Unfortunately, the modern buildings we live and work in rival
cars and factories as sources of harm to the environment,
contributing to deforestation, global warming, overuse of water
and energy and carbon dioxide emissions. Sustainable building
refers to those buildings that are built to have the least
impact on the natural environment, both in terms of the building
itself, its immediate surroundings and the broader global
setting. To construct in a sustainable way, some basic rules
need to be followed: (a) minimization of non-renewable resource
consumption; (b) enhancement of the natural environment; and (c)
elimination or minimization of toxic emissions. Almost every
step of the green building process is heavily focused on how
building elements fit together to optimize efficiency and
sustainability. Sustainable development marries two important
themes: 1. Environmental protection does not preclude economic
development. 2. Economic development must be ecologically viable
now and in the long term. “Sustainab