WHAT IS GREEN BUILDING?

Green building is a “Whole-Systems” approach for designing and constructing buildings that conserve energy, water, and material resources. A green building is often healthier, safer, and more comfortable to live in.

Green building reduces a building’s impact on human health and the environment through better site design, construction, operations, maintenance, and eventual removal — the entire building lifecycle. It promotes conservation, generation, and reuse of natural resources such as energy and water as well as building materials. Green building encourages efficient use of land and improved building design.

Build It Green, an organization recognized by the State of California, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a nationally recognized program, promote green building and have established standards and benchmarks for meeting green building guidelines and criteria.

In 2008 the City of Los Altos adopted a Green Building Ordinance that requires green building standards for new construction and major renovation of existing buildings including all commercial and non-commercial structures. Please click here for further information.

DID YOU KNOW?

Green building not only improves a home, but also provides broad-based community benefits such as cleaner air, reduced impacts of global warming, healthier landscapes, and longer-lasting buildings.

In the construction of the average 2,000 sq. ft. home, 12.91 tons of construction waste is generated.

Please also check out Benefits and Ways to Build a Greener Life.