I have come to a personal realization that whether I believe it or not, our planet, our world, our humanity, our race is right in the middle of virtually and totally re-inventing itself!  Look anywhere.  Look everywhere!  Just LOOK!  Almost everything is NOW all about getting into harmony with our homes, our businesses, our neighborhoods, our environment, each other - and mostly our planet!  All this talk of “Green and Sustainability” is really about getting in TUNE with what “works” for enhancing our well being as individuals, as a community, as a collective, as the HUMAN RACE!

If we could SIMPLIFY the whole process of this re-inventing process I would like to submit that it boils down to a fundamental notion about “getting into the mind set” of BEING HUMAN IN HARMONY WITH EARTH! 

If we treat her right - she will in turn treat us right with the abundance that she has en masse, and without any doubt!!

So many of us are going through all kinds of varying challenges be it financial, health, relationships…  and in most of the cases I would venture to say that it all starts with something that has gone “out of sync”, “out of harmony”!!    Be it something in our bodies leading to dis-ease, to something related to our “egos” leading to dis-agreement(s), or our Global Economy now suffering from the dis-connect of the ever spinning wheel of “consumption”… leading to economic dis-cord.

If we can find a way to bring these back into harmony, into “rite mind” so to speak…  I submit we could make a huge difference, and quite quickly!

In the meantime - as we “re-member” much of which were in truth already the “ways” of many ancient civilizations…  here is a link that may help us grasp some of the goings on and pick up on some “GREEN SPEAK” at the same time!!!

http://www.metalconstruction.org/design/index.cfm?pg=greendefinitions.cfm

Let’s take some time to reflect and find ways to harmonize, with our selves, with each other, with Earth Mind…  and watch the way our world changes! 

Feel free to voice your comments!

Cheers,

Martial

“If we change the way we look at things, what we look at changes!”

What is the Story of Stuff?

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

You can click on this link to watch the YOU TUBE video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5QAYXp8&feature=player_embedded

Or you can go direct to their website at http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html.

IT IS WELL WORTH THE WATCH!

Ever since 1981,  TEAM PERKA has produced steel frames that were always intended to LAST!  We give it a 40 year warranty - but it will probably last even longer!  It’s made of STEEL!!!   Furthermore they are designed to be “stand alone”.   Which means they don’t rely on the purlins, girts and sheeting (the envelope) to give it the full CAPACITY that is needed.   The frames alone are designed to take it - then adding the envelope can actually ADD MORE strength and more durability!   And when you’re done with them - probably in a 3rd or 4th generation from now… you can RECYCLE it!  It’s STEEL!

We believe in the closed loop designing of our frames…  and doing whatever we can to help all our buildings be made as sustainable as they possibly can.

 While there are some debatable comments in her presentation - this video still explains this concept of a closed loop system quite well!  Whether you believe in the extreme situation of where we are as a society or not - there is still ALLOT of merit to being more responsible about consumption and being better stewards of what we DO have.   These are trying times for most of us - and this ideal can go a long way to help us all both in the short term and the long run!!

We believe it’s about getting our facts straight about where we are as a race, where we’re going, where we REALLY want to go, and then collectively choosing to get there TOGETHER! 

Like ANNIE says –   it wasn’t always this way –   WE CAN CHANGE!

Embarking on this living responsibly through sustainability journey which is actually a returning to ancient ways of respect and appreciation for our lands and its fruit, brings one to a realization that LIVING life fully is ART.   We are born with a blank canvas labelled by “our name or identity” and we thus create, re-create and co-create what it looks like and what image (legacy) we will and wish to leave behind…  When you think of things in that LIGHT - it can sure make this process of “doing the right thing” for our planet and our people - an honor, a privilege, a JOY!

Not too long ago I decided to begin a process of re-inventing myself.  Without dad as my mentor, partner and friend - “doing business” just wasn’t the same.   Much changed.  So now I look for fulfilment by the essence he left behind mixing with one that is now redefining not only me, but our world, humanity and our existence.  

It’s “back to the Ancient Future” …  time to rediscover the roots that makes this planet what it truly can be, in all it’s majesty, it’s beauty, it’s wonder –   A WORK OF ART.

For any of you following along the green r-evolution of our world these days, here is another bit of information that can maybe add a few more pieces to the wondrous puzzle of co-creating a better LIFE on this EARTH…  Please feel free to comment on this or any other blog.   The Internet has helped our world become a lot smaller, allot more universal, where we can actually co-create with fellow beings on the opposite side of the world!!   These blogs gives us full access to experiences, ideas, creations, “100th monkey changes” that would have taken generations to discover.  Now we have access to it all virtually instantly - or as fast as we can read, interact and absorb.  It is more accurate, purer and fundamentally inter-connected.   So let’s use it for the greater good it can offer…  and let’s share and collaborate (world wide) to more effectively truly make our planet, our homes, our lives healthier, more peaceful and the loving place to LIVE that they were always meant to be…

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Renewable energy sources are energy sources that are continually replenished.  These include energy from water, wind, the sun, geothermal sources, and biomass sources such as energy crops. In contrast, fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable.  Once a deposit of these fuels is depleted it cannot be replenished – a replacement deposit must be found instead.  Both renewable and non-renewable energy sources are used to generate electricity, power vehicles, and provide heating, cooling, and light.

Renewable sources of energy vary widely in their cost-effectiveness and in their availability across the United States. Although water, wind, and other renewables may appear free, their cost comes in collecting, harnessing, and transporting the energy so that it can do useful work.  For example, to utilize energy from water, a dam must be built along with electric generators and transmission lines.

Renewables themselves are non-polluting, while the structures built to harness them can have positive or negative environmental impacts.  For example, dams may affect fish migration but may also create wildlife habitat.

SOLAR ENERGY:

Solar technologies use the sun’s energy to provide heat, light, hot water, electricity, and even cooling, for homes, businesses, and industry. Despite sunlight’s significant potential for supplying energy, solar power provides less than 1% of U.S. energy needs. This percentage is expected to increase with the development of new and more efficient solar technologies.

Different types of solar collectors are used to meet different energy needs. Passive solar building designs capture the sun’s heat to provide space heating and light. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly to electricity. Concentrating solar power systems focus sunlight with mirrors to create a high-intensity heat source, which then produces steam or mechanical power to run a generator that creates electricity. Flat-plate collectors absorb the sun’s heat directly into water or other fluids to provide hot water or space heating. And solar process heating and cooling systems use specialized solar collectors and chemical processes to meet large-scale hot water and heating and cooling needs.

Solar technologies produce few negative environmental impacts during collector operation. However, there are environmental concerns associated with the production of collectors and storage devices. In addition, cost is a great drawback to solar power. Although sunlight is free, solar cells and the equipment needed to convert their direct-current output to alternating current for use in a house is expensive. Electricity generated by solar cells is still more than twice as expensive as electricity from fossil fuels. Part of the problem with cost is that solar cells can
The parabolic troughs that make up this concentrating solar power system generate power from the sun on a large scale in California.only operate during daylight hours. In contrast, a coal or natural gas plant can run around the clock, which means the cost for building the plant can be spread over many more hours of use.

Around the United States, available sunlight varies considerably as a result of differences in cloud cover and latitude, and also varies with the seasons. In the summer, longer daylight hours and a higher sun angle provide more solar power, compared to the winter when the sun is up for fewer hours and at a lower position in the sky. These variations must be taken into consideration when planning solar collection facilities.
read on: http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/a_energy.html

There are many initiatives going on ALL OVER THE WORLD.  From governments to grass roots.  The great thing is we’re all pointing to pretty much the same end result: a NEW BEGINNING!   Taking better care of our planet.   Taking better care of each other.   As long as we can make it into a global awareness, a “new” race consciousness - how can we go wrong?

I was speaking with a colleague recently and in our conversation we were kind of like trying to find “new” words for GREEN - or Sustainability - because we were both getting the feeling that we were almost starting to over use them.   We were turning the word “green” into a verb.   While there was nothing really wrong with that - we both felt we just wouldn’t want to turn all this recent “hype” into something that people just end up glazing their eyes over and taking for granted.   All aspects of “GREENING” is very important right now…  Let’s NOT take it for granted!   In fact it was also brought to my attention that if you look around, in almost any U.S. rural town - you will find VERY LITTLE if ANY indication that anyone is “DOING GREEN”!!!  There is allot of “talk” and “writing” and maybe even thinking - which is a great start - but, still, LITTLE is being DONE!

THIS IS A TIME FOR ACTION!  And we must realize that EVERY action, be it turning the tap off between rinses when brushing our teeth, to installing SOLAR PANELS on our roof, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  There is so much “waste” already going on - we can make a HUGE difference FAST!

If you haven’t already - you can start simple - change your light bulbs, shorten your shower time, control your thermostat, seal up your homes, insulate…  AND, if you are in a position to build NEW, take a little bit of extra time and PLAN. 

Below find a GREAT article presented by the US department of Energy - encouraging us to build with awareness.  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial_initiative/whole_building.html

THE TIME FOR ACTION IS NOW.

We at TEAM PERKA are committed to be part of the solution.

Cheers

Whole Building Design for Commercial Buildings

Whole building commercial design considers all components and subsystems during the initial design phase and is the most important step in achieving net-zero energy buildings. On this page you’ll learn more about whole building commercial design and find related information.

Integrated Design Is Critical

Whole building design takes into consideration site, energy, materials, indoor air quality, acoustics, and natural resources. The design team must be fully integrated early in the process to address how these elements work together. The team should include architects, engineers, building occupants and owners, and specialists in areas such as indoor air quality, materials, and energy use.

Integrated building design changes the way architects, engineers, and project teams design buildings and leads to much higher energy performance. To be successful, project teams must:

• Set specific and measurable energy goals
• Develop strategies to meet the goals by planning from the top down and evaluating from the bottom up
• Create a structure that encourages communication among team members
• Make each team member accountable for successfully implementing the strategies
• Evaluate progress toward the goal frequently.

Benefits

Compared to conventional buildings, whole building design reduces the amount of energy required to operate a building by incorporating energy-saving technologies. Benefits include:

• Reduced energy use by 50% or more
• Decreased maintenance and capital costs
• Less environmental impact
• Increased occupant comfort and health
• Improved employee productivity.

Invest Design Savings into Energy Efficiency

Architects, engineers, and project teams can make design decisions that reduce the financial impact of energy-saving technologies. For example, siting a building to maximize daylighting reduces the cost of lighting for the lifetime of the building. In addition, optimizing building envelope design will reduce heating and cooling costs. Savings from these design strategies can then be invested in higher quality windows or controls, which will also reduce energy use.

The High Performance Buildings Database provides business cases for projects across the United States and around the world. The energy, economic, and environmental performance of high-performance buildings is substantially better than standard practice.

Maybe it was because he hated having to pay utility bills when he knew there ought to be a way to tap into all the FREE energy Mother Nature provided.    He was always ahead of his time on allot of these beliefs - so he kept looking for “other ways” …   Among other outside the box ideas, he came up with the Perka Steel Web Truss designed frame back in the early 80’s, this after looking at many other fabricator’s feeble attempts at putting a practical building truss frame together.   He wanted one that didn’t need rubber gloves, an engineering degree, a welder, a set of torches and the patience of Job just to handle!   And he certainly didn’t want one that leaked like a sieve or wouldn’t stand up to winds and snow!  

So he said - “let’s make a frame that is high in quality, that was easy to put up, that was going to FIT when our client’s get it , was designed to help make the overall building be as energy efficient as could be and was clearly worth every penny in value.

PERKA BUILDINGS was born, and from a few napkin sketch concepts dad drew up, we then put a battery of Engineers and detailers together and made sure there would be no cutting of any corners for building code loadings or strength in the structural design.   Note that this was back in the early to mid 80’s - when most drawings and calculations were still done by hand.   We invested tens of thousands of man hours in those designs.   Then we actually questioned any and all do it yourselfer minded family, friends, neighbors, shop workers, staff, managers, distributors and sales reps and took the time to think, ask and discuss what would a DO-IT-YOURSELFER want to see in a set of building frames?  Frames that would go together and up easy and not cause them to become flustered by just too many details.   We took thousands of notes on that.   And then he basically said - “everybody KEEP LISTENING, forever, tools will change, people will change, the times will change.   So if you hear anything from any client, neighbor, relative or friend that gives you an idea of something to do to the frame that can make it even better without compromising integrity or efficiencies - then DO IT!”   And we did.   And we still are.   In our 25+ years we have never really mass produced our assembly guide.   In fact 0ver the last 25 years we’ve maybe added several dozen more features to our many various designs to make things easier and to also adapt to the changing times.   And we’re still listening. 

And then dad researched and consulted with many experts on what makes a building more energy efficient.    The biggest thing that stood out was doing whatever it takes to the frame design to help minimize if not STOP the heat loss from conduction, convection and radiation.   So we did that too.   We made our frames easier to accept super insulators like P2000 Insulation, that can address all these “heat losers” all in one swoop.    We also designed our frames first and foremost to use wood purlins and girts to create the much needed thermoBREAK otherwise created by steel to steel contact found in most other steel frame buildings.  It also added a layer of protection or forgiveness if one did not use one of these super insulators.    Then we also spaced these purlins and girts closer (2′ on center typically) to create a tighter seal to help stop the convection heat loss.   If the air/wind can’t blow THROUGH, neither will the heat!!!   Then marrying the Perka frames up with high reflective materials like light colored metal sheeting or mylar (plastic) covered radiant insulation blockers as opposed to a metal like aluminum, we more fully address the radiation heat loss as well.  By answering to all three of these heat loss transfers - we have essentially co-created one of the best super insulated structures available on the market!

That said…  we can still easily go even beyond energy efficiency from insulation, and truly LIVE the BUILDING GREEN mandate.   To live his point, though ironically just before he passed away, dad built his own 2006 version of his “GREEN” dream home and got to live in it for at least 6 months.  

He used a Perka hybrid steel wood structure custom designed frame system, specially conceived for the high capacity loads of Canada’s colder and more snowy climate.  It was also modeled to allow the structure’s shape to flow naturally with the slope of the land he was on - to keep some of the sacred flow he felt there.   (Rumor was that the land used to be some very ancient native sacred burial ground - though we never found anything during excavations). 

This very unique home was then super-insulated using the P2000 Insulation system with it’s plastic/Mylar reflective covered expanded polystyrene core.  (The Mylar is not a metal like aluminum which can conduct heat - but the highly reflective material gives it as much radiant blocking abilities as it’s counterparts!)   To added extra assurance he also used a high reflector, and yet aesthetically appealing, copper colored standing seam steel roof panel.   The roof was also structurally designed to be capable to eventually receive solar panelling  (which would have been in his future plans, had he not so suddenly passed away).  

Then to minimize waste, and maximum sustainability and the GREEN aspects of his process, Dad also calculated the use of his material drops to finish trims and small wall areas, he used locally bought cedar shakes and region wood planks for wall coverings on 3 exterior sides as well as for most of the interior walls.   He used slices of trees cut from his land for wall covering on back exterior wall, field rock from cleaning his own 3 acres for barrier and retaining walls, used mostly locally purchased secondary materials from either town yards, ”new and used” suppliers or local mills, recycled 95% of the wood material drops for burning or re-use, recycled all the surplus steel to local scrap yards or back to the factory suppliers and even had future plans for rain water capture off his steel roof, plus plans for the addition of a green house and organic garden.  He was the epitomy of DO IT YOURSELF!  He even did most of the daily cleaning and sweeping to keep the work area organized and safe for his locally selected tradesmen.

The point being here that Building Green for dad meant not only energy preservation from the home’s day to day use, but also in optimized material consumption and in harmonizing with what was already available WHERE HE WAS.   The thing he transported up the furthest from his area were the custom designed steel frames which he got from (me) and our factory in Missouri - his son!  And that’s about as ORGANICALLY GREEN as that can get!!  LOL!

The moral of this may be that the next time we sit down to plan a new building, be it as supplier, builder, tradesmen, owner or friend - it might be worth the extra time and effort, in the name of sustainability for our Mother Earth, to look around at all the places we can be more aware of the many things we can do as it regards to what it really means to build GREEN.  Like for my Dad, this process produced not only a beautiful and most comfortable home, a legacy to his family, but it also produced a PRICE LESS gift to our world by reducing his carbon footprint as much as he consciously could at the time.

The bar of our awareness is being raised - let’s build consciously!!!

Cheers!

Martial

P.S. - If we look at things from the BIG PICTURE - it can sure change the way things really are!  And some things truly are just PRICELESS…

URBAN MINING.

Japan is a prime example… in fact their rapidly aging population is leading the way in one town to create a zero-waste community, recycling everything, including valuable gold from old phones. In this town there is no trash collection and no landfill, just people sorting their own trash into 34 categories.
See link below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32460887#32460887

This is definitely something to think about.

We need to know that Perka’s Steel Frames fit perfectly into closed loop sustainability and in zero waste design systems.  And they are free standing sovereign structures. You can put ANYTHING on the envelope.

Soon Team Perka will be passing on opportunities to add off grid energy systems, like solar panel packages, alternative wind energy, and sharing information among and between us as team mates, co-creators and co-spiritors on how to become more enlightened or aware of all that goes into building green - like doing our take-offs with even more diligence to eliminate as much on site waste as we possibly can.   And using materials, that if not useable, can be recycled… and will be brought to appropriate recyclers…

Follow these blogs and the many others on the net - as I will be making a added special effort to passing on as much specific info about “Building Green” so we can not only help ourselves, but help each other and our planet.

THE TIME IS NOW.

Let’s GREEN UP!

VISIT http://hubpages.com/hub/What-Does-Building-Green-Really-mean

Cheers

Martial

It is also becoming a very contagious mindset and is pointing towards a NEW, but very healthy, life enhancing and potentially prosperous direction.   As one of my colleagues said to me just this morning - the more of this lifestyle he takes on and integrates - the more it becomes a daily ”need” to look for or determine another thing he can do to be even “greener” - more sustaining, more earth friendly.  And each time he comes up with something - he gets this overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment!   There is this HUMAN CONNECTION that is formed - that just keeps growing!!  And so if you are then spending less, living off less, growing more, repairing, restoring, re-using, recycling, etc… you NEED less.  And if you NEED less you can virtually end up HAVING more!  More Peace of Mind!  More time for JOY.  More feeling of worth.  More satisfaction.  More health to LIVE.  More of all the TRULY important things in life and an overall great feeling of well being!  Something all those toys and “things” we may have just don’t BUY!

Now many of us wondering - “OK - I am HERE now…  at this particular place and lifestyle that is really not compatible with this cleaner, richer, simpler lifestyle.   How can I get from HERE to THERE??   How can I “get out” of this wasteful home, this wasteful car, this wasteful job or even this wasteful community - without totally turning one’s world upside down in one fell swoop?   Or if not totally “out”, how can I maybe do my part and transform or evolve it in such a way that is somewhat less overwhelming??”

Well opportunities ARE popping up, budding and even starting to sprout.   For example, albeit a bit controversial to some, there is the “Cash for Clunkers” program to help many get out of our older gaz guzzling wasteful cars.  I know it involves some borrowing - but this may help with the transition process that many of us need at this particular time.   Unless we could somehow share in this week’s $182,000,0o0 Powerball lottery - I doubt we could even make a quantum leap to do the change we are envisioning.   But these sort of baby steps, one would think, - if done with full awareness and intention, CAN HELP!

As far as our “jobs” go - well since the “new economy” hasn’t quite started flourishing enough yet - we may want to choose to be happy with any income right now and keep our eyes and ears open for ANY opportunity that may fit our desire for a more sustainable lifestyle…  there are thousands if not millions of jobs coming soon in the whole “rebuilding our world” mission, and most will be quite fulfilling KNOWING that whatever we do, be it a carpenter to electrician, to engineer or receptionist, that it is CHANGING the way we DO things to our planet…  Let’s face it - we are at point where we have to “fix” things, and we can NOT use the fixes that we used to!  So if you don’t know much about sustainable living - start reading, start studying …  join this blog, join the many blogs online that are “spreading the word”!!!   If we all can start doing even some of the smallest things - we will collectively make a BIG difference.

Which leads us to starting this process of building these newer more sustainable, energy saving, zero carbon footprint, closed loop and even OFF GRID homes, businesses, schools, churches, etc… 

IF NOT YOU OR ME THEN WHO?  IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN???  It’s a matter of making the decision and GETTING STARTED, even if its making it a transitional evolution… 

You ready?  But you need some financing maybe?   Well if you don’t have an established relationship with a bank or lender, there are equity lenders who presently have money …  and are ready to lend specifically for projects in this direction  -  in fact TEAM PERKA has found and is collaboratingwith Mid Town Equity who have agreed to work with any client who may want to see if they have enough existing equity to get the seed money to help make this transition into a new “GREEN, ENERGY EFFICIENT, SOVEREIGN AND SUSTAINABLE” building.  (You can CALL now 800-467-3752 for more info.)

It’s a question of making new choices.   Nothing will change unless WE take the steps to make the changes…  WE are the ones WE are waiting for.  JOIN TEAM PERKA and let’s BUILD FOR CHANGE!

Cheers,

Martial

Here are some tips that are profoundly “simple” yet can make a HUGE difference in energy efficiency of a home, school, church or business…  Every once in a while I fall into one of these gems of information that just MUST be passed on.    Full acknowledgement goes to buildingwithawareness.com for their work.  For more amazingly simple money saving AND earth friendly ideas visit them at www.buildingwithawareness.com.   Team Perka is always looking for skilled teammates, of like mind, to help co-create a world that understands the meaning of sustainable, earth loving and respect filled living.  Whether we team up with others by acknowledging their work or actually collaborate on specifc projects, it really doesn’t matter.   The truth of the matter is we are ALL in this world together.  The sooner we understand this notion, seeing each other as TRUE brothers and sisters…  the sooner we can cooperate and collaborate our way to a life that is more abundant, peace filled, joyful and loving.

FROM: http://www.buildingwithawareness.com/green-building-tips.htm

The following four green building tips will make a home dramatically more energy efficient. Someday these simple design suggestions will be part of the design of all buildings, as they add nothing to the construction cost in most cases. Additional roof and wall insulation will make the home even more energy efficient. At the time this house was constructed, code required insulating the roof to R-30. We insulated the roof to R-50 to R-55. It cost just a bit more, yet will reduce energy bills for years to come.

Step 1 Build small and build only what you need. Put your money into visual details instead of square footage. This will dramatically reduce construction costs and the monthly cost of heating and cooling the building.
	Step 2 Face the long side of the home to the south (in the northern hemisphere). This simple step, which is so simple to do, allows the home to collect and use solar energy. The windows facing the south are then able to permit direct sunlight to enter the home in the winter (if heating is needed). It also allows for the mounting of solar panels on the roof to heat water and generate electricity.
	Step 3 Pay attention to window placement. If keeping your home cool in the summer is important, then attention must be paid to the size and number of windows on the east, and especially the west, side of the home. Just because the home is heavily insulated with straw bales, or some other form of insulation, does not mean that is will never overheat. If winter heating is needed, too many windows on the north side will only drain the home of heat.	The west side of this home has only one window to prevent overheating in the summer. Trees can also be planted on this side to shade the wall.
	Step 4 Design the roof overhang to control the sunlight entering the home. The diagrams below, from page 22 of the “Building With Awareness” guidebook, shows why this works. The length of the overhang is easy to compute by looking up the sun angles for summer and winter in your area.
	Winter Sun Angle The sun is low on the horizon at high noon in winter. The roof overhang and windows allow sunlight to enter the home. When it strikes the darker-colored surfaces of the floor and walls, this light energy is converted into heat energy. The thermal mass absorbs this heat and slowly releases it back into the rooms at night.
	Summer Sun Angle The summer sun is high above the horizon at noon. The roof overhang now prevents direct sunlight from entering the home. This keeps the interior much cooler. You can actually design the overhang to cut out direct sunlight in the month that you choose. If your spring season is still cold, more sunlight can be allowed to enter.

Makes sense doesn’t it?

Cheers,

Martial

“Building Green” is not only good for the “environment” which it does by preserving energy by not “wasting” it needlessly, consuming less non-renewable resources by choosing smart earth friendly materials, saving time by having systems pre-thought out to not have to do things “in the field” where it can create allot of “standing around” and cost everyone allot more than is really necessary  (which is also non-renewable by the way), better for our health which reduces loss of man-hours due to sick days , improving well being and morale which increases creativity, quality and productivity, and by just being THE FEEL GOOD approach to building which we all know the benefits of just FEELING GOOD — but “BUILDING GREEN” can actually save our ‘economy’; — or at least transform the illusory one we’ve been playing in, to one that is actually abundant, fair and sustainably REAL!

Read what Reuters has to say:

http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=4163