What is green building? Green building strives to improve our design and construction practices so the buildings we build today will last longer, cost less to operate, and contribute to increase productivity and better working environments for workers or residents. It’s also about protecting natural resources and improving the built environment so that ecosystems, people, enterprises and communities can thrive and prosper.
Green building represents a paradigm shift — a crucial change in the way we understand, design and construct buildings today. It doesn’t happen by accident — it requires thorough planning, thoughtful design quality construction.
Is green building really worth the extra effort? We think it is. Green buildings are good for people, good for Bay Area communities and good for the natural environment. Better buildings, it turns, are also better for business. Many Bay Area building industry professionals are finding that building green helps them to:
- Differentiate their company from competitors
- Provide their clients with a higher value product
- Meet the growing demand for buildings that cost less to operate and are healthier for occupants
How do I get started?
- Designers and builders of residential buildings:
We have a wealth of resources for remodeling and new construction of single-family homes. These include design and construction guidelines and directories of green building products and services.
- Designers and developers of multifamily housing:
We've created the comprehensive Multifamily Green Building Guidelines and an abridged version to address the unique needs and requirements of multifamily housing.
- Designers and builders of commercial or civic buildings:
Green Building in Alameda County has developed a green building checklist for small commercial projects. The Small Commercial Checklist is intended to address new construction and renovations/expansions up to 10,000 square feet or $3 million.
We support and encourage larger projects to embrace the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. To learn more, visit www.usgbc.org. For additional resources for developing and renovating civic buildings, go to our Public Agencies page.
