Green buildings take advantage of natural forces to reduce technology usage and enhance occupant comfort. For instance, architectural designs that optimize windflow to ventilate buildings or use sunlight instead of electric lighting provide greater environmental sustainability and comfort to occupants.
They also prioritize materials with high recycled content and use renewable resources, helping reduce carbon emissions from mining and transportation, as well as low volatile organic compound (VOC) levels which enhance indoor environmental quality.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is at the center of green buildings. This encompasses both reducing embodied energy consumed during construction as well as operational energy costs to heat, cool and power equipment.
These practices help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save water. Furthermore, they cut waste while recycling materials more effectively. Utilizing eco-friendly materials like bamboo or reclaimed wood helps minimize environmental impact during both construction and ownership phases of a project.
Green buildings are designed to take full advantage of renewable energy technologies, including bifurcated solar panels that capture light from both sides and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics, to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels while simultaneously increasing energy independence. These innovations play a pivotal role in helping to achieve energy security.
Many studies have confirmed that green buildings are more energy efficient and offer improved indoor air quality (IAQ) than conventional structures, as well as providing greater temperature comfort, lighting levels, visual and acoustic comfort, which ultimately contribute to greater occupant wellbeing. Furthermore, research shows how these green structures can also contribute to greater temperature comfort levels, lighting levels, visual and acoustic comfort that in turn contribute to greater occupant health benefits.
Indoor Air Quality
Green buildings focus on maintaining indoor air quality by restricting pollutant entry and clearing away contaminants that accumulate, using building materials and ventilation strategies that work in concert to achieve fresh, breathable air.
Chemical emissions from combustion sources like heating and cooking appliances, fireplaces, environmental tobacco smoke and fossil fuel-powered vehicles directly influence indoor air quality. Furthermore, biological contaminants like microorganisms and fungi present at high concentrations may lead to respiratory ailments in high doses.
Poor ventilation and chemical use like pesticides, paints and cleaning supplies can contribute to indoor pollution levels. Switching to low-VOC building products such as nontoxic paint and housekeeping supplies helps eliminate potential pollutants while peace lilies (Spathiphyllum) and spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) help clean up indoor air quality in green buildings; in fact these plants absorb formaldehyde and xylene from formaldehyde emitters like formaldehyde- these plants require very minimal care maintenance while improving indoor air quality overall.
Longevity
When discussing green construction, architects, builders and clients often emphasize eco-friendly practices such as using recycled materials and installing renewable energy systems in buildings. While those are wonderful initiatives to take toward making construction greener, true sustainability also involves prioritizing long-term success of each project.
Studies show that prolonging building lifespan reduces both embodied and operational carbon emissions.
Strategies designed to increase longevity include reducing building size and adapting structures for new uses, such as adaptive reuse. Notable examples of such adaptation are Tate Modern and High Line which have been transformed from power stations or railroad tracks into public spaces.
Modular design permits buildings to be assembled quickly in a controlled warehouse environment, saving costs and speeding up construction times while decreasing waste by repurposing components that save resources and materials.
Healthier Building Materials
Green buildings feature building materials with low VOC emissions to promote a healthier indoor environment and eco-friendly products are typically sourced locally to minimize transportation impacts.
Green construction techniques can reduce water consumption and energy use. While initial investments might be required, long-term savings can be realized.
One study demonstrated that occupants of green buildings expressed greater satisfaction with many IEQ parameters compared to conventional building occupants, including physical comfort levels and lighting conditions, thermal quality, ventilation and acoustics.
Green buildings play an essential role in helping accelerate a sustainable transition that minimizes environmental impacts, contributing to lower carbon, water, and energy usage; conserve natural resources; prioritize safer chemicals; lower air pollution levels; protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially among low-income communities already vulnerable to the harmful effects of pollution. This is especially relevant when applied in low-income neighborhoods where pollution has an adverse impact.