Green Building

While green building practices are gaining ground in the Houston market, lack of builder education and clear incentives continue to delay the transformation of the building industry. Green building practices impact human health and the environment, as well as offering financial advantages. Green builders strongly advocate design practices that integrate built and natural systems.

In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The United Nations summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 prioritized human health and living standards as the central concerns of sustainable development practices. Although green building has been practiced in the US for several decades, current use applies the principles of sustainable development to the building and construction industries.

Green building aims to help maintain a high level of biodiversity and to minimize the creation of water pollution, soil erosion, air pollution, and the emission of chemical compounds that cause sickness, global warming, or ozone depletion. According to the US Green Building Council, commercial and residential buildings in the US impact the environment by accounting for 65 percent of total US electricity consumption, 30 percent of total US greenhouse gas emissions, and 136 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the US (approx. 2.8 lbs/person/day).

Ideally, green builders take a holistic approach that weighs the environmental impact of everything from choosing a site to maintaining and disassembling the building. Many considerations figure into every decision made and there are different ways to justify the course taken.

Reasons to build green

The main driving force behind green building historically has been the value/savings associated with energy efficiency. For example, in some buildings the cost of high efficiency windows and better insulation can be offset by reducing the size of the HVAC system; this results in lower utility bills and less direct or indirect pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.

Another consideration is health effects. People with asthma or allergies may consider special materials that do not off-gas, thereby increasing their own productivity and saving some asthma/allergy associated healthcare costs.

A third factor is consumer demand. In the last ten years, many more options have become mainstream; it is much easier to buy certified building materials from the local hardware store. Consumers are asking questions about products, and third-party certifications have come about to ensure that products are reliable as claimed.

Certification

The following are a few of many possible examples of third-party certification: Forest Stewardship Council, which certifies that a wood product is from a forest where the cutting of trees is managed responsibly; Scientific Certification Systems, which certifies recycled content; and GreenGuard, which certifies low-volatile-organic-compound or no VOC off-gassing of products.

The challenges to green building are mostly educational. Most are overwhelmed by the decision-making process, knowing exactly what the choices are and their effects. Some efforts are made even more difficult by building codes, because change can be difficult to effect in the building industry.

What You Can Do

As a homeowner, there is a great deal you can do the make your house and yard more environmentally friendly. Many Web sites can help with decision-making, and there are a few workshops in the Houston area that deal specifically with topics based on green building.

Limit use of pesticides and fertilizers
Start with your yard. Limit the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers you use, and make sure that if you do use them, they do not get washed away into the storm sewer, causing water pollution.

Use natives
Planting native plants minimizes watering.

Caulk, seal, and insulate
The cheapest thing you can do to conserve energy indoors is to make sure the windows are properly caulked, doors are sealed, and the hot water heater is insulated.

Buy natural cleaning products
Using natural cleansers in the home can minimize chemical exposure and indoor air pollution.

Progress

Great progress is being made in green building practices on a residential and commercial scale, as well as in education and technology. In terms of residential progress, the Energy Star program is taking off and other educational programs, such as Green Homes 101 by the Houston Advanced Research Center, are very well received. Local architects continue to do green remodeling and build green residential projects.

Commercially, the US Green Building Council’s Greater Houston Area Chapter has had a major impact by informing the City of Houston about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The City of Houston has adopted a resolution requiring new city buildings to become LEED certified. Houston Community College has followed suit with a similar resolution. LEED-certified professionals have aided in this process by educating their clients and others concerning LEED.

Energy Star and LEED programs have created a demand for access to technologies and materials that conserve energy and promote sustainable principles. Stores such as Home Depot carry third-party certified goods that can qualify toward Energy Star and LEED certification.

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