Bill Brown is an Associate Partner at Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects.

Buildings account for about 30% of greenhouse gases, 65% of landfill waste and about 70% of electricity use, so they are a big part of the energy and environmental problems we face today and they can be a big part of the solution. LEED Certified “green” buildings typically save 30% in energy, 35% in carbon, 30 to 50% in water and 50 to 90% in solid waste for about the same initial cost as code minimum “brown” buildings.  The biggest current driver for green buildings in the market, however, is not energy efficiency or pollution prevention but enhanced environments for people, which enhances learning, health, productivity and retention.

A building built strictly according to code is the worst building you can legally build. A building built strictly according to Indiana Energy Code is the worst building you can legally build in the United States since we are tied with Tennessee for the oldest model energy code. New buildings in the United States use 2.5 times more energy per square foot than do buildings in the European Union.  Our ability to compete in world markets would be enhanced if we can increase energy productivity and people productivity in our buildings.

We just designed two public library branches in Indiana that will make as much energy as they use for an initial cost of less than average library construction. Chrisney Library recently bid for $140 per square foot.

My blog: http://frombrowntogreen.blogspot.com.