| With the energy crunch impacting virtually | | | | are designed to make full use of renewable |
| everyone worldwide today, the timing for a green | | | | energy sources including solar and wind power. |
| building environment is just right. People have | | | | Buildings are planned for directional use of natural |
| begun their own efforts to become | | | | light and heat sources so that passive solar |
| environmentally and earth friendly, with reuse, | | | | energy can be utilized. They are built with roofs |
| recycle, and renew projects in the communities | | | | designed to hold solar panels, with enough space |
| and on their own. It is only natural that these | | | | facing the sunward side so that adequate |
| efforts are being extended to basics, such as | | | | amounts of panels can be installed effectively and |
| building and construction activities. | | | | with maximum sunlight absorption capability. |
| Most people are familiar with green products, | | | | Added attention is given to insulation use and |
| safe, non-toxic, recycled items such as cleaners, | | | | special sun control on windows, as well as |
| plastic park benches, and other conservation | | | | placement and size of windows to take |
| efforts. In buildings, you can find the green building | | | | advantage of passive solar heat energy. |
| environment at work when you see solar rooftop | | | | Combinations of solar, wind and hydrogen power |
| panels, or water barrels catching rainwater runoff | | | | systems are used to get maximum benefit from |
| for reuse in yards and gardens. Some buildings | | | | naturally occurring, free, energy generating |
| use hard packed gravel for parking lots, which will | | | | resources. Interior lighting and appliances are super |
| allow water absorption, instead of solid blacktop or | | | | efficient, using Energy Star appliances, and CFL |
| concrete. | | | | and LED lighting, combined with automation |
| Some large buildings are now taking advantage of | | | | systems. Solar heat panels for hot water can |
| rooftop gardens and green roofs, that are planted | | | | reduce water heating costs. Some buildings use |
| with highly water retaining materials like moss. Or, | | | | solar roof tiles, to provide maximum collection of |
| the roofs are designed to minimize rainwater | | | | sunlight energy for generators. Indoors, the use |
| runoff. Materials for construction can be green if | | | | of special filtering and air cleaners, non-smoking |
| they include rapidly renewable plants like straw, | | | | rules, and plants helps keep air fresher, cleaner, |
| bamboo, certified sustainable forests, recycled | | | | and less toxic. |
| stone and metal. Other products used are | | | | The final component of the green building |
| non-toxic, or renewable or recyclable. These | | | | environment is to consider disposal of waste |
| would include materials made from sheep wool, | | | | products in an environmentally friendly manner. |
| recycled plastic or papers, adobe brick, clay, cork, | | | | Reduction of waste, recycling of waste, and |
| coconut or other woody fibers, sandstone, and so | | | | separation facilities for reusable waste completes |
| on. There is an effort to save on shipping and | | | | this earth friendly effort. With demand increasing, |
| gasoline use by purchasing materials locally when | | | | and prices coming down with that increased |
| possible, or nearby to the building locations. | | | | demand, this technology is a natural to spread |
| The green building environment is seen in the | | | | worldwide. |
| manner in which buildings are constructed, as they | | | | |