By Linda Mason Hunter

© 2007 Linda Mason Hunter.  May not be reprinted without written permission of the author.

The world is changing. The green phenomenon has taken firm hold nationally, touching many aspects of our lives, from everyday purchases such as organic foods and hybrid cars, to the more heady concept of reducing our carbon footprint. People everywhere are looking for ways to have less environmental impact.

In the built environment, green is quickly becoming a measure of value, rather than price per square foot. Increasingly, buyers are asking for green features and are willing to pay for them - especially when they realize the long-term utility savings, and health and societal benefits.

There are many reasons for investing in a green home or office space. Here are just a few:

Because you want a healthy home for yourself and your family.

FACT: Levels of airborne toxic pollutants are as much as five times higher inside houses than outdoors. The culprits: paint, plastics, building materials, cleaning supplies, paints and finishes, cosmetics and grooming aids, tap water, furnishings, to name a few. Many compounds in these products are known to cause nerve damage, cancer, and reproductive harm.

                      --U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Because you save money.

FACT: While green options may initially cost more, they save money in the long run. The average green home can save as much as 50% on utility costs over standard construction.

                      --U.S. Department of Energy

Because green buildings are a good investment.

FACT: Green initiatives add value to homes and commercial properties. Considering energy efficiency alone, every $1 decrease in annual energy bills increases resale value by more than $20.

                      --The Appraisal Institute

Because green buildings lessen global warming.

FACT: Buildings account for 76% of all energy produced through coal plants. Coal plants are the biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions causing global warming.

                      --Architecture 2030

Because green buildings conserve natural resources.

FACT: Human beings consume 20% more natural resources than the earth can provide. At this rate, by 2050 we will need the biological capacity of 2.3 earths to maintain ourselves in the style to which we've become accustomed.

                     --World Wildlife Fund

What is Green?

Over the years the definitions of "green," "sustainable," and "healthy" have evolved. Until recently they had distinct and different meanings:

Green building focuses first and foremost on energy efficiency, thereby lessening our dependence on fossil fuels. It conserves water, relies on local materials (thus reducing transportation costs), and makes use of waste products, recycled content, and salvaged materials (reducing the burden on landfills). Green designs minimize square footage, have two levels rather than one, minimize recessed lighting, and make good use of daylighting.

Sustainable practices rely on renewable resources to support, protect, and enhance earth's life support systems, and emphasize the importance of social justice and equity for all people. Sustainable energy sources include solar, wind, and geothermal technologies. Instead of using old-growth timber, for example, sustainable materials include cork and bamboo, which are rapidly renewable, and sustainably harvested wood from a local forest.

Healthy shelter focuses on physiological health and emotional well-being. A healthy home shelters the body and comforts the soul. It means avoiding synthetic chemicals wherever possible, using solvent-free adhesives and water-based formaldehyde-free interior paints and sealers. It means good indoor air quality, lots of ventilation, thermal comfort, safe drinking water, moisture control, and non-toxic furnishings and finishings. It means controlled humidity, odor, noise, and vibration.

Today, the word "green" increasingly means a combination of all three philosophies. Green building is all about designing structures that perform better yet use fewer resources to build and operate. Compared to a traditional home, a green-built home is more durable, more comfortable, climate responsive, less expensive to operate and maintain, and a healthier place to live.

Green building considers every phase of construction inside and outside the structure, from site planning (orienting the structure for solar gain and natural breezes), to landscaping (planting shade trees can reduce cooling costs), to installing low-flow faucets and toilets. Green construction involves "cool roof" materials that are light or reflective, adequate insulation in all areas, well-sealed and connected ductwork, and energy-efficient electrical appliances. This doesn't mean green shelter is expensive. A variety of programs in many areas of the United States provide these options at reasonable and affordable prices.

Green innovations include:

	High efficiency heat pumps
	Use of geothermal, solar, and wind energy
	Tankless propane-fired water heaters which minimize piping and reduce standby losses.
	Daylighting and efficient electric lighting.
	High performance windows that reduce heating and cooling loads
	HEPA filtration for clean indoor air
	Roof gutter systems that collects rainwater to use for irrigating the landscape
	Mulch made from recycled building materials
	Alternative construction framing techniques, such as engineered lumber, adobe, strawbale, rammed earth, and concrete
	Structural insulated panels (SIPs, consisting of rigid foam insulation between two panels of oriented strand board, or fiber cement panels) for floors, walls, and roofs, providing a more uniform insulation coverage area.
	Insulating concrete forms (ICFs, a combination of concrete and polystyrene foam) for foundation and walls, to create a structure that stays cooler in summer and warmer in winter, thus saving energy costs. ICFs, as an added advantage, create an effective barrier against noise, insects, and mold.

The Five Pillars of Green Building

	Increasing energy efficiency
	Using materials appropriately
	Conserving and reusing water
	Providing healthful living/working  environment
	Building attractive, durable structures that last