CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Is green building design a fad?

Adam Krason, an architect with ZMM Inc., posed the question Monday to members of the Charleston Rotary Club at their weekly lunch meeting.

When you consider Krason works for a company known for its award-winning green buildings, you could probably guess his answer.

"[Green design] has come to the forefront of the national discussion, maybe too much," Krason said. "People may think they're getting brainwashed."

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, green or sustainable buildings are designed to enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity, improve air and water quality, reduce solid waste and conserve natural resources. Although they cost more to build, green buildings are cheaper to operate and often healthier and more comfortable places to live and work.

The council certifies both new and older buildings at different "greenness" levels -- silver, gold, platinum -- through its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system.

Conventional wisdom often changes through the years, Krason said. For example, "Before World War II it was actually illegal for people with certain disabilities to be seen in public." Then wounded soldiers started coming home. Now all buildings are designed with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

In West Virginia, the National Guard, Housing Development Fund, Department of Administration, Kanawha County Public Library and school boards in Cabell in Lincoln counties are all designing sustainably, he said.

"But we're still behind," Krason said. "We have a fire code. But if we're building out in Clay County, no one's checking to see if we're complying with building codes. So we're starting from behind, compared to the rest of the country."

A number of companies, including AEP, have adopted green design principles, he said. "I took this off the AEP Web site, and I thought it was significant because this is an energy producer. They're committing $100 million over the next five years to building facilities up to LEED standards.

"Is it cost prohibitive? When you look at the companies that are doing it, you can't convince me they're doing it for publicity.

"We hear green design is a fad," Krason said. "I question that. When we look at green design, it's how we've always designed buildings. We should always look at how we orient a building to capture daylight. It's going back to what we've always done.

"I don't think green building is a fad. I think LEED certification may be a fad. I think green design will eventually be adopted in our building codes. So if you're designing a building now, why would you want it to be out of date in five years?"

Adam Krason, an architect with ZMM Inc., posed the question Monday to members of the Charleston Rotary Club at their weekly lunch meeting.

When you consider Krason works for a company known for its award-winning green buildings, you could probably guess his answer.

"[Green design] has come to the forefront of the national discussion, maybe too much," Krason said. "People may think they're getting brainwashed."

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, green or sustainable buildings are designed to enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity, improve air and water quality, reduce solid waste and conserve natural resources. Although they cost more to build, green buildings are cheaper to operate and often healthier and more comfortable places to live and work.

The council certifies both new and older buildings at different "greenness" levels -- silver, gold, platinum -- through its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system.

Conventional wisdom often changes through the years, Krason said. For example, "Before World War II it was actually illegal for people with certain disabilities to be seen in public." Then wounded soldiers started coming home. Now all buildings are designed with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

In West Virginia, the National Guard, Housing Development Fund, Department of Administration, Kanawha County Public Library and school boards in Cabell in Lincoln counties are all designing sustainably, he said.

"But we're still behind," Krason said. "We have a fire code. But if we're building out in Clay County, no one's checking to see if we're complying with building codes. So we're starting from behind, compared to the rest of the country."

A number of companies, including AEP, have adopted green design principles, he said. "I took this off the AEP Web site, and I thought it was significant because this is an energy producer. They're committing $100 million over the next five years to building facilities up to LEED standards.

"Is it cost prohibitive? When you look at the companies that are doing it, you can't convince me they're doing it for publicity.

"We hear green design is a fad," Krason said. "I question that. When we look at green design, it's how we've always designed buildings. We should always look at how we orient a building to capture daylight. It's going back to what we've always done.

"I don't think green building is a fad. I think LEED certification may be a fad. I think green design will eventually be adopted in our building codes. So if you're designing a building now, why would you want it to be out of date in five years?"