What Does It Mean To Build Green

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What Does It Mean To Build Gree by Michael V Draper (NAPSA)—While most of us know that green building is good : Fi ee for the environment, creates healthier living and work spaces, and lowers operating costs, not everyone knows exactly what it meansto build green. According to the Green Building Initiative (GBI), a nonprofit organization formed to help educate builders and consumers, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. But a green structure will adhere to certain fundamental principles, whether it’s a home, school, industrial park or office tower. For example: Green buildings are energy efficient. In addition to saving money, this helps to minimize pol- lution (including carbon dioxide emissions, which are a major cause of global warming). They're water efficient, which is becoming increasingly important as the population—and demand— grows. Last year, a group of U.S. mayors conducted a survey and found that 40 percentof theircities won't have an adequate supply of waterin 20 years. They’re resource efficient. Among other things, this means using fewer materials, choosing recycled content materials, using wood that’s certified as having come from a sustainably managed forest, and reducing waste. The financial benefits of building green include utility companies offering cash incentives to encourage energy and water effi- ciency, while different levels of governmentoffer tax deductions THIS GREEN HOME is being con- structed using energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building techniques. and other incentives such as fasttracking the building approval process. What To Look For For information on what to look for in a green-built home, the National Association of Home Builders’ Model Green Home Building Guidelines (www.nahb.org) are an excellent resource. For commer- cial structures, the Green Globes system is a user-friendly online tool for designing green buildings and assessing their performance over time. In fact, a recent Uni- versity of Minnesota green building study concluded Green Globes “better integrates lifestyle thinking into its rating system”—meaning that it measures the impact of a building throughout its existence. Modules for New Construction and the Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings are available on the GBI Web site at www.thegbi.com. Mr. Draper is vice president, Western District of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners ofAmerica.