Green BuildingThe environmental, sustainable, or "green" movement has been around since the mid-20th century. However, due to various cultural, political, social and technological factors, the trend of going “green” or becoming environmentally friendly has almost become a norm in most industries, be it automotive manufacturing or construction housing. Global warming is a growing concern around the world, and green building has been one way to stop and, in some cases, combat some of the damage already done to the environment. Green construction has been a rapidly growing industry, especially considering that the housing market is currently in an early, post-recession recovery phase. Inc. recently ranked it as one of the top industries of 2014. Additionally, the U.S. Green Building Council stated that “total industry revenue is expected to grow to $245 billion by 2016” (Lapowsky). to the beneficial effects on the environment and human health in the most environmentally friendly way. The goals of a green facility are to efficiently use water, gas, electricity and other resources, preserving the health of the inhabitants and improving their productivity. Additionally, green buildings strive to create no waste and pollution, resulting in minimal impact on the environment. The greenest building is the one that itself isn't built. The construction process usually damages the project site, negatively affecting the surrounding environment. Furthermore, it is for this reason that it is very advantageous to undertake a retrofit project, where the builder rebuilds an existing structure to make it more environmentally friendly. Efficiency is fundamental in respecting the environment... at the heart of the paper... significant savings on energy costs. Furthermore, the environmental benefits are beneficial to the owners and users of the project. Residents will benefit from improved health, thanks to efficient circulation, air and HVAC systems. The lower overall operating costs offset the significant upfront costs of the project. All in all, green building is gaining significant momentum as a major new trend in the construction industry. The return in terms of employee health, community benefits, energy efficiency, construction process efficiency and efficient waste use is worth the significant initial cost. This trend is set to proliferate and green building will likely become a norm in the industry. According to the US Green Building Council: “Within the next two years, more than half of all commercial and institutional buildings will have a bold green hue”..”