ABSTRACT
The concept of designing structures for effective economical operation and maintenance is decades old. This idea can and should be one of the main themes of “green building” because it can effectively reduce the amount of resources consumed. This creates an opportunity for the construction industry as a whole to play a major role in the push toward green engineering, particularly because they consume a large fraction of energy and nonrenewable materials. The life cycle of a structure breaks down into three main phases where green principles can be applied: construction, maintenance, and demolition.
