Air pollution, water pollution, global warming, lung cancer, and energy blackouts are all problems caused by the public’s severe habit of raping the earth of its natural resources. Existing today is the technology to reduce and possibly reverse these negative characteristics of the environment. Builders and architects have the knowledge and the capability to incorporate systems that harness natural light, air flow, and geothermal heating and cooling to reduce the amount of energy that the building requires to function. Yet, this technology is ignored by the majority of the population. Many people do not realize that the waste generated from the buildings that they work, shop and reside in have a significant impact on the suffering environment. In fact, homes release twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than automobiles do (Energy, Energy); and commercial and residential buildings are responsible for consuming “37% of all [of the] energy [that is] used in the United States” (U.S. Green 3). However, a lot of support from the government, along with many architectural firms, is helping people to see the advantages of integrating this environmentally-friendly technology into building designs. These buildings are termed green buildings, and they are shaking up construction for the better. Studies are showing that green buildings improve people’s health, lower energy costs drastically, and reduce unnecessary waste (Lacayo A36-38). Incorporating these phenomenal green concepts into all buildings has the potential to increase the population’s quality of life and help save the environment. The planet is in desperate need of a turn around and now is the perfect time to start seeing more green.

The concept of green buildings is not brand new, it was simply forgotten. Up until the 20^th Century buildings were built to adapt to the external environment. But with the invention of heating and cooling systems came the belief that buildings no longer needed to adapt to the natural environment; people thought that they could create their own environment, “as if nature and place did not exist” (Goffman). James Wines, a green-design pioneer, commented that “industrialism and industrial material [became widespread] because that was the future,” (qtd. in Lacayo A36-38). Now, however, with the onset of natural disasters and energy crises across the globe people are looking for something better. A green building uses construction resources more efficiently than ones simply built to standard code. The public can be hopeful because green buildings are becoming more and more popular. One green building architect projects that in twenty years being green will be the norm (qtd. in Tibbitts 22).

Green buildings focus on five crucial factors of human and environmental health, these include: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). In 1998 a group of architects and builders known as the U.S. Green Building Council developed a certification system to set a standard for green buildings. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) provides builders with an outline to measure the impact of the buildings performance. In a study completed by Ballanco roughly fifteen hundred readers of PM Engineer were surveyed. The results showed that 84% of these readers responded positively to following the LEED system, and of these individuals 67% said that they used the system because it was requested by their client (54). This indicates just how big of an impact the LEED system is having; people are ready to paint the town green.

Possibly the most visible affect that green buildings are having is the reduction of energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that twelve billion dollars are spent each year on unused energy that simply creates unnecessary waste (Heinisch 18-19). “A detailed review of sixty LEED buildings[…demonstrated that…]on average, green buildings use 30% less energy than conventional buildings-a reduction for a 100,000 ft2 state office building, worth $60,000 per year”, reports Kats (4). Green buildings are not only the right choice for the environment but they are also the right choice for the owner’s bank account. One factor that turns builders away from incorporating green methods into their design is the high starting cost. But amazingly, it is being seen that these costs are paying for themselves in money saved on energy; often times within the first year of building. And as construction experience is increasing the initial cost is decreasing. Kats concludes that, “financial benefits of green design are between $50 and $70 per square foot in a LEED building, over 10 times the additional cost associated with building green” (8). Many green buildings are also capable of generating more energy than they need; this energy gets put back into the grid and the building actually receives credit on its energy bill, says Soleau (qtd. in Nayar). One must keep in mind that less energy used equals more savings and dramatically reduced waste emission. These buildings may actually create a positive relationship between business people and environmentalists, a relationship that has been strained by the previous processes of harming the planet in the pursuit of a profit.

The processes responsible for these savings are as interesting as they are practical and range from the use of high technology, futuristic, construction science to performing simple manipulations on the natural environment. The benefits are not only financial but social as well. The sun plays a large role in green buildings energy efficiency. By orienting a building to a desirable solar orientation louvers and light shelves can work together to capture the light energy and distribute it into a building, reducing the need for power generated light. Reflective roofing tiles return light back into the atmosphere, cooling the building during the hot months of summer; and solar panels are used not only to generate energy but also to shade the building. Motion sensors linked to the lighting system have a large impact because they ensure that energy is only used when it is needed. Buildings have many hallways and rooms that only get used a small percentage of the time but are constantly generating harmful waste.

Other natural resources that play a role in green buildings include the ground, the rain and the air. Ground temperatures remain relatively constant while air temperatures are greatly influenced by the change in season. One unit of geothermal equipment installed into a building is capable of extracting heat from the ground during the winter months; this heat is then compressed and delivered into the building. During the summer months, the system pulls heat from the buildings atmosphere and transfers it into the ground, cooling the fluid in the system, which is then returned to the building (Geothermal). Wind turbines are also a popular method of harvesting natural energy. Rainfall onto driveways typically creates storm water runoff, which can be charged by the municipality and has a large effect on the surrounding environment. Runoff can make its way to large bodies of water and change plant and wildlife habitat. Permeated driveways evenly distribute this water back into the ground and rain barrels are used to catch rain water for a healthier and more efficient method of watering the land around the building (Storm Water Management). Systems that use impure water in toilets and for gardening also have a positive effect on minimizing the amount of pure water waste.

Often times builders looking to turn a quick profit will create structures using cheap materials. These buildings do not last long and have a detrimental effect of their surroundings as they decay, not to mention that more materials and more energy will be required for repairs. Buildings are responsible for consuming “40% of raw materials,” (USBCG 3). Green builders select their products for durability, and have developed ways to use salvaged materials or already existing shells. By making a few additional calculations architects can often reduce the amount of material needed and still uphold the structural requirements (Nayar 58-61). The best materials are locally produced to reduce transportation costs and emissions, use lower energy and support human health. To determine whether or not a material is green all stages of its life cycle must be analyzed. Harvesting processes that are gentle on the environment and materials that can eventually be recycled themselves are favored.

The materials used to add the finishing touches are also important when creating a green building. Flooring, paints, sealers and adhesives often produce high amounts of volatile organic compounds and similar gases that are harmful to humans. A program known as Energy Star, which is backed by the government, makes selecting energy efficient appliances easier. Reports from the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency showed that in 2004 Energy Star helped save “enough energy to power 24 millions homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 20 million cars-all while saving $10 million” (Energy Star). These types of results should grab the public’s attention and make them deeply consider going green.

Many people cannot even imagine going to work in a building surrounded by gardens, where most of the natural greenery has been left untouched. Incorporating the beauty of nature into green buildings is not only aesthetically pleasing but environmentally supportive as well. Man has manipulated the land enough and it would be satisfying to see a building site maintain some of its natural characteristics so that people can actually recognize an area for what it once was. The horrible heat pit created by the asphalt in parking lots can be minimized by planting trees and greenery (Nayar 58-61). A rooftop garden that was planted on Chicago’s City Hall regulates the climate of the building and is 100% harmful waste free. Made of a combination of compost, mulch and low maintenance plants that are capable of holding water, the garden shields the building from the sun and insulates it against the cold, reducing energy costs dramatically (Lacayo A36-38).

It is evident that people perform better in atmospheres that reflect the calming nature of the environment. An abundance of natural light in a classroom, work place or home is has a positive effect on the psyche of those operating in the buildings. The natural heating, cooling and ventilation systems that come with green buildings along with the use of natural seals and paints provide patrons with an increased level of air quality. People spend 90% of their time indoors (Kats 6). Obviously the atmosphere of their dwellings is going to have a large effect on their physical and mental health. The effects of a poor indoor environment are harder to measure than something tangible like energy savings. But as Kats reports, numerous studies have been completed to find that green building environments have: “reduced illness symptoms, reduced absenteeism and [have shown] increases in perceived productivity,” (6). When people feel better they work well and can achieve more. The productivity increases being observed add up to roughly $600 per year per employee. If employers were not listening before, they should be now (Kats 7). And these types of environments not only attract workers but they also keep workers. Looking at the big picture, the processes used in green buildings to help the environment can also be used to help the human population lower their stress levels, which could potentially lead to a longer life span and a healthier population.

There are so many benefits to building green. Thankfully, green buildings have a lot more supporting them than they do working against them. In 2002 the U.S. Green Building Council estimated that at least 3% of new buildings had green features incorporated into their designs (Lacayo A36-A38); a percentage that will hopefully continue to rise. It is more than likely that the country will begin to see more and more green buildings pop up as people begin to learn about how much there is to be gained. Consumer ignorance is one of the factors slowing green building growth, because a lot of people do not even realize that there are better options available. The federal government is backing green building development quite strongly. In 1993, under President Clinton’s orders, the White House experienced the tangible effects of energy efficiency first hand. Since then many federal agencies have embraced green building policies and are noting savings in the billions of dollars (U.S. Green 13). The governments of California, Colorado, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are supporting green building by including tax incentives in their state programs for builders who choose to build green (U.S. Green 14). With the increasing support of federal laws, and a large number of environmentally conscious groups like Energy Star, Rebuild America and the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program on the scene, obtaining LEED certification should eventually become the nation’s legal minimum for building practices. It should become mandatory that architects and builders be trained in green building methods, and they should be legally obligated to inform their clients of these options. Saving our planet’s precious energy and resources should be on the top of everyone’s priority list. A large number of supporters are needed to make big changes to the polluted environment that people live in today.

It is appalling to read about the amount of waste produced by the human population. Green buildings are offering a beam of hope that planet will be able to be removed from the dark and polluted state it is in today. It is the brilliant combination of high technology systems and natural systems that lends itself to the buildings’ success. These structures are going to have a huge impact on the way our planet functions. Even the process of implementing them starts to get people thinking about what else can be done differently to improve the state of the environment. Hopefully green buildings-with their high energy efficiency and waste reduction-will become a positive role model for all human created systems. The planet is in desperate need of all the help it can get.

If the public is not interested in the environmental benefits then they should at least be keen on the financial and social impacts that these buildings are having. Melanie Kinter, interim executive director of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition, put it well when she said that building green is “…not just a warm, fuzzy environmental thing,” (qtd. in Tibbitts 22). There is a definite financial benefit to building green. Strong selling points of these buildings include the dramatically reduced energy costs and the increased quality of life that these buildings are producing. Very few people could deny better health and higher productivity. The future for construction technology is green buildings. The path has been cleared, development has begun and the support is available. Now the public just needs to open their eyes and jump on the green building movement that is taking the world by storm.