Originally developed for Canada, GBI helped to make Green Globes available for use in the U.S. Others also responded to the growing interest and demand for sustainable design including the Green Building Initiative (GBI), which was created to assist the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) in promoting its Green Building Guidelines for Residential Structures. LEED has continued to grow in prominence and now includes rating systems for existing buildings, interiors, and entire neighborhoods. Green Building Council ( USGBC) followed suit and developed and released criteria also aimed at improving the environmental performance of buildings through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED) rating system for new construction. The push toward sustainable design increased with the launch of Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method ( BREEAM), the first green building rating system in the world. These facts prompted the creation of green building standards, certifications, and rating systems aimed at mitigating the impact of buildings on the natural environment through sustainable design. During their construction, occupancy, renovation, repurposing, and demolition, buildings use energy, water, and raw materials, generate waste, and emit potentially harmful atmospheric emissions.

Multi-family residential structures, such as apartment buildings, are also considered commercial structures.Buildings have extensive direct and indirect impacts on the environment. CommercialĬommercial projects encompass those construction projects involving commercial structures, such as office buildings, warehouses, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, banks and community centers. Multi-family structures, such as apartment buildings, are considered commercial structures. Residential projects involve the construction or modification to single-family dwellings, including detached homes, townhouses and duplexes.

For all project types, a green building checklist and supporting documentation will be required with each planning permit and building permit, unless otherwise stated. Requirements and verification methods differ by project type. Project applicants should start preparing their green building application as early in the design process as possible. Rockville's green building regulations (PDF) apply to new construction and renovations, of both commercial and residential buildings. Green building (PDF) is an approach to the design, construction and operation of buildings that aims to reduce or eliminate the negative environmental impacts of buildings while promoting occupant health and productivity.

Construction process of green building