Green+Building+(construction)+(Sam+Handy)

** Green Building  **  **Green Building ** is a ** movement in architectural and building circles aimed at creating structures that are occupant and environmentally friendly. Criteria such as sustainability, energy efficiency and healthfulness are considered. (1)

**  **What Problems Does Green Building Address?**  Green construction aims to address the energy crisis. Green Buildings rely on things such as solar and wind generated energy to power themselves. In ideal cases, some structures actually generate more power than they use. At the moment, there are only a handful of buildings of this kind that are completed but many more are being planned or are under construction. The largest existing structure and only commercial building of its kind is the Elithis Tower in Dijon, France.



**When Is Green Construction Useful? **  Green building is always useful. New, energy efficient, green buildings save the owners tons of money in the long run. While initial costs may be higher, the energy bill is so dramatically smaller that the initial costs can soon be made up for. (4) On top of that, the effect on the environment is considerably better. Emissions are drastically cut, and much less energy is used. Solar and wind energy allow for less electricity to be used. Green buildings also le as much natural light in as possible, so there is less of need for fluorescent lighting. Green Buildings also aim to heighten the comfort of occupants by making a clean and efficient environment.

 **Relation to The Carbon Cycle** Because green buildings use alternative energy sources to power themselves, their carbon footprints are drastically cut. The buildings do not need to burn fossil fuels for energy, therefore releasing little to no carbon back into the atmosphere. In conclusion, green buildings leave the carbon cycle undisturbed for the most part. If every building in the United States were green, our carbon emissions would be cut by 35%. (5)

**Is Green Building A Viable Solution? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;"> Green building is obviously a viable solution to protect the biosphere. It cuts back on carbon emissions and eliminates the need for fossil fuels. It improves the environment and the health of the people who live in it.

Possible Consequences <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 25.2px;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> There are not really any negative consequences that green building can have on the environment. The structures use 100% clean and safe energy.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 31px;">**Video**

media type="custom" key="4628740" width="260" height="260" <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">This video describes the green building movement sweeping across the nation and effects it could have. (6)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> **References** <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;">1. (2008). //Industry Glossary//. Retrieved from http://www.windowanddoor.com/article/resource/industry-glossary <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;">2. (2008). //Elithis Tower//. Retrieved from http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/elithis1.jpg <span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: verdana,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: normal;">3. (2009, February 25). //MASDAR TO BE WORLD’S FIRST GREEN METROPOLIS//. Retrieved from http://sensiblecity.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/masdar-to-be-worlds-first-green-metropolis/ 4. Hanford, D. (2008, June 1). //Do Green Buildings Cost More?//. Retrieved from http://www.allbusiness.com/environment-natural-resources/environmentalism/11462610-1.html 5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,. (2009). //Green Building//. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/faqs.htm 6. (2007, March 20). //Green Building Revolution//. Retrieved from http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/view/155