Building Types

Every building type has different design and efficiency needs depending on its function. The EPA offers helpful tools for the following building types.

Homes
Commericial, Public, and Institutional Buildings

Retail Facilities
Schools
Laboratories
Healthcare Facilities

Green Homes

See EPA's Green Homes Web site.

Green Commercial, Public and Institutional Buildings

How can you make your commercial, public or institutional buildings greener? EPA offers tools and strategies in the following areas:

Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings - from ENERGY STAR
Air Quality in Large Buildings - from EPA's Indoor Environments Program
Saving Water at the Office - from EPA's Water Program
Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials

Green Retail Facilities

EPA’s Retail Industry Portal provides access to programs and resources available to help prevent and resolve environmental issues at retail establishments.

Green Schools

EPA's Healthy School Environments serves as a gateway to resources to help address environmental health issues in schools.

ENERGY STAR has energy efficiency resources for K-12 School Districts and Colleges and Universities.

Green Laboratories

Laboratories for the 21st Century is a voluntary partnership program dedicated to improving the environmental performance of U.S. laboratories.

Green Healthcare Facilities

The Healthcare Environmental Resource Center provides pollution prevention and compliance assistance information for the healthcare sector, including information on green building .

Energy Star for Healthcare was developed by EPA's Energy Star Program to help healthcare facilities achieve cost savings through reductions in energy consumption.

Building Healthy Hospitals: Top 5 Green Building Strategies for Healthcare was developed by EPA Region 9 and includes five case studies and a summary of benefits.

For more information about greening the entire healthcare environment, visit EPA's Partnership for Sustainable Healthcare.