Building Better Buildings: A Blueprint for Sustainable State Facilities

This guide provides state governments with a common-sense approach to fostering green-building initiatives. It offers an overview of sustainable-building trends and explains how a commitment to green building can help states address energy shortages, dwindling natural resources, and concerns about air quality. Also find ten recommendations — with action plans — to assist in the development of successful initiatives. For example: incorporate life-cycle costing into the state’s outlay program; develop cost-effective standards for building performance, operation, and maintenance; offer technical assistance and outreach tools; and offer incentives to encourage sustainable building. The guide was prepared by California’s Sustainable Building Task Force but is relevant to any state government.