Green Buildings

Energy efficiency is about more than powering off devices and insulating our attics. Our homes and buildings are responsible for 40% of U.S. energy demand and 40% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This makes efficiency gains in this area crucial if we are to markedly reduce our energy consumption and effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that increasingly homes and commercial buildings are being built with energy efficiency in mind.

Green buildings are those that are designed to efficiently use energy, water and other resources; reduce waste of all kinds; and create a healthier environment inside while contributing to sustainability outside. They can be built new or made green through a renovation or retrofit. Generally, the earlier in the process a building is planned to be green, the more efficient it can become.

What Makes a Building Green?

There is no single recipe for a green building, but some common features include:

• Energy: High-efficiency HVAC systems, windows, lights and insulation in walls, ceilings and floors; daylighting or “daylight harvesting”; ENERGY STAR appliances; may generate renewable energy onsite or purchase green power from local utility.
• Water: Technologies that help reduce water waste, such as low-flow toilets and showerheads, as well as water recycling systems.
• Environmentally-preferable building materials: Construction and building materials that can be recycled and minimize waste.
• Waste: Equipment, materials and design to help reduce, reuse and recycle waste, from water waste to reduced paper use.
• Toxics reduction: Using materials that minimize the presence of toxic materials, including insulation, paint and furniture.
• Indoor Air: HVAC and other systems to provide adequate ventilation/air filtration and avoid mold and other harmful substances.
• Sustainability: Near public transportation to allow occupants to leave their car at home, may have a white roof (to reflect the sun’s heat) or a green or “living” roof with plants to reduce the heat generated by the building (to avoid the urban “heat island effect,” which increases the temperature of cities).

Becoming a Green Building

To become a green building,a residential, commercial or industrial building goes through a certification process. In the U.S., the best known programs are the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program and ENERGY STAR, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program.

In Virginia, a green building is defined as a building that:

• Exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by 30 percent; or
• Meets or exceeds the EarthCraft House Program, Green Globes Green Building Rating System, ENERGY STAR or LEED standards.

Terms to Know

Green buildings are sometimes called sustainable buildings. Those with advanced systems are referred to as high-performance green buildings. A zero-energy or net-zero energy home or building is one that generates as much energy as it uses. Passive houses and buildings are super-insulated and because they are so energy efficient generally do not have central heating or cooling systems.

Resources

• The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit organization working to promote cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings including its LEED green building certification program and educational offerings.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Building web site explains what makes a green building and provides useful links and FAQs.
• Arlington County hasa robust green building program. The county provides commercial and high-rise building owners with incentives for them to pursue LEED certification.
• The Virginia Sustainable Building Network is a statewide organization representing diverse sectors who are interested in building healthy, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly buildings and sustainable communities.
• ENERGY STAR’s web page on Green Building and Energy Efficiency for commercial and industrial facilities.
• A helpful ENERGY STAR tip sheet on home green building, A Green Home Begins with ENERGY STAR Blue.