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Reprints an article on green building which originated as an internal NIBCO memorandum to the company's wholesale sales force, dated July 17, 2005. Discussion on how a building can become a green building through design and construction; Role of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in determining whether a building is considered green or not; Objectives of the creation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System; Reasons for having a green building.

The article examines the U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) third-party certification in the evaluation of green building rating systems. The author explains that the certification provides an independent review of a product or service to determine its compliance with the published standard to prevent the conflict of interest when manufacturers rate their own performance against a standard. An overview of the Potential Green Building Certification Systems of the GSA is provided.

Answers questions related to how contractors can find a market to improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort for existing commercial buildings in the U.S. Recognition of contractors in Energy Star programs; Invitation to bid in the retrofit of buildings.

Reports on the recommendation by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) on building designs for lifelong efficiency. Use of a lifecycle environmental approach to the design and operation of buildings; Reduction of energy consumption during its lifetime.

This article deals with the emergence of energy-efficient designs in the field of U.S. architecture. For instance at the California Department of Transportation, each face is computer modeled and built to respond to the conditions particular to that side. A lighting control system cuts energy use further. There are several barriers to the widespread implementation of energy-efficient-design strategies, according to Leon Glicksman, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Building Technology Program.

The article reports on the use of renewable energy certificates (REC) in the U.S. It states that there is little economic motivation for developers to invest in expensive renewable projects that produce commodity electricity. REC purchasers can then attest to have supported a specific unit of energy going into the power system, offsetting the need for an equivalent amount of traditional energy and its greenhouse gases.

Reports on developments related to the heating and ventilation industry in the United States as of May 21, 2001. Launching of a plan by the Department of Energy to make homes more energy efficient; Decision of Yaskawa Electric America Inc. with Saftronics Inc. to discontinue their brand-label agreement; Release of a study guide by the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society.

Focuses the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system which was devised as a voluntary, consensus-based U.S. standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Development of LEED by the members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) representing all segments of the building industry; Alliances forged by the USGBC with numerous public and private organizations, as well as government agencies; Government agencies' institution of requirements and incentives for LEED certification of public projects.