New Ideas in Buildings

Sustainable architecture is architecture which is designed in an environmentally friendly way. The goal of sustainable or “green”architecture is to create structures which are beautiful and functional, but which also contribute to a sustainable lifestyle and culture. Interest in sustainable architecture grew radically in the early 21st century in response to growing concerns about the environment, but in fact people have been building sustainably for thousands of years, because sustainable projects are often practical in nature.


A truly sustainable building will have a design which addresses a number of issues, including heating and cooling, water usage, environmental quality, and energy usage. Architects can deal with environmental aspects of building construction in a variety of ways, all of which are designed to increase efficiency without being cumbersome or detracting from the function of the building. 


Some people love the idea of "greener" buildings, other people view them as too expensive with not enough results. 

http://www.sustainablebuild.co.uk/what-green-architecture.html

This article  gives good information on what standards architects have to meet when designing a sustainable home or building.

http://www.usgbc.org/

The US Green Building Council has a lot of great information about different projects and ideas around the nation

Introduction: What does "Green" mean?

Nowadays, the word "green" is more than just a color.GREEN is a term now widely used to describe buildings designed and constructed with minimal

negative impact to the environment and with an emphasis on conservation of resources, energy

efficiency, and healthful interior spaces.
There is a growing movement of environmentally conscious consumers who are thinking about their finances, managing their money, and making choices for their future in a new way. People are making choices based on whether or not products and services are earth-friendly, ethically-produced and made, recyclable and energy-efficient. This movement is often called the "green movement".
In other words, GREEN basically means environmentally conscious.

Green buildings and fashions are often called “sustainable." Sustainable is defined as “harnessing resources ethically and responsibly without destroying social and ecological balance."

Important links: http://www.gp.org/index.php The US Green Political Party
                        http://www.thegreenguide.com/ National Geographic
                        http://www.green-cincinnati.org/ The Green Partnership for Greater Cincinnati
                       http://www.usgbc.org/ The US Green Building Council