Green building practice can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts and improve existing unsustainable design, construction, and operational practices.  The following is a list of the highlights that benefits the environment:

• Achieved over 20 percent indoor water-use reduction with water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
• Achieved building energy efficiency of 43 percent above national average.
• Provided an ongoing diversion of 50 percent of the solid waste by weight from landfill.
  

The building practices utilize green building principles, which reduce natural resource consumption, promote occupant comfort, and have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability in the following manner:

Occupants

• Improve comfort 
• Improve health
• Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environment

Department

• Demonstrate commitment to sustainability
• Demonstration of best practices
• Maintain leadership in facilities design and practice

Countywide

• Minimize strain on local infrastructure
• Enhance the quality of life of our communities
• Policies and lessons learned, which can be shared with other departments

Environment

• Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
• Improve air and water quality
• Reduce solid waste
• Conserve natural resources - water, energy, etc.

• Reduce operating costs - Lower energy cost in HVAC and lighting and reduce maintenance costs by monitoring that provides feedback in performance and pinpoint problems. 
• Improve employee productivity by reducing absenteeism from sickness and improving morale.
• Increase property value.