Green Building Not A New Idea But Many New Regulations

What is all the hype about green building, and why is it important to me?

Green building has been around longer than you may think. Using local and renewable materials in building is not a new idea. Centuries ago, villages were built to take advantage of passive solar heat during the winter.

In the 1970's the rising gas prices increased efforts to increase energy efficiency. The environment became a factor in building practices. In the 1990's, green building gained greater prominence, and research continues in the green building industry.

As building green increased, so did the many regulations which cover green building. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 have energy efficiency and sustainable design requirements for federal buildings as well as other types of buildings. State and local governments also have regulations associated with green building. There are federal, state and local funding opportunities for green building as well as tax credits and other tax benefits.

Green building rating systems commonly used in the United States include LEED (U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and GBI (Green Building Initiative's Green Globes). The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star program promotes partnering with builders, managers, manufacturers, and other organizations to improve the energy efficiency buildings, and building components and appliances.

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Tags: Green building requirements, efficient building, environmental building codes, green labeling