Some Surprising Statistics

The reality of the following information is what drives our green passion and our company. It makes us want to share what we know with as many people as we possibly can.

Here are some surprising statistics:

Due to the human industrial revolution, we have lost 50% of our wetlands, 50% of our forests, and 70% of our marine fisheries.

Buildings consume 40% of the world’s energy and materials. When you factor building construction into that, the number jumps to 48%.

The National Toxicology Program has identified 246 substances that are either “known carcinogens” or “reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen”, and most of them are still legal and used in products we use everyday.

A study by the Environmental Working Group tested the umbilical-cord blood of 10 American babies born in 2004 and found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in each baby’s blood.

45% of carbon emissions come from buildings. (Cars are only responsible for a 1/3 of all emissions.)

An upfront investment of just 2% in green building design, on average, results in a lifecycle savings of 20% of the total construction costs---that’s more than ten times the initial investment!

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, roof installation is estimated to generate 7 to 10 MILLION TONS of asphalt-shingle waste ANNUALLY.

Americans spend 80-90% of their time indoors, typically without much, if any, fresh air.

Benzene, a known carcinogen used in waxes, paints, and paint thinners can lead to a decrease in red blood cells, and possibly cause anemia, bone-marrow damage, excessive bleeding, immune-system depression, and dry, scaly skin.

A $4 per square foot investment in building green nets a $62 benefit per square foot over 20 years.

Did you know that the average homeowner has enough cracks and peep-holes in their home to equivocate to a 4x4 ft hole in their ceiling?

Exposure to chemicals in mainstream building products today can create anything from nausea and headaches to reduced IQ, deficits in intellectual ability, poor short-term memory and poor attention span.

According to the American Lung Association, the EPA ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five risks to public health. The level of air pollution inside the home can be 2-5 times higher than outdoor levels.

Between 1980 and 1995, rates of childhood asthma DOUBLED.

BY HEIDI TANKERSLEY