Understanding Green Building Guidelines: For Students and Young Professionals

Book excerpt: Summarizes the main issues and strategies of the forceful and fast-paced green building movement. Many professions are increasingly producing tools to assist clients in breaking down and understanding the different elements that reside under the umbrella of the sustainability movement. For the design and construction professions, this unpacking often takes the form of green building guidelines and rating systems. This book aims to look at a selection of both national and local green building rating systems and guidelines, ranging from commercial to residential. While the goal is to provide students and young professionals with a solid overview of each product, enabling them to understand the differences and select the most appropriate system for their chosen projects, the book provides valuable overviews and comparisons for anyone interested in better buildings: designers, homeowners, realtors, contractors, facility managers, site designers, and more.