Here at the BuilderScrap office, we recently came across this interesting article on the How Stuff Works website about green building and sustainable construction.

Maybe Kermit the frog was wrong: It could be easy being green — at least when it comes to buildings.

“Green building” and “sustainable development” are the hottest terms in construction right now, but what do they mean, exactly? According to the USA Environmental Protection Agency Web site, green building is “the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenanc­e and demolition” [source: EPA]. Proponents say that green building is not only environmentally friendly, but also healthier and more cost-efficient. So what is sustainable development? The United Nations Environment Program defines it as development that ensures our use of resources and the environment but doesn’t restrict their use by future generations.

For corporations, schools and hospitals, “green building” can entail anything from using waterless urinals to creating electricity. But homeowners who’d like to go green often don’t have the big bucks that businesses do. There’s a lot to consider, and the costs can make quite a difference in a home’s budget. Homeowners can save cash by installing new energy-efficient light bulbs, but how “green” is it and how much “green” can it save? And who says what’s green and what isn’t?

 In this article, we’ll give you some tips on making your home more environmentally friendly (maybe you can start by recycling your gray water), and we’ll learn about current legislation and how other countries are going green.

Watch out for the next part of this article – all about green building materials - coming soon