So much of the time, architects and builders start thinking about how to make a building green, but they do it far too late.  They start when they’re just about to pour the slab, not in the planning process.  That’s a huge mistake, and it could cost you a lot of money.  Or, you could end up with a building that just has a “green veneer” - a conventional building with a few improvements slapped on at the last minute.

One of the biggest barriers to building green is that we don’t know what we’re doing, and we don’t think to ask until it’s almost too late.  A whole generation of builders, architects, and others needs to learn about how to build green, from the ground up.  Let’s take a look at the basic steps - painted as broadly as possible.

The first thing you’ll need to do if you’re interested in building green is making sure you get the right people together.  It can be hard to tell who’s right.  Some “green building experts” have definitely been building environmentally friendly structures for a long time, but they’re not open to learning.  Who wants to build the same building we’d have put together thirty years ago?  Look for people interested in efficiency, new ideas, and smart building.

Once you have those people, include them in the process from the beginning.  Building green isn’t about putting on some finishing touches at the end.  It’s actually far cheaper and more effective to get people thinking the right way from the beginning.  After all, a number of basic design decisions are going to have a lot to do with eventual energy costs, water use, and other issues.  Do it right the first time, and start thinking green right away.

Use an integrated approach to design, remembering that all design decisions will affect other ones.  Thinking things through this thoroughly at the beginning is the least expensive and complicated option in the end.  If you make sure windows are functional, natural daylight is feasible and your building is well insulated from step one, you’ll find that you spend a lot less later on HVAC equipment, lighting, and many other systems.  Operating costs are lower in the long term, too.  Thinking about how everything affects everything else isn’t just smart - it’s a must for a truly green building.

Think in the long term.  Too many builders these days are concerned with immediate profit.  If you’re a builder who’s going to own the building, you need to look at profits and costs in the long term, not right away.  Otherwise, you’ll end up with higher operating costs in the future.  Even if you won’t be operating the building and plan on selling it, efficiency and long term costs should be a concern.  Smart buyers will know they’ll pay less in the long run for a building that’s really green.

Photo by: Michael Flippo -
Fotolia