These modern building materials are very energy intensive consuming large amounts of energy and other natural resources and harming the environment around them. Not only that, even after a building comes up they demand vast amounts of energy for heating/cooling, lighting etc. Buildings consume approximately 37 per cent of the energy and 68 per cent of the electricity produced in the United States annually, according to the US Department of Energy. Buildings produce roughly a third of carbon dioxide emissions and other emissions that harm air quality and contribute to global warming. As energy prices and atmospheric temperatures continue to rise, energy efficiency techniques and green building can help reduce operating and consumption costs — and slash greenhouse gas emissions as well.

Green design is the catch-all term for a growing industry trend within the fields of architecture, construction, and interior design. Also referred to as "sustainable design" or "eco-design", the broad principles of green design are fairly simple: choose energy efficiency wherever possible; work in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the project site; and use materials that are sustainably grown or recycled rather than new materials from non-renewable resources. Moreover, a well-designed "green" building can be cheaper to build and operate over the building’s lifetime.