If it’s a “green” building, shouldn’t it – by definition – be
smoke-free? Green buildings are not just about reducing the
carbon footprint. Green standards for building are promulgated
by the International Code Council, which states as its vision:
“Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of people by
creating better buildings and safer communities.” The
International Green Construction Code (IGCC) embraces the same
vision. And yet, smoking is somehow OK with green building
design. Both IGCC and LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental
Design) Certification for buildings make allowances for indoor
smoking. In California and other progressive places that ban
indoor smoking, this isn’t an issue. But in the rest of the
world, we’re witnessing the irony of so-called green buildings
filled with toxic smoke. By now, everybody should know that
second-hand smoke is dangerous and deadly. Residue from tobacco
smoke — called third-hand smoke — is dangerous too. Basically,
anything that smells like tobacco smoke is t