What Makes a Building Green?  A green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as:
- Protecting occupant health
- Improving employee productivity
- Using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently
Reducing the overall impact to the environment
Why Build Green?
39 % of total energy use
12 % of total water consumption
68 % of total electricity consumption
38 % of total carbon dioxide emission
Lower Ownership Costs
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating--delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can lead to additional savings.
Better Performance Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability. |
