Understanding the Consequences
of Our Actions

• Ecological Footprint: The U.S. has 5% of the world's population, but consumes over 30% of the world's resources.

• Building construction consumes 40% of the raw stone, gravel and sand, and 25% of the virgin wood annually.

• Building operations consume 36% of the energy, 67% of the electricity, and 12% of the potable water produced annually.

• Building construction generates 22 lbs. of waste per square foot; in 1996 over 136 million tons of construction wastes were generated.

• Buildings contribute to global warming; 30% of the increase in CO2 is due to building activities - 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases are emitted per person annually in the U.S.

• 7 million tons of office paper are discarded annually; recycling three cases of paper saves one tree.