Environmental concerns from prevailing automated and technological reconstructions still produce a bulk of global concerns and matters, a more active call for improvement to be sustainable is being executed. The phenomenon cannot be witnessed more than in urban areas where the appearance of any natural type of environment has taken a step back to accommodate space for streets, rails, buildings, and malls. To approach these concerns, greener and sustainable designs are being produced and have been the answers for progress. Green sustainable construction makes way for green designs and green buildings that are less damaging to both human and environmental wellness. Green architecture or green buildings is a way of building which reduces the adverse impacts of construction on human health and the environment. The green or sustainable architect or planner strives to safeguard air, water, and other resources by embracing eco-friendly construction materials and planning practices. The following are some facts about green buildings that one must know.
1) Green Buildings Utilize Less Energy
According to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), green buildings use 25% less energy and 11% less water in comparison with the ordinary commercial building. This is a move in the right direction if one wants to approach and resolve global issues. Zero-energy constructions have become a trend as it leaves for limited to no electrical expenditure over the year. That can be accomplished through means that draw energy from additional non-conventional sources. Geothermal heaters utilize the heat from underground to power it to produce heat throughout winter while solar panels use extensive photovoltaic cells to extract energy from the sun which can then transform into electrical energy. These measures facilitate a sustainable green building not to depend on traditional ways of generating electricity. This does not only reduce the costs of living but also addresses energy issues and helps overcome environmental problems.
2) Material Efficiency
The latest materials and building products are taking the front-stage as architects and planners look forward to green building designs. These materials are not significantly new or unique, as they were existing for quite some time now. Their newfound interest and influence are rooted in the re-evaluation of their value in sustainability and energy-efficiency. For green designs, materials that promote sustainability and energy-efficiency are of the highest importance and should be included in the construction as much as possible. Moreover, the green building also looks into the chemical data of the materials they apply which enables them to withdraw the application of certain toxic materials such as several types of paint or wood. Green architecture also makes a preference to adopt renewable materials or materials that are recycled or are recyclable.
3) Green Buildings Use Natural Ventilation and Lighting
Different ways green building designs can lessen energy usage is by providing natural ventilation and lighting to fill the spaces of its rooms. This is not only architecturally-efficient and sound but it also reduces the cost. Green designs make green sustainable buildings achievable through not only involving themselves with materials or technological approaches but also simple modifications in the design itself.
4) Green Buildings have Healthier Inhabitants
Apparently, the most significant interest of green sustainable buildings is not reduced costs or more effective building methods but a healthier and safer living place for the building’s inhabitants. Non-green buildings still utilize materials that are interlinked with the radon and other harmful chemicals. Also, a growing number of asthma occurrences that have emerged from materials of non-green buildings have been registered. The sustainable architecture looks into these incidents and attempts to avoid them by using more environmentally friendly materials that are good not only for nature but also for you.
5) Green Building Designs are Cost-effective
Including all the benefits of green design to you and the environment, it is easy to believe that its commercial value will increase. The green buildings are designed in cost-efficient methods which means that one saves more than what one initially invested in a green property. Not to consider that the construction of the green building attempts to limit the fundamental costs of construction. This means that green designs utilize designs and materials that reduce cost and will cost less over time. As such, the green buildings will cost you less and yet yield substantial savings and returns for your investments.
6) LEED rating systems are accepted globally.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is being used in many countries. This fact highlights the demand for adopting more environmentally friendly construction practices, has a critical focus on LEED criteria and guidelines. Green buildings were also observed to have the most energy-saving potential over transportation and industrial usage.
7) Reduces Pressure on Local Resources
While the population increases shared resources such as water and energy come under significant stress. Through the various significant applications of technologies and methods that increase energy and water efficiency, green and sustainable buildings can decrease this strain. By decreasing the usage of energy sources that pollute the surroundings such as coal, green buildings will add to keep the environment fresh and clean. Also, by reducing the levels of carbon dioxide discharged to the atmosphere, they assist to slow the pace of climate change.
8) Green law is evolving
The government has set environmental objectives that expect firms to be more sustainable. Regulations and rules around sustainability are growing increasingly. They are also developing as tension mounts for change and preserving our resources. Thus, to promote sustainability, we should try and save natural resources wherever possible. Huge amounts of natural resources can be preserved by green construction methods since a bigger portion of materials can be recycled and can be replaced by eco-friendly materials that are used compared to standard building systems.
9) Taking the whole life cycle of a building into consideration
Green buildings also take into record the whole lifecycle of a structure when it comes to evaluating whether some examples and peculiarities are eco-friendly in nature or not. For instance, while some materials may be recognized to be eco-friendly for the construction process, they might be rather harmful when it comes to the destruction and demolition of the building. Thus, by taking all aspects of the lifecycle into consideration, architects that specialize in the green building design could tremendously enhance the overall environmental footprint of a building.
10) Tax benefits and rewards
In many nations and regions, there are also lots of tax benefits linked to green construction. This might involve certain one-time payments if you choose to build a house that has ample eco-friendly characteristics. Therefore, one might get a share of the building expenses back from the government, which may improve your incentive to go for a green and sustainable home instead of construction that is constructed conventionally.
