The related concepts of sustainability are integral to green building. Effective green building can lead to 1) reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water, 2) improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality, and 3) reduced environmental impacts
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through a better site, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.
The US Green Building Council has a green building rating system called LEED. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
The US Green Building Council has a green building rating system called LEED. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
• Per the USGBC, green buildings save:
• 40% in water use
• 39% in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
• 50-75% of construction and demolition waste going to landfills
• $58 Billion of sick time from work annually
• Green Buildings add $180 Billion in increased worker productivity annually
USGBC Meaning of Sustainability
The Mission of the USGBC
Who is the USGBC
• 40% in water use
• 39% in energy use and carbon dioxide emissions
• 50-75% of construction and demolition waste going to landfills
• $58 Billion of sick time from work annually
• Green Buildings add $180 Billion in increased worker productivity annually
USGBC Meaning of Sustainability
The Mission of the USGBC
Who is the USGBC
