Why Green?
In the United States, buildings account for:
- between 40 and 49% of total energy use
- 25% of total water consumption
- 68 % of total electricity consumption
- 38 % of the carbon dioxide emissions
Buildings have a profound effect on the environment, which is why green building practices are so important to reduce and perhaps one day eliminate those impacts.
There are also environmental, economic, and social benefits:
Environmental benefits
- Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce waste streams
- Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic benefits
- Reduce operating costs
- Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
- Improve occupant productivity
- Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social benefits
- Enhance occupant comfort and health
- Heighten aesthetic qualities
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Improve overall quality of life
Thus, 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.
A home energy rating or assessment (see Services and Pricing) is the first green step. Without a scientific, objective review of your existing home or plans for a new home, home owners usually underestimate the environmental impact and overestimate the perceived costs of greening their home. As a complete roadmap of moving your home toward comfort, safety, energy efficiency (and savings), a home assessment usually more than pays for itself by avoiding construction or improvement mistakes, and through savings from increased energy efficiency. Additionally, it helps the environment!
More Information
- See EPA's list of additional statistics on buildings and the environment (PDF).
- See Getting Started
- See Services and Pricing
- Information on offsetting your carbon emissions at Native Energy or at the Carbon Fund.
