Green Building

Want to save money and be healthier while doing your part to help the world? Hard to say "no" to that, isn't it? Welcome to the world of "green building". Green building means making our homes, offices, stores, and every other building serve the needs of people without hurting the environment. They cost less to own, are healthier for the people insideand the world outside.

The basic concept behind green building is to meet the needs of the present without hurting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To do this we look at the triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental success. Thus green building strives to create structures that are healthy for our economy, society and environment.

The true spirit of sustainability is to seek solutions that serve all three goals simultaneously, not separately. For example, a "green roof" which features drought resistant, low growing plants covering a rooftop contributes to economic, social and environmental health. The roof insulates the building and reduces stormwater runoff thereby lowering operating costs for the building. It also creates cleaner air while providing habitat and reducing urban heat island effects, thereby improving the environment. The roof can also provide park space and beauty which fosters social health.

But while the green building movement is leading many incredible innovations in building design and construction, it's also possible to use tried and true, existing technologies to make a building very "green". For example, in 2005 a developer built a 3-bedroom house in Texas that was under $190,000 and has zero energy bills for the year.

Green building represents a great leap forward in human design and the opportunities for innovation and smarter buildings is tremendous. Furthermore, it's the right thing to do to provide a better future for our children, and to contribute to the health of life on this planet.