What is Green Building?

Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more
resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and
demolition. Green buildings are environmentally friendly, externally and internally, and have a positive impact on the quality of human life.

Green building is often associated with high-end, custom building — but YouthBuild Boston is part of the movement to change that. YouthBuild Boston employs various green technologies and practices in our affordable housing projects. Our recent project at 20 Rutland Square in the South End features a green roof, a co-generation heating system, and energy efficient windows and appliances. The two-family home our students have built at 26 Arbutus Street in Dorchester, recently achieved LEED® Gold certification.

See photos of 26 Arbutus Street

See photos of 20 Rutland Square

LEED Green Building Rating System™

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as a national standard for what defines a green building.

LEED evaluates a building’s ‘greenness’ based on five key areas of human and environmental health:

• sustainable site development
• water savings
• energy efficiency
• materials selection
• indoor environmental quality

YouthBuild Boston is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council. We strive to train our students with green-collar job skills that will prepare them for an increasingly green workforce, and enable them to make a positive impact on our environment.

Visit the U.S. Green Building Council to learn more.

'LEED' and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and is used by permission.