Unlike pollution from cars and factories, which have been the subject of public battles in many parts of the world, the harm caused by buildings has largely escaped scrutiny. This is ironic, since there are now cost effective ways to lessen the negative environmental impact of new and retrofitted buildings. If people were only more aware of these facts, we could preserve the security, comfort, and amenities that people expect from modern buildings without injuring the environment as much. While the construction and operation of buildings take a great toll on the earth, there are already many practical, cost effective ways to improve the environmental and technological performance of buildings while enhancing functionality, comfort and aesthetics. If we can embrace a conservative ethic that advocates the efficient use of natural resources and seeks to eliminate waste and pollution, we will be making a valuable contribution toward our future.
Green buildings take into account the full life-cycle of building materials.
From the acquisition of natural resources, product manufacture and construction, installation and use, to their ultimate salvage or reuse, environmental impacts are minimized at every stage. Significant long-term financial benefits can be gained due to increased building durability, lower maintenance and energy costs, and greater efficiency. In addition, many U.S. utility companies are willing to help defray the incremental costs of high efficiency motors, equipment, lighting and glazing, by offering cash rebates to encourage use of these energy efficient strategies. This data suggests that if a building owner takes into account the quality of life of a building's occupants, the total life cycle costs can be substantially reduced due to better morale, less absenteeism, and increased productivity and creativity. Evidence indicates that green design is the right thing to do for the environment and the bottom line.