From TheTyee.ca -Jan 7, 2011

by Monte Paulsen

Green buildings have earned a reputation for being
large, complicated and absurdly expensive. This is particularly true in
Vancouver, where taxpayers are still forking out millions of dollars a
month in interest payments on the world’s first LEED Platinum
neighbourhood — the 2010 Olympic Village.

But this reputation is increasingly at odds
with the next-generation of green homes, schools and workplaces. These
green buildings — most of which are certified by organizations such as
the Canada Green Building Council or Built Green — tend to be small, simple, and surprisingly affordable.

What’s more, these green buildings
represent the fastest growing sector within the North American
construction industry, one that McGraw-Hill Construction estimated to be
worth $60 billion last year.

During the next several weeks, The Tyee
Solutions Society will explore trends within green building — call it
Green Building 2.0 — with an eye for ideas that could pay off by
helping create sustainable jobs in British Columbia, lower energy bills
and make a real dent in emissions causing costly climate change.

Today: A look at five common misperceptions about green building.

Read full article here