Green Building - Introduction Topical Reports Green Construction Introduction Look out your window. Chances are you ll see buildings, and more than a few. Buildings are a huge economic asset. They account for 13 percent of the gross domestic product and more than half the nation s wealth.
Buildings also have a large environmental footprint.
They use 40 percent of the nation s energy, one-fourth of its timber harvest, and 16 percent of its fresh water. Buildings account for more than one-third of carbon dioxide emissions and 40 percent of municipal solid waste sent to landfills. Those are interesting numbers, but at the risk of stating the obvious, buildings are important for people, who spend more than 80 percent of their time indoors. Green buildings lighten the environmental footprint and keep utility bills down by using energy and water efficiently. But the lasting benefits of green buildings that are healthy and comfortable are strikingly revealed by considering their full costs.