Environmentally preferable or "green" buildings used optimal and innovative design to provide economic, health, environmental and social benefits. In 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was formed by the construction industry a wide range of stakeholders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. This committee based, member-driven, consensus-oriented and non-profit coalition of leading national efforts to promote high-performance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. In 2000, the USGBC created the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. This is a voluntary standard has been designed to transform the building market, providing guidance, certification and education for green building. LEED is a comprehensive, transparent and market framework to assess the environmental performance of buildings. Compared with the standard practice of "green" buildings can provide more economic and social benefits over the life of the structure, to reduce or eliminate adverse effects on human health and even improve the quality of air and water. Opportunities to reduce costs and environmental impacts of land use violations include low-technology, improved lighting design, lighting performance of water, careful selection of materials, energy efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems, and on-site water treatment and waste management. Less familiar innovations include natural ventilation and cooling without fans or air conditioners, vegetative roofing systems that provide wildlife habitat and reduce stormwater runoff, and wetlands that help maintain water quality, while reducing the cost of water. "Hide
by Andrea Larson, Chris Lotspeich, Stephen Keech Source: Darden School of Business 20 pages. Publication Date: August 28, 2004. Prod. #: UV2005-PDF-ENG
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