Dozens of local and regional programs across the country set minimum standards for winning a green label. NAHB has a set of voluntary guidelines, and the Green Building Council is in the process of rolling out a residential version of its successful program for commercial buildings. On the other hand, some states have normal green building initiatives, while others have allowed their green building organizations to lapse.
Given this patchwork of sometimes conflicting guidelines, a “green” label still has no single meaning. Still, several common themes run through most established programs: ·Site work that minimizes the environmental impact of the house during and after construction. ·Energy eficiency ·Water efficiency ·Use of recycled materials and materials whose production can be sustained without harming people or the environment ·Healthful indoor air quality
Burning fossil fuels is a filthy habit, and the supply won't last forever. Fortunately, a growing number of renewable alternatives promise clean, inexhaustible power: wind turbines, solar arrays, wave-power flotillas, small hydroelectric generators, geothermal systems, even bioengineered algae that turn waste into hydrogen. The challenge is to scale up these technologies to deliver the power in industrial quantities — exactly the kind of challenge brilliant buisness people love.
The number one US industrial product is waste. Waste is worse than stupid; it's costly, which is why we're seeing business people in every sector getting a jump on the competition by consuming less water, power, and materials. What's true for industry is true at home too. Think well-insulated houses full of natural light, cars that sip instead of guzzle, appliances that pay for themselves in energy savings.
More is not better. You don't need a bigger house--you need a different floor plan. You don't need more stuff--you need stuff you'll actually use. Ecofriendly designs and nontoxic materials already exist, and there's plenty of room for innovation. You may pay more for things like long-lasting, energy-efficient LED lightbulbs, but they'll save real money over the long term.
including associations, publications, and links to certification programs, visit the
US Green Building Council