Sustainable Design and Construction

Energy

• Buildings use 41% of all primary energy consumed
• Buildings account for 74% of electricity consumption and 80% of electricity expenditure

Water

• Buildings use 15 trillion gallons of water per year
• Up to 30% of that is for use outdoors (e.g., landscaping)

Materials and Solid Waste

• Building-related construction and demolition debris in the
  U.S. totals 160 million tons per year, nearly 26% of all
  non-industrial waste
• 250 million tons of trash is generated per year in the U.S.6
  Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Buildings are responsible for 37% of all greenhouse gas
  emissions in the U.S.
• Fossil fuels account for 75% of energy sources used by the
  buildings sector

Productivity and Comfort

• Studies done by the EPA show indoor levels of pollutants may be up to 10 times higher than outdoor levels
• Poor indoor air quality in buildings can affect health and decrease productivity

NEXT: Xanterra’s Fundamental Elements of Sustainable Design and Construction