An Overview of Green Building Design

Green building design is a newer concept that utilizes several aspects of the construction, planning, and building technologies that have emerged to reduce the environmental impact of construction. In recent years, as more attention in nearly all sectors has been not only focused on green building design more generally, but also focused on the task of restructuring old patterns to create a more sustainable and healthy environment, the building and construction industry has had to make a number of wide-scale changes to the way it has traditionally functioned. "Recognition of the role that buildings have in our environment has led to significant efforts to design, build, and maintain more sustainable structures" (Parris 3). Aside from green building design and the shifting away from certain building materials in favor of those that have less of an impact on our environment, there has also been a shift in the way all aspects of construction and new buildings are designed and intended to function. Despite the fact that green building design is still in its relative infancy, it is catching on and all aspects of the design and construction process are being involved in ways that not only attempt to maximize the short-term benefits such as immediate energy savings, productivity, and aesthetics, but to also employ techniques and ideas that are good for the long-term sustainability and appeal of the buildings on a macro-level.