Green building comes of age

Competition, oil prices, and concerns about global warming have caused the ’70s fad to go mainstream. Is green building finally coming of age?

Green building is finally coming of age. Building sustainable, energy-efficient homes became a fad during the 1970s energy crisis, bolstered by tax incentives for solar energy and growing environmental awareness. But its popularity faded as oil prices dropped, tax breaks were rolled back, and an economy of excess kicked in during the booming