10 Tips For Building Green On A Standard Budget

Lockwood's rules include keeping focused on the big picture, using alternative materials, and staying mindful of water. With these simple rules, he argues, just about any company can build green on a standard budget. Going green is crucial to keeping competitive in an environmentally conscious world.

"Companies as diverse as Bank of America, Genzyme, IBM, PNC Financial Services Group, and Toyota—as well as home builders, retailers, health care institutions, government, and others—will bring green buildings fully into the mainstream over the next five to ten years."

"Owners of standard buildings, therefore, face massive obsolescence. They must act now to protect their investments. Citigroup has already begun looking at how its 100 largest buildings stack up against accepted green standards, and it is creating a green roadmap to help improve the efficiency of its buildings."