Green buildings address sustainability issues on a building level. By taking into account all impacts in their life cycle – materials, energy consumption, water usage and waste disposal – green buildings advocate principles which reduce negative impact and maximize cost-efficiency.
Examples include using recycled, reused, biodegradable or carbon-storing materials and employing landscape designs that reduce water use.
Energy Efficiency
Buildings we inhabit and work in have a considerable effect on the environment, from using natural resources for construction materials, energy use and water consumption to emitting pollutants. Green buildings aim to minimize negative environmental impacts through various strategies throughout their lifetime cycle.
Green buildings employ strategies that take advantage of natural sunlight and breezes rather than using electric fans or heaters, reducing energy use through energy optimization strategies and cutting back on fan usage. Green buildings also take into account their materials’ embodied energy use while operating costs – cutting consumption of resources like oil, gas and electricity while saving resources like time.
Green buildings incorporate energy-saving measures like high-efficiency windows and insulation, appliances with Energy Star certifications, heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) systems that conserve energy, renewable energy technologies as well as waste reduction strategies like composting or zero waste design to lower emissions, resource consumption costs and increase asset value.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people assume the air inside their homes and offices is cleaner and safer than outdoor air, yet studies have shown otherwise; indoor air pollution levels may even exceed outdoor pollution by up to five times!
Researchers have linked airborne pollutants with numerous health concerns, from respiratory ailments and even cancer. To combat this risk, green buildings focus on minimizing harmful chemicals and pollutants present within their indoor environments.
Green buildings achieve this by using materials with reduced chemical emissions such as adhesives, paints and furniture. Furthermore, green buildings employ efficient ventilation systems that distribute fresh air while filtering out unwanted pollutants; as well as high-efficiency air filters that remove a wide array of toxins. Finally, green buildings address moisture-related issues that contribute to poor indoor air quality by upgrading building envelopes or using moisture-resistant products.
Water Efficiency
Green buildings utilize low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption. Furthermore, they infiltrate stormwater runoff into underground reservoirs, harvest and reuse rainwater, infiltrate stormwater into their foundation, harvest rainwater for reuse as irrigation, reduce potable water use through efficient appliances like washing machines and refrigerators, as well as use non-potable water sources as irrigation.
Life cycle assessments (LCA), which look at all environmental impacts associated with the construction and use of buildings and their components from conception to demolition, may also be conducted as part of these processes. An LCA typically evaluates factors like raw material embodied energy use, global warming potential, resource consumption and waste generation to produce an overall picture of an environmental footprint for any given building project.
Green buildings often employ sustainable landscaping techniques such as planting trees or hedges for windbreak and erosion control, solar shading, rainwater harvesting and detention tanks for storm water management, rainwater harvesting systems for use as flush toilets and permeable design features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase sustainability. They may also use rooftop solar, smart grids, heat pumps for heating/cooling needs and energy-efficient lighting to lower carbon footprints further while using organic or recycled materials and providing access to public transportation networks.
Materials
Green buildings use materials derived from renewable, recycled and biodegradable resources that have a minimal environmental impact over their lifecycle. Energy efficient manufacturing processes are employed and maintenance requirements can be reduced accordingly. Companies producing green building materials may be certified by organizations dedicated to sustainable building practices.
Green building practices emphasize water conservation through drought-resistant plants and rainwater harvesting systems, water-efficient appliances and fixtures (like low-flow toilets or faucet aerators) and efficient irrigation systems that use native landscaping to limit outdoor water usage.
Green construction projects utilize a range of materials. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) products are often employed to improve insulation and sustainability in green building projects, and can even be combined with other materials to form innovative solutions. Additional green building materials available for green projects include natural stone, glass, recycled concrete, recycled steel and copper – among others.