
As part of a growing trend in the building industry, green real estate development is in demand from both consumers and investors. Consumers are increasingly becoming more eco-conscious, understanding that how and where they live impacts the environment, their health and their wallet. But what does green actually mean? There are a vast number of organizations that apply different standards to the term “green building” but they each have common foundations:
1. Efficiency
With more consumers focused on conserving resources, home efficiency has become a major economic and environmental issue when constructing new homes over the years. Green buildings are highly efficient because they consume less energy and cost less to operate compared to older homes. Since all buildings represent about 40 percent of energy consumption, reducing power usage through greater energy efficiency could lower greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. Green Building Council said.
A green building conserves precious materials and resources.