Green Building

Background

Buildings have an enormous impact on the environment, human health and the economy.  Applying green building practices can help reduce a building’s overall impact on the natural environment by more efficiently using energy, water and other resources. Green building can also help reduce waste  and minimize pollution and environmental degradation. Buildings constructed using green building practices may help protect occupant health and improve employee productivity through, for example, improved indoor air quality and increased use of natural lighting.

Some green building practices, such as using local and renewable materials or passive solar design, have been used by humans for millennia. More recently, green building has become mainstream in the building sector as an approach to conserve resources with energy efficient and environmentally friendly building practices.

Green building approaches are codified into a number of standards and systems, such as EPA's ENERGY STAR program, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) and Passive House. These systems  define criteria and guidance, like siting buildings in well-connected locations, using low-carbon and efficient construction materials, improving indoor air quality and using renewable energy, which can typically reduce a building’s environmental impact. 

Today, architects and the construction industry often look to standards and certification systems  to guide the development of green building. Many municipalities also encourage greener building through their zoning and building codes.

Consideration of risk from natural disasters is another important and related component of green building. Building siting can ensure buildings are not located in areas at a high risk of damage by flood or wildfire. Additionally, owners and occupants can save energy and money on utility bills when buildings maintain a safe temperature through passive survivability techniques, such as enhanced insulation and operable windows. 

Renovating existing buildings can also provide a sustainable alternative to site redevelopment, and is an important approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and waste in the building sector. Redesigning existing buildings to serve new functions, often referred to as "adaptive reuse," helps preserve the historical and social fabric of a neighborhood, while creating new opportunities for building use. 

Tools and Resources

The following tools and resources may support communities with green building goals.

• Smart Growth and Preservation of Existing and Historic Buildings: Learn how the preservation and reuse of existing and historic buildings can support sustainable communities.
• Smart Location Mapping: Access data products and mapping tools to analyze the built environment and transit accessibility of neighborhoods across the United States. 
• ENERGYSTAR and WaterSense: EPA programs that help consumers identify and access energy and water efficient home products.
• Smart Growth Guidelines for Sustainable Design and Development: Helps community planners and developers evaluate the location, design and development of housing to ensure they are more sustainable and affordable.
• Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments: Helps local governments identify and remove barriers to sustainable design and green building in their permitting processes.
• Green Building Tools for Tribes: Offers resources to help tribes develop, implement and enforce culturally relevant green building codes, policies, and programs.
• Adaptive Reuse Case Studies (USGBC): Explore case studies of four LEED residential projects in historic industrial buildings.