Sustainability

"Green," according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has become the shorthand term for the concept of sustainable development as applied to the building industry. Sustainability focuses on the cyclical movement of materials through the system to reduce our demands for energy, water and resources, and generate less waste.
Buildings account for the largest source of energy consumption in the US, using more than 30% of our total energy, 60% of electricity annually, and produce a huge amount of solid waste. In the Puget Sound region, buildings contribute about 22% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

• Every year, US companies purchase about 3 million desks, 16.5 million chairs, 4.5 million tables and 11 million file cabinets. About half is thrown away annually.

Green building practices are intended to increase efficiency and reduce impacts on human health and the environment. Benefits of effective green building strategies include:

• lower operating costs - can result in 30% energy and water savings every year, as well as lower resource and waste disposal costs
• reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• reduced environmental impacts - in the form of less storm water runoff, reducing the heat island effect and much more
• improved indoor air quality - results in improved occupant health and less absenteeism
• increased worker productivity - studies have shown a 2 - 18% productivity increase, as well as less turnover and higher output
• healthier places to work