Sustainable or “green” buildings are a central feature to sustainable urban planning and
absolutely essential in fighting climate change. Green buildings utilize their design and
construction in a way that minimizes energy usage and pollution so that the quality of life of
its surrounding environment is either maintained or improved. Some components of
sustainable buildings include life cycle assessment, waste reduction, operations and
maintenance optimization, siting and structure design efficiency, energy efficiency, materials
efficiency, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality enhancement.