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Green Building Myths
By Greg Roberts, AIA, ACHA, CSI, CCS

Unfamiliar terminology, half hearted solutions, and simple ignorance have led to a number of misconceptions about sustainability. Many building owners are, in fact, achieving sustainable building practices. Most of them are not in the healthcare industry, however. But with more education and awareness, this could change.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most common myths about green building design:

10. Green building is a passing fad. Locating buildings to take advantage of solar orientation, prevailing breezes and natural features, while using locally available natural materials are green building principals that have been practiced for centuries. Unfortunately, we've forgotten many of those lessons, allowing machines and cheap energy to define our buildings and lifestyles. The demand for increased energy and material efficient buildings will only grow as the scarcity of these commodities increase.

9. Green materials are not available. Products such as gypsum board, acoustic ceiling panels, and linoleum have had a certain recycled content for years. Likewise, steel and aluminum have been recycled since World War I. New and innovative products of sustainable natural materials, agri-byproducts, and increased recycled content join the market daily.

8. Owners aren't concerned about being green. Nationally there are currently 23 local and state government green builder initiatives either in effect or being planned. The federal government has many green building programs in place for such agencies as the DOD, EPA, National Parks Service, U.S. Postal Service, and the Forest Service.

7. Green building is easy. It's only common sense. Green design requires much more preplanning and research with a closer collaboration between design and engineering to achieve "living machines" more precisely engineered than conventional buildings.

6. Construction waste management is a waste of time. Contractors have demonstrated that construction waste management not only saves money, it actually generates a profit through recycling, while providing a cleaner, safer work place.

5. Green buildings cost more. Achievement of sustainability through an integrated balance of materials and systems has shown that green buildings can be as cost effective as conventional projects.

4. Green building is the architect's responsibility. Green building requires a close collaboration and self-conscious effort between all participants.

3. Green buildings look strange or different. There is no such thing as a green architecture or a green aesthetic. The application of design expression is no different than with traditional architecture.

2. Green building information is not available. The focus on sustainability has produced a tremendous amount of information. It's not just coming from academia or industry but from all corners of intelligent thought.

1. Green buildings don't work. Green buildings, while offering greater occupant satisfaction, are proving to be far more efficient to operate, and healthier work environments.

Greg L. Roberts, AIA, ACHA, CSI, CCS, is an associate and senior specification writer with Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects in Houston, TX. A member of the Texas Society of Architects' Sustainable Environment Committee, he is chairman of its Green Building Subcommittee. He has also lectures on sustainability and is the author of "Shades of Green," a series of eight articles published this past year in the Houston CSI chapter newsletter, SPEC.tectonics. He can be reached by e-mail at groberts@whrarchitects.com.