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 increased 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.
To achieve these goals, green building promotes a whole-systems approach to the planning, design, construction and operation of buildings. This comprehensive approach benefits communities, residents and businesses by:
- Improving construction quality
- Increasing building longevity
- Reducing utility, maintenance and infrastructure costs
- Protecting the health of workers and residents
- Enhancing quality of life in our communities
What resources are available for Alameda County’s public agencies? We work with Alameda County Waste Management Authority’s 17 member agencies to help their staff and elected officials make informed decisions about green building in their communities. We provide technical assistance, design assistance, grants, presentations and trainings.
We have also created model documents that are available for download from this website, as well as design and construction guidelines and directories of green building products and services. We invite you to take advantage of the free publications and tools available here.
