--- title: Florida Trend asks Michael Carlson, Why we build green? description: What's the biggest reason your company builds green and the biggest reason your customers say they want to build green? image: https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-14237538-jpg/images/fla_trend_0901011-1.jpg --- [![carbon 2022 logo](https://www.carbonae.com/hubfs/carbon-ae-horizontal-logo-2.svg "carbon 2022 logo")](https://www.carbonae.com) ![Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gallery/1366_x_500_blog_cover.png?width=1366&name=1366_x_500_blog_cover.png "Sustainable design blog for progressive architecture") # The Sustainable Design Blog ### For the love of beauty, functionality, and the planet Earth ## [Florida Trend asks Michael Carlson, Why we build green?](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/bid/71397/florida-trend-asks-michael-carlson-why-we-build-green) Posted by [Carbon Design](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/author/carbon-design) on Thu, Sep 01, 2011 ![](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/hubfs/C%20Mark-3.png?width=35&name=C%20Mark-3.png) Find me on: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/carbon-design-architecture) | ### What's the biggest reason your company builds green and the biggest reason your customers say they want to build green? "Green buildings are better buildings for the money than non-green buildings.  Now that there is a widely recognized, sophisticated way to determine how green a building is, and have that tested and verified by an independent 3rd party (the LEED rating system from the USGBC) we can determine how much better each design is.  We designed our first green building in 2000.  Our clients are motivated differently to build green.  Most like the savings generated by energy and water conservation combined with higher quality of interior space that is healthier to live or work in.  Both are quality of life issues.  Some are motivated to save money while others share our concerns about the future of the planet." - Michael Carlson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C [Florida Trend Magazine](http://www.floridatrend.com/), Cynthia Barnett | ![florida trend](https://www.carbonae.com/hs-fs/file-14237538-jpg/images/fla_trend_0901011-1.jpg) | | --- | --- | |   |   | Topics: [green](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green), [carlson](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson), [usgbc](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/usgbc), [LEED](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed), [Michael](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/michael), [renovation](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/renovation) ## CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH DESIGN Welcome to the Carlson Studio Architecture blog - built for design enthusiasts and lovers of our planet. ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [LEED (55)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed) - [green (42)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green) - [carlson (38)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson) - [usgbc (34)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/usgbc) - [sarasota (31)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sarasota) - [architecture (29)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/architecture) - [Michael (20)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/michael) - [award (16)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/award) - [Green Design (14)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-design) - [Sustainable (13)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainable) - [Sustainable Design (13)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainable-design) - [wellness (12)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/wellness) - [Jedd Heap (11)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/jedd-heap) - [architect (11)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/architect) - [green building (10)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-building) - [Michael Carlson (9)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/michael-carlson) - [aia (9)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/aia) - [healthcare (9)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/healthcare) - [Announcements (8)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/announcements) - [healthy building (8)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/healthy-building) - [jedd (8)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/jedd) - [lakewood ranch (8)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/lakewood-ranch) - [LEED-CI (7)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-ci) - [cancer (7)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/cancer) - [community center (7)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/community-center) - [school (7)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/school) - [Green build (6)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-build) - [LEED AP (6)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-ap) - [heap (6)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/heap) - [sustainability (6)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainability) - [Energy Efficiency (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/energy-efficiency) - [Floating (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/floating) - [Residential (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/residential) - [florida (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/florida) - [renovation (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/renovation) - [tampa (5)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/tampa) - [Sustainable Building (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sustainable-building) - [multi-family (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/multi-family) - [national (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/national) - [nevada (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/nevada) - [project architect (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/project-architect) - [renewable energy (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/renewable-energy) - [solar (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/solar) - [studio (4)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/studio) - [Climate Change Facts (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/climate-change-facts) - [Climate change (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/climate-change) - [HGTV (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/hgtv) - [LEED Certified Building (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-certified-building) - [gold LEED (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/gold-leed) - [home (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/home) - [kashi (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/kashi) - [plastic surgery (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/plastic-surgery) - [pool (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/pool) - [usbgc (3)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/usbgc) - [Bio-Design (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/bio-design) - [City of Sarasota (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/city-of-sarasota) - [Commercial Architecture (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/commercial-architecture) - [Construction (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/construction) - [Eco Charrette (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/eco-charrette) - [Florida Power & Light (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/florida-power-light) - [LEED Certified Home Design (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-certified-home-design) - [Nature (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/nature) - [South Florida (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/south-florida) - [bank (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/bank) - [building hope (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/building-hope) - [carlson studio architecture (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carlson-studio-architecture) - [clinic (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/clinic) - [consulting (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/consulting) - [desk (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/desk) - [fitness (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/fitness) - [green renewal (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/green-renewal) - [greenbuild (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/greenbuild) - [marina (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/marina) - [platinum (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/platinum) - [pra (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/pra) - [sebastian (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sebastian) - [sun-n-fun (2)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sun-n-fun) - [15 (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/15) - [Building Materials (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/building-materials) - [Climate Change Deal With China (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/climate-change-deal-with-china) - [Costs (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/costs) - [Gulfcoast (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/gulfcoast) - [Industry lingo (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/industry-lingo) - [LEED Accredited Professionals (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-accredited-professionals) - [LEED Certified (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-certified) - [LEED Certified Buildings (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-certified-buildings) - [LEED Certified Home Project (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-certified-home-project) - [Living building challenge (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/living-building-challenge) - [Net Zero Energy Design (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/net-zero-energy-design) - [Profitability (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/profitability) - [Sarasota housing authority (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sarasota-housing-authority) - [Your Project Team (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/your-project-team) - [alf (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/alf) - [anniversary (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/anniversary) - [asid (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/asid) - [associate (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/associate) - [baseball (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/baseball) - [board (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/board) - [building green business (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/building-green-business) - [carpet (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/carpet) - [charter (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/charter) - [charter school (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/charter-school) - [chicago (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/chicago) - [church (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/church) - [core (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/core) - [coutertop (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/coutertop) - [dwy (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/dwy) - [energy efficient (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/energy-efficient) - [estero (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/estero) - [feature (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/feature) - [ft. myers (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/ft-myers) - [health (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/health) - [high school (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/high-school) - [horstman (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/horstman) - [hospice (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/hospice) - [housing (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/housing) - [joint venture (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/joint-venture) - [k-8 (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/k-8) - [landscape (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/landscape) - [leader (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leader) - [leed gold (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/leed-gold) - [license (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/license) - [military (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/military) - [modern (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/modern) - [office (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/office) - [partnership (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/partnership) - [product (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/product) - [rays (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/rays) - [region (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/region) - [roof (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/roof) - [sip (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/sip) - [solid surface (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/solid-surface) - [tampa bay (1)](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/topic/tampa-bay) [see all](https://www.carbonae.com/journal/bid/71397/florida-trend-asks-michael-carlson-why-we-build-green#) [![carbon 2022 logo](https://www.carbonae.com/hubfs/carbon-ae-horizontal-logo-2.svg "carbon 2022 logo")](https://www.carbonae.com)