Construction Environmental Resources

The construction and operation of homes and commercial buildings contribute significantly to a community’s landuse and transportation impacts as well as the energy demand.  According to the US Green Building Council, buildings are responsible for:

 §         65.2% of total U.S.electricity consumption

 §         30% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions

 §         136 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the U.S. 

 §         12% of potable water in the U.S.

 §         40% (3 billion tons annually) of raw materials used globally 

Efforts known as ‘green’ building and deconstruction are working to minimize these impacts.    ‘Green’ or sustainable buildings have the following benefits.  They:

1. Are highly energy efficient which reduces monthly operating costs and reduces the dependence on foreign oil;
2. Use less resources which reduces the demand on power plants, drinking water supplies, sewers, etc. and thus reduces the building’s environmental impact – this means cleaner air and water;
3. Encourage the use of local, sustainable resources;
4. May result in increased worker productivity and reduced sick leave, and provide a more comfortable working and living environment; and,
5. Create new building materials and services industries and jobs.

Policy makers, the building industry and all of us have a vested interest in ensuring that new buildings are designed and constructed efficiently.  The DEQ has developed this Web site to help green building and deconstruction activities in Michigan.    The site has links for commercial and residential construction.  The issues covered include everything from: air quality and burning;  Brownfields;  Land Use; Stormwater; Wetlands and everything in between.  It’s meant to be a one stop shop site for construction issues.  It allows developers to go to a single site to get compliance information as well as information on green building or help the home owner learn how to use native plants for rain gardens or water conserving landscapes. 

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