Green building creates ;lexntr demamds, oppelrtffinities

/1 REEN is the color of the future \fin the construction and building materials industries. The release of new national green building standards and expanding requests from the marketplace are creating new demands for information about the environmental qualities of building products and construction practices in residential building.

In recent years, the green building trend has been seen mostlv in com- mercial construction, influenced by growth in the use of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. The number of commercial projects that are LEED certified has increased by more than TOVa a year, according to Jerry Yudelson. author of The Green Building Revolution. Yudelson said the federal government, 20 states, and more than 60 cities require public buildings to meet green standards. For residential construction. the green building trend has moved slower but may begin to accelerate as two national green building standards hit the market and will soon vie for the attention of both home builders and home buyers.

A LEED for Homes ratings system rvas released in November, following

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