Homes are not the only buildings that can be built or renovated with the environment in mind. Commercial buildings from hotels to malls to public attractions have just as much “green” capability. If you’re in the commercial market, it’s your responsibility, as a forward-thinking member of society, to develop your projects with eco-conscious guidelines. You may not be able to create the perfect green building, but you will be able to, with a little work, turn a structure that would have sapped the environment of its resources into one that helps revitalize. The first step lies in selecting a site. If you choose an area conducive only to waste, surrounded by energy-consuming buildings on all sides, you won’t be apt to go green yourself. You need a lot that will enable you, for as little extra money as possible, to install energy saving, fuel efficient and water conserving systems. You also want a location that is in a walkable area, to promote less car usage. It’s an indirect method but an effective one, so look to areas that have already gone green. In Austin, there’s no shortage. Once you start building, your options stretch from the center of the Earth to the sky. To save land, you can put a portion of the building’s parking underground. For the lot that remains above ground, use an open-grid pavement system that is less than 50 percent impervious. On the structure itself, consider a solar-reflective roof or one that is vegetated, meaning it has plant life on at least half of its surface. The best option would be a combination of the two – 50 percent solar reflective, 50 percent vegetative. Both these steps – the roof and the parking – will help control heating concerns. You also want to consider lighting. Exterior and interior lighting systems can either consume more energy than any other aspect on the building or effectively limit the toll you are taking on the environment. Ideally you should aim for reducing lighting density by 25 percent, but 15 percent is an excellent place to start. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways: You can install lighting controls throughout the building that adjust how much light is emitted in accordance to how much daylight is received. You can create different systems for different areas so that wings and floors that get more natural light than others don’t use the same amount of energy. Or you can simply start by using eco-bulbs. Avoid halogen; buy bulbs that won’t need to be replaced every few weeks. Shop smart to be smart. Finally, think seriously about water conservation. Water is something we waste easily and often, but it doesn’t have to be. Just by installing a leak detecting system, you’ll be able to save a potentially enormous amount of water. Using efficient plumbing fixtures that are low-flow and above code will take you to the next level, and creating bathrooms with dual-flush toilets and waterless urinals will put you over the top. It’s not difficult to be green in this day and age. When you begin your next commercial development keep these options in mind. You may not be able to employ every one, but you should have no problem instituting a few. And when you do you’ll join ranks with some of the country’s most reputable and profitable organizations. You’ll have created a building that will last on a planet that will too.