Are you still wondering if Building Green is really “the way” to go?

While it is probably the fastest growing “awareness” the human race has ever grown into - one might be surprised to hear how so many of us still wonder if Building Green is “worth” it???

“Building Green” is not only good for the “environment” which it does by preserving energy by not “wasting” it needlessly, consuming less non-renewable resources by choosing smart earth friendly materials, saving time by having systems pre-thought out to not have to do things “in the field” where it can create allot of “standing around” and cost everyone allot more than is really necessary (which is also non-renewable by the way), better for our health which reduces loss of man-hours due to sick days , improving well being and morale which increases creativity, quality and productivity, and by just being THE FEEL GOOD approach to building which we all know the benefits of just FEELING GOOD — but “BUILDING GREEN” can actually save our ‘economy’; — or at least transform the illusory one we’ve been playing in, to one that is actually abundant, fair and sustainably REAL!

Read what Reuters has to say:
http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=4163
More Green Building and Energy Efficiency Could Save U.S. Economy $1.2 Trillion


Source: Reuters
Date Written: 7/29/2009

The typical building in the U.S. leaks energy like a sieve and its occupants usually make the situation worse.

But businesses and individuals could stanch the flow by making simple changes that could yield a 23 percent drop in energy use by 2020, save the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 gigatons annually, according to a new study.

McKinsey & Company released its 165-page report, “Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy,” today. The U.S. Green Building Council and 11 other governmental, non-governmental and private sector organizations helped sponsor the report.
You can read GreenBiz.com Senior Writer Marc Gunther’s take on the report.

The report examines how the nation can increase energy efficiency in buildings and other non-transportation sectors using existing technology and methods — some of them are as basic as using the efficiency settings on equipment and appliances.

The study also takes a hard look at the barriers to progress, why the changes haven’t already been made and what can be done to clear the hurdles.

The report says a targeted investment of $50 billion a year for a 10-year period could produce the big savings and reductions described. In addition, say McKinsey and the USGBC, almost 900,000 jobs would be created.

“This confirms a critical path forward that we have long championed. Harnessing the engine of green, energy efficient buildings can cost-effectively drive tremendous improvements in our economy and environment,” USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chairman Rick Fedrizzi said in statement.

“Green building can stimulate the economy at a level one and a half times larger than the federal stimulus bill. In terms of climate change, a commitment to energy efficiency would be the equivalent to taking the entire U.S. fleet of passenger cars and light trucks — more than 200 million vehicles — off the road.”

CAN YOU IMAGINE? Los Angeles under truly CLEAR blue skies?

YES … Let’s Imagine That… TOGETHER.

Cheers.