Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide First Edition

The green building movement strives to create a permanent shift In
prevailing design, planning, construction, and operational practices
toward lower~ i mpact, more sustainable, and ultimately regenerative
built environments. This transformation will never be complete, since
green building is fundamentally a process of continual improvement.
In this process, today's "best practices" become tomorrow's standard
practJces and the foundation for ever~higher levels of performance.
Why is green building necessary
The answer is rooted in the effects of conventional buildings and land use on people, the environment,
and OUf shared natural resources. The cumulative impact of the design, construction, and operation
of built environments has profound implications for human health, the e nvironment, and
tbe economy. For example, with conventional development practices,
• Clearing of land for development often destroys wildlife habitat;
• Extracting. manufacturing, and transporting materia ls contribute to the pollution of water and
air, the release of toxic chemicals, and the emission of greenhouse gases;
• Building operations require large inputs of energy and water and generate substantial waste
streams; and
• Building-related transportation, such as commuting and services, contributes to a wide range
of impacts associated with vehicle use. energy consumption, and harmful environmental
effects.
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