This book assesses, for the first time, what the Federal government is doing, in policy and practice, to make its buildings more environmentally sustainable, and provides recommendations for how the Federal sector can make even greater progress.Why is this important? Green or sustainable building is the practice of designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and removing buildings in ways that conserve natural resources and reduce pollution. Green building is expanding around the world, and the Federal government is leading by example. This approach is important for the Federal government (and has become one of our office's priorities) for three reasons.First, buildings affect land use, energy use, communities, and the indoor and outdoor environment. Given the size and scope of Federal buildings - the government owns nearly 500,000 buildings covering 3.1 billion square feet, accounting for 0.4 percent of the nation's energy usage, and emitting about 2 percent of all U.S. building-related greenhouse gases - we have the opportunity and responsibility to reduce these impacts. Using sustainable principles in buildings can reduce these impacts and also improve worker conditions and productivity, increase energy, water, and material efficiency, and reduce costs and risks.Second, sustainable buildings can be showcases to educate people about environmental issues, possible solutions, partnerships, creativity, and opportunities for reducing environmental impacts in our everyday lives. Hundreds of millions of people visit and work in Federal facilities each year. And third, green buildings represent the application in one place of many of the sustainable concepts the Federal government is working on - such as environmental management systems, waste prevention and recycling, and green product purchases.We prepared this book because there is no other single source of information about what all the Federal government is doing to "green" its building stock, and, by doing so, we hope to spark discussion and create opportunities for greater Federal stewardship.

This report assesses, for the first time, what the Federal government is doing, in policy and practice, to make its buildings more environmentally sustainable, and provides recommendations for how the Federal sector can make even greater progress.

A career guide for professionals in sustainable architecture, design, planning, development, and related consulting For those considering a new career or a career change focused on green and sustainable building and design, Becoming a Green Building Professional offers practical information on educational requirements, career options, guidance and tips, and first-hand interviews with green building professionals. Perfect for underemployed architects and other building and design professionals who want to reinvent and renew their careers, as well as students considering such a career, this is a vital and informative guide to a growing field.

Contents: (1) Intro.; (2) What Is Green Building (GB)?: Energy; Water; Materials; Waste; Health; Siting; Serviceability; Disaster Resistance; Integration: Balance Among Elements; Balance Across Stages; Interdependence; Leadership in Energy and Environ. Design (LEED); Other Systems: Performance; Cost; Measurement; Market Penetration; Approach; (3) Legislative and Policy Framework; Energy Policy Act of 1992, and 2005; Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007; ARRA of 2009; Executive Order 13423, and 13514; (4) Programs and Activities of Selected Fed. Agencies; GSA; DoE; EPA; Office of the Fed. Environ. Exec.; NIST; HUD; (7) Issues for Congress: Oversight; Adoption and Implementation of GB. Charts and tables.