Green Building
Access to GreenFaith's green building website, Building in Good Faith.
- The team behind the green building project at St. Stephen's stand in front of a sign demonstrating their work.
Construction of buildings leaves a big environmental footprint. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings in the United States account for:
- 72% of electricity consumption
- 39% of energy use
- 38% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
- 40% of raw materials use
- 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually), and
- 14% of potable water consumption.
Green buildings - those they operate in a more efficient manner, and use environmentally sustainable materials in construction - are undoubtedly the way of the future. Not only are these buildings better for the environment, but they are also much healthier for building occupants.
- Picture of Adat Shalom's green building in Bethesda MD
Green building is possible within your existing budget, and in fact makes financial sense. An upfront investment of 2% in green building design, on average, results in life cycle savings of 20% of the total construction costs – more than ten times the initial investment (USGBC).
Religious institutions exist in part to set a good example for society, and to are called to make ethical choices. Green building is the answer.
GreenFaith has created a website, Building in Good Faith, which will help your religious institution to undertake a green building project.
