Green building (also known as
green construction or
sustainable building)
refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally
responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle:
from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation,
and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the design team, the
architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages.
[1]
The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical
building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.
[2]
Although new technologies are constantly being developed to
complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common
objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall
impact of the built environment on human health and the natural
environment by:
- Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
- Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
- Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation[2]
A similar concept is
natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of
natural materials that are available locally.
[3] Other related topics include
sustainable design and
green architecture.
Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present
generations without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs.
[4] Green building does not specifically address the issue of the retrofitting existing homes.
A 2009 report by the U.S. General Services Administration found 12
sustainably designed buildings cost less to operate and have excellent
energy performance. In addition, occupants were more satisfied with the
overall building than those in typical commercial buildings.
[5]
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