Ross Spiegel

This book teaches us about how the building industry has impacted our world - especially our environment. Eversince the beginning of time, all actions have different repercussions on how people live. People do certain things without giving it a thought because that is the most convenient and easiest way for them. For example, our ancestors built their shelters according to what their need were and what materials were available to them. They epended on their skills and know-how. Sonn evolve different, sophisticated and advance principles, theories and technologies that came with the passing of time. Man became more intelligent, ambitious, and powerful. This gave birth to a society that is unstoppable and relentless for its quest to be the best, have the best and live the best. Unfortunately, with this came our failure to be efficient stewards of our only home, the earth.

At present, there is a concerted effort to raise awareness towards saving our environment from wasting away. This should not only start from social and political groups but from individuals like us. Individual awareness is the key to promote change. Although this book is mainly for architects and design professionals, architecture students and regular people like us will benefit from this read. We are asked to open our eyes to the environmental problems caused by our decisions in the past but to be responsible to correct these problems now. It is our individual, social, political, economic and environmental responsibility to support sustainable approaches to green building. When we promote the use of green building products, we promote a more efficient, less toxic building that respects the health, safety and welfare of the building occupant and the conservation and preservation of the environment.

With responsibility comes the commitment to invest in the future- a future that was born out of the past and the present, when the present can only learn from the past and be a bridge for the future. The future of the building industry depends on design students, architects, design professionals, building owners, consultants, contractors, product manufacturers,concerned citizens, responsible homeowners and their commitment to the generations to come. This book shares a vision for us to realize. What we do or not do now can have a tremendous impact on the future. Green Building Materials not only guides us to selection and specification of green building materials but also directs us to a future in design and construction that serves to sustain the natural environment. A future where man and nature can co-exist in harmony!… (mais)