What is a green building?
This day and age, you hear everyone talking about going green.
Whether you want to admit it or not, at some point everyone will have to follow
with the green movement. This is because at the rate we are going, the earth is
simply not sustainable. That means that over the years, we will begin to run
out of certain natural resources that are needed in order for us to survive.
That is alarming to some people, which is why there are so many people that
focus on green building. But, what exactly is green building? Lets take a
closer look at what it is, why you should consider it, and what the goals of a
green building are. You are sure to find that it is something that you should
take part in.
Defining
a green building
First, we will take a look at what a
green building is. Some people may think of a green, or sustainable building as
just a building that doesn’t really have as bad of an impact on the environment as
another ‘average’ building. Other people may find it to be the type of
building, and the actual surroundings of the building.
The ideal green building would be a
building project that would allow you to preserve most of the natural
environment around the project site, while still being able to produce a
building that is going to serve a purpose.The construction and operation will
promote a healthy environment for all involved, and it will not disrupt the
land, water, resources and energy in and around the building. This is the
actual definition of a green building.
The U.S. EPA says “Green building is
the practice of creating structures and using processes that are
environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s
life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance,
renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the
classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and
comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance
building.”
Why
go green?
Now, let us take a look at why it is
so important to go green. Most people will find when going green that they are
able to reduce their carbon footprint and actually lend a helping hand to the
environment. You can go green in a variety of different ways, but builders and
construction workers must do their part as well. If you haven’t begun going
green, then you will find that there are a variety of different things that you
can do to help you get started. You don’t have to jump in head first, and you
can actually take some baby steps along the way. Green buildings are designed
in such a way to reduce overall impact on environment and human health by:
- Reducing trash, pollution and degradation of
environment.
- Efficiently using energy, water and other resources.
- Protecting occupant health and improving productivity.
Does
going green really cost more?
Some people feel that they just
can’t go green because it will cost them more money, but that is really a
common misconception. While it may cost you a bit more to get started when you
are going green, because green materials and products can be more costly, you
really have to consider the type of savings that you will be able to reap. You
will be able to save on energy costs, because going green also means conserving
energy. You should really look at the green building as more of an investment
than anything else. An investment that will be able to save you money, as well
as an investment that will be able to help the environment! It is a win-win
situation for everyone!
Benefits
of green building
With new technologies constantly
being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures,
the benefits of green building can range from environmental to economic to
social. By adopting greener practices, we can take maximum advantage of
environmental and economic performance. Green construction methods when integrated
while design and construction provide most significant benefits. Benefits of
green building include:
Environmental benefits:
- Reduce wastage of water
- Conserve natural resources
- Improve air and water quality
- Protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Economic benefits:
- Reduce operating costs
- Improve occupant productivity
- Create market for green product and services
Social benefits:
- Improve quality of life
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Improve occupant health and comfort
The
goals of green building
Now, we should consider the goals of
green building. Of course, one of the main goals is to make the earth more
sustainable, but it really does go deeper than that. When you decide to go
green, your goal will be to actually help to sustain the environment without
disrupting the natural habitats around it. When you start a building project,
and you disrupt the natural habitats around it, you can actually make an impact
in the wildlife and environment that will be much like a butterfly effect. Even
the smallest changes that you can make will help to promote a better planet
earth, and a better place for us all to live- not just us humans, but also the
plants and wildlife that take up their residence here on earth as well.
As you can see, green building is
something that everyone should really jump on to. If you don’t plan to rebuild
your home, then you may just want to make a few green changes within your home
to ensure that you are able to get the goals that you want out of it. You can
cut down on your energy usage, save money, and make a big impact on the
environment. You will find that it isn’t as hard as people make it out to be,
and you will feel better about yourself when you go green too!
By
N.VIJAYALAKSHMI
HOD OF INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECOR
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