当今，美国人对“绿色建筑”的概念还很模糊。“绿色”会使人联想到节能，如使用太阳能源，或者用稻草建的房屋。绿色建筑有更深刻的含义，而我们也是其中的一部分。绿色建筑不仅仅指节能，它代表着未来人类发展的方向。
　　美国绿建筑委员会将绿色建筑定义为“在设计和构造方面体现出高能效、高使用效率和环保的建筑和生活环境。”这个概念比我们认为的要广泛得多，不只是针对新建建筑，还涉及已有建筑、周边环境和个人生活。
　　绿色建筑旨在减少人类对环境的压力，其目标是：
　　·更有效地使用能源、水资源和其他自然资源；
　　·发展生产力的同时要保证个人和环境的健康；
　　·减少资源浪费、污染对环境的负面影响。
　　绿色建筑使我们关注环境，提高资源利用率，我们称其为“生命循环”，即延长人类寿命，做到这点就要改周围环境，合理利用水资源，使建筑的设计、构造、运行、维护、改造和拆除都在不影响环境的前提下进行，同时还要保证建筑的实用和耐久性。而这些都将造福于人类。
　　现在人们通过回收垃圾，开混合动力车，使用纸质购物袋来保护环境，但我们也应该节约用水，拒绝使用信封，美化环境。例如，美化环境可使土壤保持健康，有利于节省能源和水资源。
　　建筑师们也在学习如何建造绿色建筑。绿色建筑的要求也许有些很难达到，但的确是可行的。许多全新的建筑理念要运用在建造过程中。绿色建筑的理念也将被继续推广下去。

What does 'green building' really mean?

　　In today’s challenging economic times, most Americans go blank when they hear the words, “green building.” Many associate “green” with expensive energy-saving solutions such as solar panels, sod roofs or straw-bale homes. But the depth and scope of sound green building affects us all as we become a part of building a better, more sustainable future. It’s more than energy conservation: it’s a matter of future preservation.
　　The U.S. Green Building Council defines green building as “the weaving together of many energy-efficient, resource-efficient and people-friendly practices in the responsible design and construction of our buildings and living environments.” That applies to each of us every day in more ways than we think. It’s not just new buildings but our existing structures, surrounding environment and personal lives that will benefit.
　　Green building is a process of consciously thinking how to reduce our personal and global impact on our environment. The goals are:
　　·Efficient use of energy, water and all other natural and material resources
　　·Protecting our personal and global health while improving human productivity
　　·Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
　　This is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient stewardship or as we call it: “life-cycling.” Just as we want to extend our human life, so should we aspire to extend our environs  life-cycles through better landscaping, water usage, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition. This extension of classic architects’ practices of building design for economy, utility, durability, and comfort can apply to everyone, young and old.
　　We all recycle our trash, buy hybrid cars and carry personal shopping bags, but do we reduce our water consumption, install better envelope insulation or improve our landscaping for a better life cycle? For example, improved landscaping and healthy soil can contribute significantly to energy  and water savings.
　　Architects are trained to do this but in today’s world it takes a cadre of expert consultants to make today’s buildings green. The scope may seem daunting and yet achievable if we apply simple common sense. Many of these concepts are new to the traditional vertically integrated design process and we of the Napa Valley Architects Exchange are dedicated to assisting and educating Napa on the merits of green building.