Green building

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U.S. EPA Kansas City Science and Technology Center

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Hanging gardens of One Central Park, Sydney

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Exterior Light Shelves - Green Office Building, Denver Colorado

Green building refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.

Overview

Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:

• Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
• Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
• Reducing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation

For example, green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made from renewable resources); create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions); and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).

Components

Energy Efficiency

The cornerstone of most green building designs is to significantly reduce the demand for non-renewable resources, particularly energy. This is achieved through better siting, design, construction materials and processes, and energy-efficient appliances and systems. Examples include the use of solar panels, wind turbines, and green roofs.

Water Efficiency

Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key aspects of sustainable building. Strategies include water-efficient appliances, fixtures, and fittings, rainwater harvesting, and the use of recycled water for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

Materials Efficiency

Building materials play a significant role in green building. Materials selected can be recycled, sustainably harvested, or sourced from local suppliers to reduce the environmental impact. The use of non-toxic, renewable, and durable materials is encouraged.

Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement

Improving indoor air quality is another important element of green buildings. This can be achieved through the use of materials that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), providing adequate ventilation, and controlling the source of indoor pollutants.

Operations and Maintenance Optimization

Green building also involves operations and maintenance practices that ensure optimal performance of the building over its life cycle. This includes regular monitoring and adjustment of systems to ensure they are functioning as intended.

Certification Systems

Several certification systems have been developed to measure the environmental performance of buildings, including the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), and Green Star. These systems provide frameworks for assessing, measuring, and certifying the sustainability of buildings.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the benefits of green building are widely recognized, there are also challenges, including higher upfront costs, the need for specialized skills and technologies, and the challenge of measuring and verifying environmental benefits. However, as technology advances and more governments and organizations commit to sustainable practices, green building is expected to become more prevalent.

See Also

• Sustainable development
• Energy conservation
• Eco-friendly architecture
• Renewable energy

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