The idea that buildings and communities should reduce their impact on the environment—what’s called green building--has become a huge part of the building industry. This is the EcoMinute and I’m Cristian Wagley. New buildings have a large environmental impact, so programs like the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED for short, and regional programs like those of the Florida Green Building Coalition, have emerged to guide us toward a more sustainable built environment.
Certifying a building or community to the standards of these programs provides a third party guarantee that meaningful green standards have been met. Building green can mean reduced energy and water use, healthy indoor air, durable and efficient materials, neighborhoods friendly to walking, bicycling, and transit, disaster mitigation, and much more.
