Today, smart builders make a point of using green building materials.
Their willingness to use such materials demonstrates clearly their commitment to sustainability.
In addition, a growing number of educational institutions have chosen to do business with builders that take an interest in the sustainability of their creations.
So what allows something that goes into a building to earn the designation of "green"? Well, it should be a renewable substance, i.
e.
a material that nature or man can replace.
It can be a recycled article, a product of nature or a manufactured good that came from a factory that uses an efficient manufacturing process.
An efficient manufacturing process does not consume an excessive amount of energy.
At the same time, it does not produce a large amount of waste.
Such a process allows the creation of "green goods," such as salvaged, refurbished and remanufactured items.
Some such items have been featured in catalogs that are full of home furnishings, as well as hardware for private residences.
Yet not all sustainable items are small things that can fit inside a home.
Green building materials are used during the construction of homes and larger buildings.
Mount Holyoke College, one of the Seven Sisters schools, has used green materials in its new Science Center.
By taking advantage of the benefits of "green" construction, the administrators at that all-girls school have managed to place on campus a structure that has a low cost maintenance.
In addition to having sustainable parts, the new Science Center uses solar powered heating, plus lots of natural lighting.
Meanwhile, the professors that teach the classes in that Science Center make a point of including plenty of information about sustainability issues.
Thus, they help to insure the education of a future generation, one that should welcome the opportunity to use sustainable products.