What is green building? THE ARTICLE TO READ FROM
As defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green building is the practice of maximizing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use resources (energy, water, and materials) while minimizing building impacts on human health and the environment, from siting, design, and construction, to operation, renovation, and reuse. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high-performance building.

These groups in the United States are taking the lead in green building initiatives:

The US Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building certification system and voluntary consensus-based national rating system. Developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in March 2000, LEED provides commercial and residential building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.

LEED Professional Credentials, such as LEED AP and Green Associate, which recognize professionals who have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building techniques, the LEED green building rating systems, and the certification process. LEED certification is identified as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, depending on design implementations.

What Do Green Buildings Look Like?
Green buildings can be built from the ground up or reconstructed from existing buildings using revamped, recycled, reused, and renewable resources. They create healthy indoor environments for human use and healthy outdoor environments for nature’s use. They usually encompass landscaping with native plants, which reduce the amount of water used. Two examples of green buildings are Fusionopolis in Singapore and Hearst Tower in New York City.

Fusionopolis is a 15-story skyscraper featuring a 1.4km-long “spine” of vegetation nourished by sunlight directed via a series of prisms. The vegetation insulates the complex in the winter and provides passive cooling in the summer. Fusionopolis and Biopolis buildings center the National University of Singapore and Science Park, making up an entire integrated ecosystem.

Hearst Tower in New York City is a reconstructed and revamped building incorporating green building additions. The designers employed pioneering technologies in order to conserve and more efficiently use water. For example, Hearst's roof has been designed to collect rainwater, reducing the amount of water dumped into the city's sewer system by twenty-five percent. The rainwater is then harvested in a 14,000-gallon reclamation tank located in the basement of the tower. The water is used to replace water lost to evaporation in the office air-conditioning system. It also feeds into a special pumping system to irrigate plants and trees throughout the building. The captured rain is expected to produce about half of the watering needs while also serving to humidify and chill the tower's ten-story atrium.

Energy Star and Energy Policy Act 2005
The ENERGY STAR and Energy Policy Act of 2005 introduced tax credit opportunities for solar and energy-efficient buildings and homes. It also mandated that all new federal buildings be built “green.” Each federal agency must incorporate energy-efficient criteria consistent with ENERGY STAR products. ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy-efficient products and practices. It was established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy. It also makes it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort.

Many states have mandated “green” legislation incorporating all state buildings and schools for new construction and rebuilds. In 2003, Arizona began promoting its energy conservation efforts in state buildings and universities. It set specific energy-use reduction goals and required buildings to purchase ENERGY STAR efficient products. The mandate also required new state buildings to meet energy conservation standards developed by the Arizona Department of Commerce’s Energy Office.

Green Schools
Green schools provide healthy, comfortable, and energy-, water-, and resource-efficient environments for children. The schools are easy to operate and maintain and have a lower environmental impact. Desert Edge High School in Goodyear is the first public school building in Arizona to earn Silver LEED certification. The building is twenty-eight percent more energy efficient than a standard design, saving the school district about $58,000