Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the buildings sector is critical to our ability to combat global warming. Energy efficient design and operations of buildings, along with onsite renewable energy production are a strong part of the answer to the challenge to Courtesy of The Biodesign Institute. Americans to reduce their ecological footprint. ^[*] Green buildings are an important component in the effort to bring carbon dioxide emissions back to 1990 levels, as required by the Kyoto Protocol, so that we can begin to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere at levels no more than 20 percent above today s. Recent studies by the international consulting firm McKinsey indicate that buildings can provide up to 25 percent of the required carbon emission reductions and at costs that can be easily recovered over the life of the building. ^{[ ]}