Ten years ago, when green building was in its infancy, it was difficult to find people that knew about green and even more difficult to find companies that made green products. As awareness and commercial interest has grown, many people profess to be green and there seems to be a rapidly-growing commercial sector that promotes itself as green, as well. The difficulty today is determining who is and who isn't.

When you Google "Who is green," your screen reads "about 167,000,000 entries;" and when you try "How Green Are You," the first 10 of 410,000,000 entries are listed--that's 410 million entries! Certainly this is an impossibly-large number to work through in a lifetime. Fortunately, after visiting the first 10, a pattern emerges in the content similar to the following, from energyrefuge.com, which gives one comfort that visiting the remaining 409,999,990 will not be necessary.

1. Do you recycle?

2. Have you replaced all the standard light bulbs in your home with CFC bulbs?

3. Do you walk/run/bike whenever you can?

4. Do you support conservation efforts in your local community?

5. Do you buy products packaged in biodegradable packages?

6. Do you drive a hybrid?

7. Do you use harmful chemicals in your home?

8. Are you a part of a highway or park clean up crew?

9. Do you buy only Energy Star™ or energy efficient appliances?

10. Do you utilize alternative energy in your home?

11. Have you conducted an energy audit of your home?

12. Do you have a compost pile or composter?

13. Do you leave each day a little brighter and better because of your "green" actions?

I recently heard a lady profess, "I am as green as anyone." My heart is lifted at the notion that green is coming into vogue; yet I wonder how many of these claims are truly sincere and well informed. A recent statement made by a man who considers himself well informed on green reinforced my concern. It went something like this: Green (vegetated) roofs are fine for the fortunate few that live on the top floor of buildings; but since they are not visible to the passer-by, who cannot partake of its natural beauty, they are of little use. If this man had attended the Green Roofs Symposium recently sponsored by the city, he would have spent the entire day learning about the benefits that green roofs bring to the urban environment. He might have learned that, beside their aesthetic value, green roofs mitigate the heat island effect of urban environments. They act as natural insulators and reduce the amount of insulation required by the building. They absorb water and act as retention systems, reducing the flow into sewers during peak storms. They replace the wasteland of black asphalt and rubber with habitat for plants, birds and insects. Some are even used to grow herbs to season the offerings of roof-top restaurants.

"There is no reason why any building in America should not be LEED certified." - Former President Bill Clinton. Following the 13 steps (see above) to becoming a Greenie, although helpful and necessary, will not be sufficient to reverse the damage already done to the environment or to stop global warming. What will make a difference is changing the way we produce the built environment. This is not just a matter for developers, construction professionals, and planning and regulating agencies. The built environment is our environment. Although largely privately-held, it belongs to us all collectively. Here in America, we are fortunate to have the right to influence the way it develops. You have more to say than you might think. Yet your ability to influence is directly related to how informed and involved you are. You can find out all about LEED at usgbc.org. You can find out about proposed building projects in your neighborhood at indygov.org. Get informed. Get involved. Let your voice be heard. Demand that all buildings from this day forward be green (LEED Certified), and perhaps the person in the mirror will begin to appear a truer and deeper shade of green.