Michigan is a state leader in ‘green' building.
'Green' building is an effort to improve the energy, environmental and health impacts of buildings. Such buildings may look like the building next door but are built and operate extraordinarily well. As stated in the Handbook below: "'Green' buildings use resources like energy, water, materials, and land much more efficiently than buildings that are simply built to code. They create healthier working, learning, and living environments with more natural light and cleaner air, and they contribute to improved inhabitant health, comfort, and productivity. Sustainable buildings are cost-effective for developers by reducing construction costs and creating buildings that are in high demand. These buildings also save owners money by reducing operations and maintenance costs, lowering utility bills and increasing productivity."
To view a list of the many Michigan green buildings throughout the state, visit Green Buildings in Michigan. Information on many of these projects is from the U.S. Green Building Council.
A separate listing of green roofs is available at: Michigan Green Roof Projects
Michigan Green Building Examples
The list of green buildings above, provides links to more details on some of the projects. An in depth resource, is the "Building Green for the Future: Case Studies of Sustainable Development in Michigan" (Handbook)1. This 108 page Handbook, shares detailed stories and benefits of some Michigan green building efforts. It has some striking photos and tells of the successes in schools, libraries, commercial and government buildings and others. The examples show what 'green' building is and why it is important. In particular, note the matrix in the front. The matrix directs the reader directly to which stories and pages to find discussion on each of the many topics of green building: economics, stormwater, brownfield, etc.
MDEQ's District Office, located in Warren, Michigan, is a certified "green" state office building.
If you have projects to add to these lists, contact fieldsm@michigan.gov
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1 The Handbook was created by the Urban Catalyst Associates.
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