Green Buildings

Table of Contents

Introduction

Green buildings refer to buildings that reduce negative impacts on the natural environment and climate while raising the quality of life [4]. This takes into consideration the building’s lifetime which consists of the site, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. The entire process must be approached in a way that is sustainable and can be classified as a high-performance building. Any building can be green if it meets the requirements of the target rating system that will assess various pre-determined factors of the building. LEED, Living Building Challenge, and BuildGreen are all examples of such systems that rate the sustainability of a building [3].

Features of Sustainability of Green Buildings [3]

Features of Sustainability of Green Buildings [3]
Open

Aspects

The overarching idea of a green building is its comparatively smaller negative impact on its surroundings than other construction projects of a similar nature [5]. There are a few definitive features that classify buildings as green which include efficient water, energy, and resource use, renewable energy systems like installing solar panels, reducing pollution and the amount of waste disposal by adhering to recycling and reuse. In terms of raising the quality of life for the building's users, the standard of indoor air must be high and materials utilized should be non-toxic, ethical, and sustainable. Another important attribute of a supportable design lies in its ability of adapting to both temporary or permanent environmental changes.

Building Process

Prior to the planning phase of a green building, there are many factors that have to be considered and even more details that must be integrated during the design, construction, and even demolition of the structure to ensure the many demands are met. Since a building is not a solitary establishment, relationships with the site, interactions with its users, and the everchanging Earth prove to be major problems that are addressed by green buildings. 

• Conserve energy throughout entire building cycle [7]

• Lower energy when building is in use including occupant usage

• Renewable or low-carbon energy sources for needs

• Ensure building has already achieved maximum natural efficiency 

• Minimize water use in buildings by improving ways to manage drinking and waste water [7]

• Use innovative ways to access water within a building

• Keep in mind the influence on surrounding storm water and drainage systems 

• Use materials high in durability and generally less materials to create less waste [7]

• Consider how to recycle the building at the end of its lifetime

• Ensure people within building acknowledge recycle and reuse protocols for waste 

• Good ventilation that brings quality air from outdoors inside [7]

• Do not use materials that are toxic or harmful

• Preserve nature and wildlife, either creating new green spaces or turning polluted land into useable space [7]

• Utilize empty spaces for agriculture

• Able to withstand abrupt changes and natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, or fires [7]

• Keeps inhabitants safe

• Predicts progress over time so the building will not be disqualified in a short amount of time

• Connects people in a societal or economic manner and is against all discretion [7]

• Good flow of traffic and accessibility, encourage walking or cycling

• Find ways to contact surrounding world that are more “smart” such as advanced electricity grids to distribute energy

• Resourceful and efficient through all stages (design, construction, operation and maintenance, renovation, and demolition) [7]

• Transport and production of materials within scope of building are reduced 

Impacts

For engineers, it is beyond crucial to consider the impacts of actions on various aspects of the world. When designing or creating green buildings, engineers should keep in mind the environmental, economic, social, and ethical changes that choosing to build a green building will bring and weigh the pros and cons to make the best decision.

Rating Systems

International

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

• Run by the Green Building Council in the U.S. and verified either on-site or by a third-party [21]

• Four levels: certified, silver, gold, and platinum, in ascending order of certification

• Nine main considerations: location/transportation, site choice, efficient water sources, overall energy and consideration of the atmosphere, material/resources, quality indoors, innovation, prioritization in the area, and integrative processes

WELL

• Under the IWBI (International WELL Building Institute) [21]

• Strongly considers user health and wellness and looks at 11 areas: air quality, water quality, nutrition, light, flow, heat, sound, materials, mental awareness, connections with society, and innovation.

• Has prerequisites and standards for buildings before registration

Fitwel

• Mainly directed to increase quality of life of occupants in the building as well as the society it is integrated within [21]

• No prerequisites to obtain green certification

• Aspects most focused on: location, accessibility, surrounding areas, entryways, stairs, indoor environment, workspaces, common areas, water quality, cafeterias/kitchens, vending machines/snack bars, and emergency procedures

Canada

BOMA BEST

• Created by BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) [22]

• Uses the environmental assessment platform by Green Globes

• Ten interests: energy sources, water quality, air quality, comfort level, health/wellness, custodial, purchasing, waste, site/stakeholder engagement

BuiltGreen

• Program for certifying residential buildings across Canada [22]

• A program called built-communities is currently underway

• Assesses: energy, envelope, materials, construction methods, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, and water and building practices

Living Building Challenge

• Divided into four parts equally: philosophy, advocacy, and certification [22]

• Has an approach to answer to various factors in comparison to fulfilling a checklist

• Seven specifics are: location, water, energy, health/mental wellness, materials, equity and aesthetics

Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)

• Provides information regarding sustainability matters [27]

• Covers both philosophical and technical ideas

• Uses case studies to showcase different green buildings

• Has goal of pursuing climate stability for the built environment

Precedents

Pixel Building [26]

Type: Office Building

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Designed by: Decibel Architecture

Date Completed: 2010

Features: 

• first workplace building in Australia that can be classified as carbon-neutral

• brightly colored panels that utilize natural sunlight and shade

• multi-use supports of the building to also get rid of wastewater

• numerous wind turbines

Museum of Tomorrow [26]

Type: Museum

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Designed by: Santiago Calatrava

Date Completed: 2015

Features: 

• building components include cantilevered roof, reflective pools, skeletal structure

• solar panels that are like fins and also adjustable

• water system that carries water from Guanabara Bay that is used for air conditioning

Vancouver Convention Centre West [26]

Type: Events

Location: Vancouver, Canada

Designed by: LMN Architects

Date Completed: 2009

Features:

• first building of its kind to obtain double LEED platinum

• Plants and grasses on roof are pollinated by four hives of European bees for constant temperature

• roof is sloped for drainage

• part of building is on top of water that helps marine animals

ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall [26]

Type: Multi-use

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

Designed by: Emilio Ambasz and Associates

Date Completed: 1995

Features:

• 15 garden terraces that rise over 197 feet

• embodiment of public green space

• utilization of plants retains indoor temperature and supports wildlife and insects

The Edge [26]

Type: Office building

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Designed by: PLP Architecture

Date Completed: 2014

Features:

• saves over 80% of energy for lighting by using a digital ceiling and sensors

• façade is composed of solar panels

• controls temperature by water

• rated 98.3% for sustainability according to BRREAM

Additional Reading

Data bases

• Passive house: https://passivehouse.com/

• Passive house (Canada): https://www.passivehousecanada.com/

• SABmag: https://sabmagazine.com/

• CAGBC: https://www.cagbc.org/

• U.S. Green Building Council: https://www.usgbc.org/

References

Contributors: