Sustainable or green building can take on various meanings, but one thing is certain: The construction industry has work to do to help clean up its own backyard -- from the materials and resources used to the waste generated during and after the building process.

John Shurtz, president of Green Builders of Marin, a certified Marin Green Business, doesn't mince words when he describes the challenges ahead. "We are running out of natural resources and we're also polluting our natural resources -- and we're jeopardizing the lives of future generations if we don't change the way we do things."

For Shurtz, who works with Rainforest Action Network to help encourage his industry to use substitutes for old-growth lumber, eco-responsible building is a no-brainer. Whether it's remodeling or building a new home, green building is about building in ways that "maximize the health of the environment, the economy, and the community."

On the positive side, Shurtz says moves are being made in the right direction, venturing that "40 to 50 percent of the jobs going on in Marin County have some elements of 'green' in them, and maybe 10 to 20 percent have a commitment to going very green."

Also on Shurtz's list of good things in the offing -- programs in the East Bay, such as Green for All and the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, that are training inner city youth for what "the blossoming green industry" will create: employment opportunities.

Being green, says Shurtz, is not only about what we buy or use, but it's also about linking the "haves" with the have-nots, as job training for the disadvantaged can help do -- "Green is about social justice."

GREEN BUILDING SMARTS

Knowing what's available is the first step. Suggestions from John Shurtz:

Look for lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which guarantees that the wood comes from sustainably harvested forests. Visit the Forest Stewardship Council at www.fsc.org/en

Bamboo flooring: Popular and sustainable, bamboo flooring is becoming less expensive, but don't buy the cheapest product. The market is now being flooded with lesser-grade bamboo.

Reclaimed lumber: Good wood doesn't have to be new. Consider wood from barns or warehouses, for example. Gaining popularity is salvaged underwater wood from trees felled as part of the commercial logging process. Reusing wood reduces the amount of new wood harvested.

Insulation: Seriously, recycled denim jeans are the new in-style material for old-style fiberglass used in wall insulation. Good for the environment and for the human installers too.

Beams: If ceiling crossbeams are going to be painted anyway, why not forgo the use of a new solid wood beam and opt instead for Glulam? Glulam is a board made by sandwiching two 2-inch boards together. It's strong; it can be crafted from smaller, faster-growing trees - saving more of the slow-growing, larger trees -- and it costs less.

Thermal solar: Black solar panels are in fact thermal, not photovoltaic (PV), solar energy systems. Thermal systems capture the sun's heat to heat water and are traditionally used for swimming pools and hot tubs, among other uses. They also cost less than PV systems to install.