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''Tis good to be green in Utah: sustainable building is on the rise.

Article Excerpt
It's been a long time coming, but the trend to build "green" (that is, sustainably designed structures that are eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and healthier) in Utah is finally gaining momentum. As with the rest of the country, Utah's building industry caters to perceived market demands and bottom-line profits, and Utah has a long way to go before our noble values match our actions. While it seems everyone would love to see green buildings span the horizon, there are undeniable stumbling blocks that have impeded that dream. Sure, the idea of building green makes perfect sense, but actually doing it? Well ... that's another story.

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At this point, those who have chosen to build green have done so out of a substantial commitment. After all, building green often means bucking long-standing industry practices to adopt less well-tested conservation techniques. It could also mean spending more time in planning and more money upfront, taking considerable effort to use recycled or refurbished materials, getting educated on the many aspects of green building, and being willing to compromise throughout the process. Right now, there are more Utah homeowners, builders, and architectural, landscape, and design firms than ever who are finding it worth their while to make those sacrifices. So, why are they doing it ... and how?

Some of the reasons are obvious. As energy costs escalate and natural resources decline, it's becoming a matter of necessity. But it goes deeper than that. As people have become aware of the negative impact our current building practices...