Green building is a design and construction process that simultaneously promotes the economic health and well-being of your family, the community, and the environment. But more specifically, it provides an opportunity to transform an average building project into one that is higher performing and energy efficient.  It’s the smart and socially responsible thing to do.

A green building is one that:

• Incorporates energy and water efficient technologies.
  A family of 4 showering just 5 minutes a day will use 700 gallons per week. That’s a 3 year drinking supply for one person! A high-performance showerhead, though, uses 1-1.5 gallons per minute. That’s 60% less than a traditional showerhead, and it will pay for itself in just a few months from water heating energy savings alone.
  
  
• Uses recycled, reclaimed, and locally available materials in their construction
  Building green does NOT compromise the aesthetic brilliance of a home or commercial building. From countertops to carpeting to insulation and dining room chairs, materials and technologies are evolving each day to fit your aesthetic demands while being environmentally conscious.
  
  
• Reduces construction and demolition waste
  Recycling construction and demolition debris conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials, and can reduce overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs.
  
  
• Is landscaped for water and energy efficiency as well as lower cost maintenance by using native plants and rainwater irrigation systems.
  Irrigation accounts for more than half of potable (drinking) water consumption. But if we use rainwater to irrigate our lawns, we not only take advantage of an often overlooked and natural water supplier, but also conserve our potable water and decrease its associated costs. The process is simple: rainwater is collected in the building’s gutter system, and then flows to a cistern. This water can then be used for landscaping or, bringing the process indoors, toilet water. The money you save through this process pays for the system in just a few years.
  
  
• Employs renewable energy technologies, such as wind, solar or hydro power.
  Wind power is an affordable, inexhaustible energy source that contributes to fuel diversity and domestic self-sufficiency. North Dakota alone has enough strong winds to supply 36% of the electricity for the continental United States.
  

And as a result of these improvements, green building . . .

• Provides a healthier, more comfortable, and more productive environment than the average building.
  Americans spend 80-90% of their lives in buildings. Imagine how much time that means we are subject to artificial light? Why not take advantage of natural light? Through carefully placed windows and shading, daylighting brings indirect sunlight deep into a building, connecting people to the outdoors while providing healthy illumination at a fraction of the cost of even the most efficient electric lights.
  
  
• Improves indoor air quality
  The air in new buildings can be up to 10 times (!) more polluted than the air outside. One thing you can do is using low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. It alone will improve your indoor air quality and your overall health tremendously – decreasing potential for lung tissue damage, headaches, and eye, nose and throat irritation.
  
  
• • Reduces operating costs and generates higher resale value
  Savings are easiest to quantify with energy, but can also be looked at through the reduced water demand, lower maintenance requirements, and a reduction in waste generation. With businesses, savings in operating costs directly affect the bottom line and increase the net operating income. In turn, it can lead to a higher return on investment and building valuation.