Green building programs are changing the landscape of American urban design. Cities are beginning to embrace green architecture as a way to improve sustainability and reduce their environmental impact. Green building has come a long way in the past few decades, and it is now an important part of our society.
Here, we will explore the history of green building programs in the United States and discuss why they are so important for our cities.
Green Architecture in the 21st Century
Green building is a term used to describe the process of designing and constructing buildings with the environment in mind. This includes using sustainable materials, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing the overall impact of the built environment on our planet.
In the 21st century, this approach is replacing previous beliefs about building and urban design. Universities everywhere are teaching the importance of sustainable practices to the future of our built environment. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable building practices and provides Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
The History of Green Building Programs in the US
The history of green building programs in the United States can be traced back to the early 1970s. At that time, there was a growing awareness of the need for more environmentally friendly practices in the construction industry. The first green building code was developed in 1976 via the Energy Conservation and Production Act, and it has been updated several times since then.
The first green building program was established in 1978 by the Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE’s goal was to reduce the energy consumption of new buildings by 30 percent. This program spurred a movement that would eventually lead to the development of LEED certification and other green building standards.
In 1993, the USGBC was founded with the mission to “transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future.” Since then, the USGBC has been instrumental in promoting green building practices in the United States. In 2000, it developed the LEED rating system, which has become the most widely used green building standard in the world.
A Changing Approach to Urban Design
The way we think about urban design is changing as well. In the past, cities were designed for cars instead of people. This resulted in large highways cutting through downtown areas and neighborhoods being isolated from each other.
Nowadays, there is a shift towards designing cities for pedestrians and cyclists. This new approach is called “complete streets” or “active transportation.” The goal is to create a more sustainable and livable city by reducing dependence on cars, encouraging walking and biking, and improving public transit.
As cities become more densely populated, it is crucial to consider the health of residents when designing urban areas. For example, parks and green spaces are essential for providing residents with a place to relax and exercise. In addition, trees can help to reduce air pollution and noise levels in our cities.
US Cities Embracing Green Building
In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional design principles in American urban areas. Cities are starting to realize that they need to address climate change and other environmental issues if they want to be sustainable in the long term. As a result, many of them are now incorporating green building practices into their urban design plans.
Many cities across the United States have already started to embrace green building practices. San Francisco has been a leader in this area, and it requires all new buildings to meet certain sustainability standards. The city has also created an Energy Action Plan which sets goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy efficiency.
Boston is another city that is working towards becoming more sustainable. It has a goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 80 percent by 2050, and it is using green building practices to help achieve this. Chicago is also working on improving its sustainability, and it has set a goal of having all new buildings be carbon-neutral by 2030.
Why It Is So Important
Cities need to start incorporating green building practices into their urban design plans because it will help them become more sustainable in the long term. Green building not only reduces the impact of the built environment on our planet but also makes cities more resilient to climate change.
In addition, green building can have several other benefits for cities. It can create jobs, improve public health, and increase property values. As more and more cities start to adopt green building practices, we will begin to see a major shift in the way our urban areas are designed.
A Greener Future
As cities continue to grow and become more densely populated, it is important to consider the environment when designing urban areas. Green building practices are a great way to create more sustainable and livable cities as well as create a greener future for our planet.
Bill Starkey 