As the world resources are getting tapped out, the creation of new green buildings has never been more important. Green building is important not only to reduce CO2 emissions, but for cost-saving reasons also.
The collaboration of professionals is essential for the future of green buildings. Developers, architects and contractors are more and more aware of the demand from clients for higher environmental standards in their living and working spaces.

In our practice, we have received many more inquiries about building green this year. Even though we tend to meet clients who are environmentally conscientious, they get put off by initial higher cost of green building.The common misconception is that green buildings cost more, which is truein respect of the upfront costs of certain green building products however, the lifetime cost of the buildings is reduced drastically by efficient use of energy, building systems, materials and recycled products.

Even with the many benefits attributed to green buildings, with energy savings perhaps the most publicized, only a small fraction of residential and commercial construction in North America is considered green. However, a recent study of construction professionals around the world found that the majority expects more than 60 percent of their projects to be focused on green building within the next five years. But, perhaps just as important is the vision of another type of green on the horizon.

Integrating sustainable design elements into a project during the development and design phases can greatly minimize costs. But if the sustainable elements are considered late in the game, or subsequently lead to reworking of the entire project, costs can increase significantly. “The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force” finds that an upfront investment of less than two percent of construction costs yields life cycle savings of over 10 times the initial investment.

In other words, spend some now in order to save a lot later.

Surprisingly enough, the green building choices are not that far-fetched from common sense. We all know that it is essential to save water and natural resources whenever we can. Here are the examples of some of those choices:

• Recycle existing buildings and their existing components by renovating.
• Consult design and building professionals in the early stages of the process.
• Orient the building according to local climate conditions.
• Use energy-efficient design practices by selecting optimal glazing locations and sufficient insulation.
• Incorporate natural venting practices by using operable windows, ceiling fans, etc.
• Minimize electricity usage by maximizing natural light and avoiding incandescent light by using fluorescent bulbs.
• Utilize rainwater by using barrels to supply water for toilet and the garden. It is also important to use water-efficient toilet fixtures.
• Plant or maintain local vegetation in order to minimize water usage.

We are all aware of the political and economical obstacles that prevent us making the right choices for ourselves and the environment. We jump to conclusions and get distracted by the fear of change. However, it is imperative to overcome our fear in order to sustain our environment for a healthy planet.

"It is helpful to be conscious of these underlying barriers to progress as we leverage our increasing power to make positive change."

Sustainable Planet
Solutions to the 21st century