'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."
"
Building Green for the Future: Case Studies of Sustainable Development in Michigan
" (Handbook).
Many of the details provided in the list of the
Green Buildings in Michigan
are from the
U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC). These green buildings are registered with the USGBC under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. LEED provides third party verification that a building is green. Some homes are registered with the Green Built Michigan program, another certification program. Some buildings have green features but are not registered with any certification program.
Green Buildings in Michigan
Below are sections of the Green Buildings as well as a clickable map with lists of buildings by geographic area. For the complete list,
visit Green Buildings in Michigan
.
Introduction and overview
Lists of Green building projects
I.
Green Projects
II.
**Energy Star buildings
**Energy Star generally certifies the buildings as energy efficient but not ‘green' which would also include healthy, resource efficient, sustainable, and other factors.
III. Homes
IV. Other, non-certified, green buildings
To view a list of green buildings for each of these areas of Michigan, select the area of choice on the map below.