The green revolution has changed our minds about how we build, utilize and dispose of products

The green building revolution has changed our mindsets and brought to the forefront new ideas about how we build, utilize and even dispose of products and materials that were previously overlooked. Businesses and building owners are seeking out innovative ideas and concepts to help the environment and curb our carbon footprint, while fortuitously lowering their own bottom line. The green revolution isn't necessarily new. It began decades ago when like-minded people began to oppose wasted resources and the contamination of the planet. Their fight lead to recycling programs, as well as buildings, work, and living spaces constructed to use half the amount of energy and resources of their traditional counterparts. Green buildings have proven to increase the productivity of workers and are generally healthier spaces. These buildings have improved air circulation and quality through innovative filtering systems and the use of less volatile chemicals in building materials. Green Is Flourishing The green construction sector for the first half of this year is thriving despite the current market conditions. According to a recent Costar report, during the first quarter of this year, four out of the top ten large office leases in Manhattan were finalized as green buildings with either LEED or Energy Star certifications.1 Even small businesses are opening new locations with energy efficiency and healthy living as a priority. An energy efficient space will pay itself off in time and comfort. Owners, architects and contractors are working together to share ideas and new methods to design healthy and energy-efficient spaces. Contractors understand the value of being certified through Energy Star, NYSERDA, LEED or Green Advantage training to grow their expertise and deliver a higher quality efficient product. These certifications educate all trades on how to create and build green working and living spaces for today and tomorrow. Green Strategies You Can Implement Whether you are a small business or major real estate owner, there are many inexpensive green strategies that you can implement to lower your costs, energy usage and resource consumption. Conducting a small energy audit can help isolate your current energy spending. You can do this by simply asking your local service providers to ascertain what amounts of electricity, oil or gas you have consumed for the past twelve months. This provides a simple benchmark to measure against any green updates. If you later decide to renovate your home or office or even just buy some new energy-efficient appliances or just light bulbs you can see the value of your upgrades and get a simple payback cost analysis. Indeed, new products are coming to market each day, harvested from landfills and reengineered to support a new life span. Two great examples are recycled glass counter tops and rubber roof shingles. These countertops and glass tiles are created from old crushed glass and a bonding material to form practical sustainable building materials. A recycled glass countertop in your kitchen is the equivalent of taking 1,000 old coke bottles from the landfill. Old rubber tires are reengineered into new roof shingles, sandals, playground rubber mats, as well as flat roof tiles for large buildings which enhance the insulation and acoustics. The green revolution has inspired such creativity and eco-friendly products from what was just rubbish. If you are still a skeptic take one of many green building tours here in New York this summer with your family and experience the sustainable revolution first hand. I recently came across an old carpenter's reference guidebook my grandfather and his partners used over 75 years ago. ...When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for...2 Ironically, these words ring just as true today. If we do not act today, tomorrow will be too late. Ken Hillman is the director of business development for Greenstreet Construction, New York, N.Y.