A green material is one that impacts the environment less over its life cycle than a more common, conventional product would. Green materials benefit not only the environment but also the people who gather the resources and who manufacture and install the product. The manufacturing processes for green materials can also have a lower net environmental impact when all byproducts and wastes are converted to another use or energy source.

A green building incorporates sustainability practices at every step of the design and construction processes, and throughout the building’s life cycle. A building is “green” when its materials, energy, and water use benefit the natural environment and create a healthy interior environment for its occupants.

Goals

• Increase the number of green buildings.
• Reduce solid waste.
• Promote energy sources and products from waste materials.
• Create a business environment to attract, expand, and retain green businesses.

Strategies

• Advocate for green building curriculla and programs to be funded and staffed in northern Arizona high schools, at Coconino Community College, and at Northern Arizona University to create an education-to-business "sustainability pipeline."
• Work with the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program to encourage incentive and rebate programs for green construction.
• Promote and celebrate the successes of green building development.
• Promote the development of one or more Green Business Parks for manufacture/distribution of green products featuring for leaseholder use PV, water catchment and passive solar design.
• Advocate for Tech Transfer (the management of intellectual property including patents, inventions, software, other copyrightable works) to be done at Northern Arizona University, not exported.
• Work with NAU, the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County Community Development to write Model Energy Codes and promote their adoption and implemention.

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