Green building has rapidly been gaining momentum in the United States as a design protocol and measurement standard for building performance, quality and value. Though many precepts of the concept were established thousands of years ago, it has only been defined and integrated into the building industry over the past decade. Green building is rooted in buildings that minimize resource use, increase occupant health and productivity, and lessen the building's impact on the environment.

A more detailed definition of a green building is provided by the U.S. Green Building Council's "USGBC" LEED Green Building Rating System - the predominant standard in the country. LEED is a point based green building certification system with a total of 69 points available in six categories. LEED