A green building, also referred to as a sustainable building, is designed, constructed, operated, renovated, or reused with a focus on maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing ecological impact. Green buildings are designed to meet various criteria, including using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently and reducing the building’s overall impact on the environment.1
Image Credit: guteksk7/Shutterstock.com
Although the initial costs for green buildings may be higher than those of conventional buildings, lower operating costs over a green building's lifespan can yield substantial savings.
Other economic benefits include improving the health of the occupants, which in turn increases their economic productivity. A green building also reduces pollution and landfill waste.
Key Benefits of Green Buildings
The key benefits of green buildings include:2
- Reduction in water and electric utility costs
- Enhanced health and productivity for occupants
- Long-term economic return
- Environmentally effective use of building materials
- Reduced environmental impact
- Lower carbon emissions
Site Selection for Green Buildings
The first step in designing a green building is selecting a site that will utilize existing infrastructure, such as public transit networks.
Selecting a site with preexisting infrastructure, such as water and utility lines, is important as it negates the need for new, costly, and environmentally impacting infrastructure. Access to public transit for building occupants is critical as it reduces transportation-related carbon emissions.
When selecting a suitable site for a green building, protecting local ecological systems and maintaining the existing landscape and natural features should be considered. This reduces the project’s impact on local biodiversity, among other vital ecological elements that need to be protected against the negative effects of urban development.
Energy Efficiency in Green Buildings
Energy efficiency is a key consideration when designing new green buildings or retrofitting existing structures to align with sustainability needs.
Using natural lighting, installing energy-efficient lighting systems, and using renewable sources such as solar and wind energy all help minimize electricity demand and improve the energy efficiency of a green building. Design factors, such as a building’s shape and orientation, can affect its energy performance.
Lower carbon emissions are a hallmark of green buildings. Energy-efficient windows and high-quality insulation can reduce energy demand and carbon emissions due to heat loss and cooling needs. Several new and emerging technologies improve green buildings' energy efficiency and emissions.
Renewable energy, either on-site or off-site, reduces the need for fossil fuels to power and heat green buildings. Many green buildings are constructed with roof-top solar panels, and existing structures are commonly retrofitted with solar panels to reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy costs for residents and businesses.
Materials and Water Efficiency for Sustainable Buildings
Selecting sustainable or green construction materials, such as recycled paving materials or furnishings, and minimizing the amount of wastewater increases the efficiency of the green building while reducing waste and the total environmental impact. This increase in efficiency leads to long-term economic returns.
Green buildings incorporate features that reduce water demand, such as stormwater storage and collection, water-efficient appliances, and water reuse technologies. Furthermore, landscaping can reduce water consumption by incorporating features that reduce irrigation needs.
Examples of Sustainable Materials in Green Infrastructure
Examples of sustainable materials used in new green buildings or for retrofitting existing structures to improve their carbon footprint include recycled steel and glass, sustainably harvested lumber, reclaimed wood, rammed earth, and supplementary cementitious products. Non-traditional aggregates such as slag and industrial by-products are used to improve the sustainability of concrete in green buildings.
Emerging sustainable materials include biochar cladding, carbon-fiber reinforced concrete, 2DPA-1, 3D-printed concrete, 3D-printed mycelium, hemp rebar, carbon-sequestering Carbicrete, construction waste bricks, chipboard produced using potato peelings, and wastepaper construction board.
Technologies in Green Buildings
The building sector is a key driver of electricity use and carbon emissions. Green buildings use low-carbon and energy-efficient technologies to improve their sustainability and reduce energy needs.
Smart appliances such as intelligent refrigerators and dishwashers equipped with sensors are connected to smart meters and IoT technologies to reduce their electricity consumption. Smart meters communicate with these devices and use real-time data to determine optimal power rates, allowing intelligent appliances to automatically operate at the most energy-efficient levels.
Cool-roof systems absorb less heat than standard roofs and reflect more sunlight. Their use reduces the strain and electricity demands on HVAC systems, reducing the building’s carbon emissions and improving interior temperatures in the hot summer months. Moreover, cool-roof systems significantly reduce an urban area’s “heat island” effect, making urban living more pleasant.
Another element of sustainable buildings is a building management system (BMS). These systems utilize sensors throughout the building and smart appliances to gather real-time data and optimize performance and efficiency. A building management system can monitor and optimize conditions such as temperature, energy consumption, and even room occupancy at different times of the day.3
Green Architecture Saving the World | Visiting Sustainable Buildings from Across the Planet
Video Credit: Going Green/YouTube.com
In Summary
Green buildings incorporate multiple elements such as energy-efficient technologies, smart sensors, sustainable building materials, ecologically friendly building and landscape design, water conservation, and renewable energy to improve their environmental friendliness and reduce carbon emissions.
Several notable green building projects have been completed, and retrofitting existing structures with elements such as solar panels, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and heat pumps is commonplace in many nations. Several renovation projects have sought to improve energy efficiency for existing structures worldwide.
While the initial costs of green buildings may be higher than those of traditional, carbon-intensive technologies and construction techniques, their benefits can outweigh the costs. Indeed, many government regulations concerning the sustainability of the construction sector demand greener buildings.
Read More: Moving Closer to a Circular Built Environment
References and Further Reading
- Gomslyn, A & Jonker, A (2024) What is Green Building? [online] IBM. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/green-building (Accessed on 8 November 2024)
- New School of Architecture and Design (2019) 10 Benefits of Green Building [online] Available at: https://newschoolarch.edu/10-benefits-of-green-building/ (Accessed on 8 November 2024)
- Intellis Solutions (2024) What is Green Building Technology? Solutions for the Built Environment [online] intellis.io. Available at: (https://www.intellis.io/blog/what-is-green-building-technology-plus-the-top-5-technologies-transforming-facility-management-right-now (Accessed on 8 November 2024)
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.