<strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Standards — What are <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Standards?<strong>Green</strong> building standards are meant <strong>to</strong> be <strong>to</strong>ols <strong>to</strong>help builders and architects design, construct andpromote environmentally sustainable structures— and for consumers <strong>to</strong> understand how theycan reduce their carbon footprint.<strong>The</strong>se systems encompass siteplanning, structural design andmaterials analysis. <strong>The</strong>y aim<strong>to</strong> promote construction andland use practices that conserveenvironmental resources andimprove energy efficiency.At the center of green buildingscience are four Rs:Reduce.Recycle.Reuse.Renew.<strong>Green</strong> building relies oncomplex science, innovationand common sense. <strong>Green</strong>buildings use less constructionmaterials because of betterplanning such as designingrooms in four foot multiples <strong>to</strong>accommodate standard-sizedwallboard or plywood sheets.<strong>Green</strong> buildings use less energyand water by design.Previous page: Castle & Cooke’sWindermere community in Bakersfield,<strong>California</strong> embraces green building principles.Right: <strong>Wood</strong> is featured prominently insideBlakely Hall, Washing<strong>to</strong>n, which earneda rating of Two Globes from the <strong>Green</strong><strong>Building</strong> Initiative.18
In general, recycled products arefavored when feasible. Even thestructure itself can be designed <strong>to</strong> berecycle-friendly at the end of its life.Old construction materials arereused if structurally sound.Naturally generated energy, such aspassive solar design, is encouraged.<strong>Green</strong> building encompasses manythings, including selecting plantswith less pesticide and water needs,using low flush <strong>to</strong>ilets and tighterheating and ventilation ducts; andkeeping more onsite constructionwaste out of landfills.At first, some builders avoidedbuilding green because of the cost itadded <strong>to</strong> construction. But as moregreen building products come <strong>to</strong>market, the prices keep falling.Estimates vary as <strong>to</strong> how muchgoing green might add <strong>to</strong> theinitial cost of construction. <strong>Green</strong>building supporters expect that thesavings on energy and water useoffset higher initial costs over thebuilding’s life.Are the Standards Standard?Evaluating green buildingprograms can be confusing becausethere are a lot of standards and/or guidelines being proposed by alot of organizations. Good news:there are more similarities thandifferences among them.<strong>The</strong>re are the Minnesota Design<strong>Guide</strong>lines, Built <strong>Green</strong> Colorado<strong>The</strong> U.S. <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Council’s Leadershipin Energy and Environmental Design, orLEED, is a leading-edge system for designing,constructing, operating and certifying greenbuildings. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Initiative’s <strong>Green</strong>Globes is an Internet-based alternative.and Wisconsin <strong>Green</strong>built.<strong>The</strong> National Association ofHome Builders has its own greenconstruction guidelines. <strong>The</strong><strong>California</strong> <strong>Building</strong> IndustryAssociation has a <strong>Green</strong> BuilderInitiative. <strong>The</strong>re’s also a <strong>California</strong>non-profit called Build It <strong>Green</strong>,which has a set of guidelines.In 1993, the United States <strong>Green</strong><strong>Building</strong> Council created perhapsthe best-known rating system,LEED® – Leadership in Energyand Environmental Design.LEED has programs specific<strong>to</strong> new construction, existingbuildings, commercial interiors,homes, and more.Newer <strong>to</strong> the U.S., but also wellknown, is <strong>Green</strong> Globes, aWeb-based <strong>to</strong>ol that includesan assessment pro<strong>to</strong>col, ratingsystem and guide for integratingenvironmentally friendly design in<strong>to</strong>commercial buildings. It featuresmodules for “New Construction”and the “Continual Improvemen<strong>to</strong>f Existing <strong>Building</strong>s” and facilitatesrecognition of completed projectsthrough third-party assessment.LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Council. <strong>Green</strong> Globes is a trademark of the <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Initiative.19
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