The practice of green building is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern construction. Sustainable building materials are a priority in the industry and to our customers, so we like staying on top of new developments in the practice. In addition, Humboldt Redwood lumber products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified may be eligible for credits under the various green building certification programs.
Effective green building must start with strategic design and construction, and then continue throughout a building’s life cycle of operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. The goal is to create structures and use processes that are environmentally responsible and make efficient use of resources every step of the way.
Green building is measured by a few different variables. For one, the use of natural resources such as energy and water must be as efficient as possible. In addition, many green building standards give preference to the use of renewable materials. Real Humboldt Redwood lumber products are an example of renewable materials, grown and harvested in a responsible manner. Furthermore, there should be a focus on reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation in all processes. And of course, the protection of occupant health and safety is a major component of green building.
In the early 1990s, organizations promoting green building came to the forefront. The building design and construction industries have since come to accept and embrace green building. Today it is considered a valuable and important practice. In fact, it is estimated that 92% of design and construction professionals nationwide now support it. By the end of this year, it is projected that green building construction in the U.S. will be valued at approximately $60 billion.
The U.S. Green Building Council is one of the most prominent organizations, which emerged during the early years of the trend in 1993. The USGBC mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. There are more than 18,000 member organizations under the USGBC non-profit umbrella.
USGBC developed the well-known Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system for green building. LEED provides voluntary, third-party certification based on a framework that accounts for every element of a building’s life cycle. The LEED framework is referenced by architects, engineers, construction managers and even government officials looking for a complete approach to green building.
