource efficient. It is not only an environmental initiative, but a smart economic move as well. Although green building practices tend to increase up-front construction costs, they often provide long-term benefits that may offset these increases. In fact, energy efficiency improvements can provide approximately 30 percent less energy than standard homes and can save homeowners approximately $200 to $400 per year. Green building standards are: building with materials that incorporate sustainable resources or utilize recycled materials, low energy consumption, minimal site disturbance, water conservation, solar orientation, water and energy efficiency, and healthful indoor-air quality. These standards include the Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) rating system, which is a nationally accepted standard developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.