What are Green Buildings, Net Zero Energy Buildings and Net Zero Energy Houses?
“Green buildings," like our Net Zero Energy Buildings and our Net Zero Energy Houses are an environmentally-friendly way of designing, constructing, and operating homes and buildings that increases a building's performance, minimize environmental impact on our natural resources, and maximize the experience for people who work, live and play in these homes and commercial buildings.
Green buildings and sustainable development practices offer an opportunity to create environmentally sound and resource-efficient buildings by using an integrated approach to design, planning and construction. Green building and sustainable development promote resource conservation of our limited natural resources which includes energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation. Green building and sustainable development considers the environmental impact on every new house or commercial building and also considers the life-cycle costs and environmental impact of the new house or commercial building for its entire "life-cycle." Therefore, waste minimization is also an important consideration. Ultimately, green buildings and sustainable development practices create a healthy and comfortable building and environment; reduces operation and maintenance costs over the life-cycle of the building, conserves our limited natural resources, considers access to public transportation and other community infrastructure systems. The entire life cycle of the building and its components are considered, as well as the economic and environmental impact and performance.