Smarter Business: Greening Advisor

Construction/Renovations/Interiors Overview

The materials we use for buildings and the energy buildings use engender environmental impacts. In fact, forty percent of all global warming pollution comes from residential and commercial buildings. Green buildings that use environmentally preferable construction materials and techniques are designed to minimize those impacts, reducing water and energy use, minimizing waste and making better use of natural features like shade, daylight, and rainwater. In so doing, green buildings reduce impacts on biodiversity, global warming, and other environmental pressures.

Building renovations are an opportunity to improve your company’s environmental performance while potentially realizing cost savings. Visit NRDC’s Building Green, an award-winning website designed for businesses and building professionals who are considering new green buildings or renovations.

When planning new construction projects, consider the following: Can this building consume less energy? Less potable water? Fewer raw and toxic materials? How can access to the building be improved ecologically through access to public transit, bicycling, walking or carpooling? Can diesel pollution be reduced during construction?

Additional Resources

• NRDC Green Building Links
• Department of Energy’s Building Tool Kit for Design, Construction, and Renovation
• A Guide to Green Maintenance and Operations
• Santa Monica Green Building Guide
• New York City High Performance Building Guidelines