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The article focuses on developments in the design of the next-generation green buildings in the U.S., including information on the so-called radical sustainable construction. Provisions of the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building assessment system are examined. Key strategies of radical green buildings construction are discussed. They include integration with local ecosystems, closed-loop materials systems and optimized building hydrologic cycles. Information about other strategies and the evolution of ecological design is presented.

Provides information on green buildings and a historical perspective on the international and U.S. green building movements. Design, construction, renovation and disposal of high performance green buildings using ecological principles for the purpose of promoting occupant health and resource efficiency; Goal of minimizing the impacts of the built environment on the natural environment; Ways in which sustainable construction encompasses the notion of green building.

For many years, Earth itself has been the most tried and tested natural construction material that can also be used to construct modern sustainable buildings in combination with modern methods. Due to the shortage of attempts at merging earth architecture and earth building, the foundation of this study has been provided. The overall purpose of this study is to evaluate the requirements of earth architecture and earth buildings. The current survey is aimed at evaluation of Earth Building Tools in Construction (EBTC) as a new tool for development of earth architecture and earth buildings. All required data were amassed by online questionnaires in the six countries which are evaluated in this study. Based on various aspects of the existing researches, literature review and consulting with few senior architects and researchers, the questionnaires were filled out. A comparison has been made between the responses of ICOMOS members of these six countries. Upon completion the 763 survey responses were compared, which approximated a confidence interval of 95% and a margin of error of ±5%. By the analysis of all responses, it was indicated that an average of 82% of the respondents found a lack of national codes and guidelines in all countries. Results presented in this study could be applied for the development of earth buildings and earth architecture, since having earth building tools in construction of earth buildings is an integral parts of its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]