Green Building
from SF Environment

"Green building" is a process to create buildings and supporting infrastructure that minimize the use of resources, reduce harmful effects on the environment, and create healthier environments for people.

Resource-efficient or green buildings make both environmental and economic sense. Buildings are often expensive, wasteful of precious natural resources and harmful to both workers and the environment. In the U.S. alone, buildings use 30% of our total energy. Five billion gallons of water per day are used just to flush toilets. Typical commercial construction generates 2-2.5 pounds of solid waste per square foot of floor space.

According to WorldWatch Institute, construction, demolition and operation of buildings collectively consume up to 40% of the earth's energy and other natural resources. New design practices, technology, and materials can significantly reduce the resources used in the construction and operation of buildings and their cost of operation.

Green buildings are designed, constructed, renovated and operated in an environmentally and energy-efficient manner. Resource-efficient buildings exhibit a high level of environmental, economic and engineering performance, including:

• Energy efficiency and conservation
• Improved indoor air quality
• Resource and material efficiency
• Occupant health and productivity
• Proximity to public transportation
• Improved environmental quality including air, water, land, limited resources and ecosystems

Green buildings save resources and reduce energy costs while improving worker productivity due to higher satisfaction with the workplace. Some national studies suggest that resource-efficient buildings can improve worker productivity by as much as sixteen percent by reducing the number of sick days and improved worker attitude.

Green buildings avoid using toxic PVC plastics and products that produce greenhouse gasses thereby helping to stabilize the Earth's climate.

A change for the better…

Green building techniques and energy saving measures are already benefiting San Francisco. Figures from the City's Bureau of Energy Conservation show that energy-efficiency measures have saved the City more than $6,000,000 as of 1999, and have reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 80,000 tons, the equivalent of keeping 4,600 automobiles off of the streets!

City construction and renovation projects are incorporating resource-efficient measures. Construction debris from municipal building and demolition projects is being diverted from landfill, and materials are being recycled or reused. New buildings and remodels to existing buildings are being designed to provide adequate recycling space for the building's occupants. Low flow toilets and showerheads are replacing less efficient appliances in municipal facilities. Exit signs, fluorescent fixtures, and exterior light fixtures are being replaced with energy-saving alternatives. Mercury-containing fluorescent light tubes are being removed from public buildings. Indoor air quality is being taken into consideration when specifying products and materials, such as paint or carpets.

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