| What makes a building design green? Sustainable | | | | All have explored, recommended or implemented |
| materials, especially those available locally, or can it be | | | | some form of sustainable building design initiatives or |
| recycled. Other choices include reusable, renewable | | | | standards. |
| and nontoxic materials. Building designers may also | | | | The unprecedented public demand for all things |
| choose the orientation of the building on the site to | | | | "green" has spurred a bevy of competing green |
| take advantage of the sun or a breeze, or to | | | | building standards. The best known is the Leadership |
| minimize unfavorable weather conditions. | | | | in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green |
| Construction methods and techniques are chosen to | | | | Building Rating System created by the US Green |
| minimize environmental disruption of the building site | | | | Building Council. Dozens of others exist, yet there is |
| and reduce construction waste. Renewable energy | | | | no national green building standard. |
| sources such as active or passive solar or wind | | | | The lack of a national standard combined with |
| power may be included in the building design. High | | | | increasing public demand has led some companies to |
| efficiency water, energy and waste systems are | | | | falsely claim their buildings are green. In some cases |
| often included to reduce the long-term operating | | | | the building designer has not considered sustainability |
| costs. | | | | at all. These companies may believe they cannot |
| In spite of the recent global economic problems, | | | | adequately compete in the marketplace without |
| sustainable building projected to increase. In part the | | | | some claim to one green building standard or another. |
| growth is fueled by a growing number of | | | | Green building design is now an important world wide |
| government initiatives and by increasing public | | | | trend in construction. Its rise to importance, has |
| demand for green products and services. More and | | | | taken decades. Many experts believe that in the |
| more often the public expects and even prefers to | | | | future all building design will be green. It won't be |
| do business with "green companies. | | | | discretionary and it won't be a novelty. It will be the |
| The US is not alone in implementing governmental | | | | standard way buildings are designed. We're not there |
| building design initiatives. Canada, France, Germany, | | | | yet, but we're moving in the right direction and |
| India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South | | | | moving quickly. |
| Africa, and the United Kingdom have gotten involved. | | | | |