Environmental Science

THIS IS AN ESSAY I RECENTLY WROTE FOR A BUSINESS SCHOLARSHIP TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS.

Four Reasons to “Go Green”

Are initiatives designed to preserve or improve the environment “good” for business or “bad” for business? As people become more aware of problems such as global warming and the depletion of natural resources, business leaders will need to consider alternatives and decide which ways to go.

Last summer I worked as an intern for my father’s construction company and I learned a term I had not heard before: “green architecture” (also called “green building.”) The term is used to describe steps that can be taken to make sure a building is “environment-friendly,” and it is a relatively new concept in the construction field.

In my opinion, running a successful construction business is very challenging. There are many rules and requirements to pay attention to during the process of getting permits and zoning approval. There are economic conditions that affect whether people want to build a building now or later. When the economy gets worse, companies tend to cancel or postpone new buildings. In those times, competition among builders also becomes more difficult, because some companies submit really low bids, just to keep their people working. Weather conditions also affect how the construction phases will go. Sometimes a job that looks as if it will be profitable ends up just covering costs.

Considering all that, I wondered if having another set of requirements to meet to try to build a “green building,” would just make the business all that much harder. However, my father and his partners have decided to view “green building” as an opportunity and are really excited about its possibilities.

An architect or builder who wants to design or build a green building can turn for guidance to an organization called “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This not-for-profit organization has developed a list of steps that can be taken to choose a building site, build the building and operate the building in a sustainable manner. A building that matches the criteria can become “LEED-certified”; a building that meets additional requirements can be designated as silver, gold, or platinum.

For my AP Environmental Science class, I have done some research of my own on this topic.  In my opinion, there are four reasons why it can be smart business to accept and promote the idea of green buildings. First, from an environmental point of view, it is the right thing to do. Second, the people who work in a green building will have better air quality and environmental conditions, so they will be healthier, happier employees. Third, when the building is finished, the owner can expect some cost benefits. Finally, a developer and builder who understand and use green architecture can use their expertise as a competitive advantage.

Green buildings help the environment by enhancing and protecting biodiversity and the surrounding ecosystems by reducing waste output and conserving natural resources. Air quality both inside and outside of the building would also be improved by using more efficient and renewable resources. Many companies are setting goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from their buildings. For example, Citigroup has committed to reducing its building’s greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2011.

Green buildings are good for people in the workplace because workers will have more comfort due to better healthier conditions throughout the area. Also, the overall visual quality of the building and area will be more pleasant. In addition to retaining current workers, recruiting new employees will be easier because people who are concerned about the environment will want to work for companies who take a “green” approach to their business.

Green buildings save their owners money first and foremost by improving occupant productivity due to increased comfort and working conditions. Also the building as a whole will run more efficiently with a large decrease in operating and energy costs, through such measures as reflective roofing materials, energy efficient flush valves, and minimalist landscaping. In addition, space will be saved as a result of a better energy source, such as solar power, so there will be even more comfort for occupants of the building. Wal-Mart is focusing on green practices and is currently testing “sustainable design strategies, materials, and technologies for use in new and existing stores around the world.” Whether in its trucks or its buildings Wal-Mart has set ambitious goals for improving efficiency over the next ten years. The long-term goal for Wal-Mart is “to use 100 percent renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain natural resources and the environment.”

Builders who know how to build green buildings will be ahead of others in their field because green buildings are the way of the future, and those who start early will reap the benefits. Government regulations are expected to be in place in the coming years and may insist that every building occupied by a government agency is a “green building.” Architects, builders and building owners who have experience and knowledge in green buildings will have an advantage over those who do not.

In conclusion, a company that “goes green” will help everyone who comes in contact with that business. People who see and experience that green-company may then use that knowledge to adopt more environmentally sound practices in all areas of their lives. “Green is going to be the industry of the 21^st Century,” says New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, and Citigroup’s senior executive vice president Pamela Flaherty says, “ …over the next five to ten years, green practices will become embedded in how companies conduct all of their business.” As someone who cares about the environment and the success of businesses, I encourage current business owners and future entrepreneurs to seriously consider both the long and the short-term benefits that are results of green buildings. It is the future, so why not get a head start?