Why The Green Building Institute?
In the U.S. alone, buildings represent 39% of primary energy use, consume 12.2% of our potable water (15 trillion gallons per year), and 40% of global raw materials. Release of pollutants indoors can be 25 to 100 times greater than outdoors – an unsettling amount considering that people are estimated to spend about 90% of their time indoors. Green buildings significantly reduce these environmental burdens, as well as provide a healthier place to inhabit. Additionally, the green building market presents increasingly exciting and plentiful business opportunities.
