The Benefits of Green Building
Green building, or green construction, is the integration of environmentally responsible principles together with methods for resource efficiency across a building’s lifecycle. Decisions to integrate green building methods are considered by the designers, architects, engineers, construction team and clients. Sustainable technologies, renewable energy resources, and design for the environment are all principles that are considered in planning and constructing a green building.
As awareness of the environmental impacts of hefty electricity use, automobiles, cement and concrete construction increases, some state and regional authorities are requiring architects and planners to integrate environmentally-minded concepts into their buildings. One of the most common energy efficiency measures is building insulation to ensure that less energy is wasted from heating/cooling and electricity use. Another is to construct buildings with large windows to minimize the need for artificial lighting during the daytime. Standards are becoming increasingly important with the main green building standard being the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ranking system for green design, construction, operation and maintenance of a building.
While you may be thinking that all of this is a lot of require of contractors and developers, they happen to be the first to agree to the initial investment in greening because over time, the measures pay off in savings from energy and water usage. In addition, it has been shown that in most cases green buildings actually last longer than standard buildings because they are constructed to cater to a variety of needs (to prevent unnecessary construction in the future). Some of the leading green buildings around the world include: the Crystal in the United Kingdom that collects rainwater on its roof, conducts on-site sewage recycling and doesn’t use any fossil fuel resources, and the Edge in the Netherlands, considered the “greenest building in the world” for its smart use of sustainable technologies and because it is carbon neutral.
Awareness of environmental and sustainable principles is not limited to the science and engineering, but extends and enriches existing architecture and infrastructure practices. Governments and private individuals alike are convinced that the initial investment in green building pays off in the long-run because it not only reduces costs and impacts, but allows the building to become a source of pride for those who live and work in it.
