Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials. Through better design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal (the complete building life cycle) we can reduce the building impacts on human health and the environment.

In the US, buildings account for:

• 39% of total energy consumption
• 68% of total electricity use
• 38% of carbon dioxide emissions
• 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the U.S.
• 12% of water use

Buildings influence our own health: Most of us spend at least 90% of our time indoors, where the air is often twice -- and sometimes as much as a hundred times -- more polluted than outside air. http://www.epa.gov/iaq

Green Buildings:

• Provide a healthier and more comfortable environment
• Improve long-term economic performance
• Incorporate energy and water efficient technologies
• Use recycled content materials in their construction
• Reduce construction and demolition waste
• Bring higher resale value
• Are landscaped for water and energy efficiency
• Include renewable energy technologies
• Improve indoor air quality
• Reduce environmental impact
• Are easier to maintain & built to last

http://builditgreen.org

Green building will inevitably be the construction standard of the future.  By using Green building practices now you can be confident that you have done something important for yourself, your family and your community.   Give us a call and we can help you build toward healthier sustainable living today.