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What is Green Building?

Green building means moving from standard practices to “best practices” by emphasizing quality construction, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, conservation of water and other natural resources, and thoughtful community planning.

The goal is to make sure that the homes we build or remodel today will last longer, cost less to live in, won’t harm people’s health, and won’t put unnecessary stressed on the environment. By safeguarding natural resources and improving the quality of our homes, we can help people, communities and ecosystems thrice today and for generations to come.

Green building has five essential components:

1. Create more livable communities.
As the Sacramento Area’s population continues to grow, more and more demands will be placed on our aging municipal and utility infrastructure. Green building offers solutions for reducing energy and water demands, decreasing traffic congestion, improving affordability, and making neighborhoods safer and more enjoyable.

2. Use energy wisely.
Rising energy costs and energy supply concerns make green building more relevant than ever. Green building offers cost-effective strategies for reducing your home’s energy use while increasing comfort.

3. Protect health.
The unfortunate fact is that many conventional construction practices, products and furnishings introduce air pollutants into our homes. These pollutants can be a particular concern for children and people with chemical sensitivities or respiratory ailments. Green building emphasizes the use of products and construction methods that keep harmful chemicals out of our homes.

4. Conserve natural resources.
During construction, remodeling and day-to-day living, our homes consume tremendous quantities of natural resources, including wood, metals, fossil fuel-based plastics and so on. Green building favors products and construction methods that reduce waste, increase durability, and protect natural resources.

5. Conserve and protect water supplies.
In California, we’re well aware that water is critical—and limited—resource. Green building encourages construction and landscaping techniques and plumbing technologies that protect and conserve our freshwater supplies.