We are all lifelong consumers of buildings—living in, owning, designing, building, and maintaining them. While we experience buildings daily, their environmental impact remains largely invisible. In the US, buildings account for the majority of electrical consumption and represent a substantial portion of global carbon emissions. 

 

The Build it Green project addresses this challenge through a six-week unit for middle and high school students that makes building energy use visible and actionable. Students develop a classroom energy model to trace how buildings consume energy, then apply this knowledge to design more energy-efficient structures. The unit includes interactive digital tools and a Green Building Design Studio that support students in understanding how thoughtful building design can reduce energy consumption and, ultimately, our carbon footprint.