About Green Building
What is a green building?
A green building is an energy-efficient, resource-efficient, and environmentally responsible building. It incorporates design, construction, and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants. Building green is an opportunity to use resources efficiently and address climate change while creating healthier and more productive environments for people to live and work in.
The building industry is one of the highest carbon dioxide (CO²) producers in the world. Green buildings are an important part of reducing our carbon footprint on this planet.
What does this mean in practice?
On a practical level, this encompasses the use of design, materials, and technology to reduce energy and resource consumption and create improved human and natural environments.
Specific green building measures include:
- Careful building design to reduce heat loads, maximize natural light, and promote the circulation of fresh air.
- The use of energy-efficient air-conditioning and lighting.
- The use of environmentally friendly, non-toxic materials.
- The reduction of waste and the use of recycled materials.
- Water-efficient plumbing fittings and water harvesting.
- The use of renewable energy sources.
- Sensitivity with regard to the impact of the development on the environment.
Solar and Sustainable Architecture
What does this mean for you?
- Passive Solar Architecture: This process starts right at the beginning—namely at the town planning stage. The situation and orientation of streets, properties, buildings, and public open spaces need to be carefully considered for minimum impact on the environment. The better a building is designed in a “passive” way, the less active elements are needed.
- Active Solar Architecture: These are all the technical items that one could use to support the green building process (e.g., solar warm water collectors, solar photovoltaic panels, heat pumps, heat exchangers, etc.).
The earlier the architect gets involved in the planning process, the more passive elements can be incorporated, and the fewer active solar elements will be needed to reach a green build standard.
Key considerations for sustainable passive building:
- Building materials: Where do they come from, and how much energy is needed to produce them and get them to the site?
- Demolition: How much energy will it take to eventually demolish a building without permanent damage to the environment?
- Openings: The proportion of windows/openings in relation to walls.
- Shading: Implementing effective shading systems.
- Roof: The style and shape of the roof.
- Airflow: Energy zones and natural ventilation inside the house.
What is a rating tool?
A green building rating tool sets standards and benchmarks for green building, enabling an objective assessment to be made as to how “green” a building is.
The rating system sets out a “menu” of all the measures that can be incorporated into a building to make it green. Points are awarded according to which measures have been incorporated, and, after appropriate weighting, a total score is arrived at which determines the rating.