Table of Contents

*Green Building [1]*

*Introduction to Green Buildings [2]*

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]

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.

Green Construction [8]

Energy

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

Water Sources

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

Waste and Reuse

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

Health and Wellbeing

Good ventilation that brings quality air from outdoors inside [7]
Do not use materials that are toxic or harmful

Green Environment

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

Resilience and Flexibility

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

Community and People Connections

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

Life Cycle

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.

Environmental

On an environmental level, green buildings are able to offer great benefits. When planned appropriately, the structure can, not only conserve resources or reduce negative impact, but can also produce positive outcomes through processes such as energy generation and promoting biodiversity.

Globally

- Out of all the major emitting sectors globally, the building sector possesses the greatest potential in terms of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases [9].
- By the year 2050, the potential to conserve CO2 emissions can reach up to 84 gigatons due to direct actions like reduction of fuel and using renewable energy [10].
- Also by 2050, the sector that deals with buildings can potentially save up to 50% of energy and help decrease the rising of temperature on planet earth to 2% [10].

Buildings

- In Australia, buildings that are awarded the Green Star certification emit 62% less greenhouse gases and utilize 51% less potable water than most other buildings.
- In India, buildings under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) save up to 40-50% more energy and 20-30% more water than conventional buildings.
- In South Africa, buildings certified with Green Star spend 30-40% less energy and carbon emissions and 20-30% less potable water annually.
- In the US, LEED buildings 25% less energy is spend and 11% less water compared to non-certified buildings [6].

*Natural Habitat [10]*

Economic

In terms of economics in a multilevel society, green buildings can impact all types of people and groups. Examples of where finance can be improved vary due to a persons’ role. For tenants and the average household, utility bills for houses are lower due to more efficient energy and water suppliers. In the case of building developers, there are usually less payments regarding construction and increase in property value. Owners of buildings, they benefit from higher occupancy probability or costs for operation. Finally, overall there are more job opportunities as a result. There is a link between economics and green buildings that can be developed further [6].

Globally

- The combined efforts of saving energy worldwide could add up to 280-410 billion euros and this is the same amount of energy as double the annual electricity consumption of the entire United States [12].

Country

- In Canada, the industry that specializes in green buildings created a revenue of $23 billion in GDP and also generated over 300 000 full-time jobs in the year 2014 [13].
- It is predicted that by 2018, green buildings will provide more than 3.3 million jobs in the U.S. [14].

Building

- According to building owners, both new and renovated green buildings have 7% more value in assets than the typical building [15].

Economics of Green Buildings [16]

Socially, green buildings also play a role, mostly revolving around benefits in terms of health and well-being for those who utilize green buildings, as work space or housing [6].

- For those working in well-ventilated green buildings, it is shown that their cognitive scores increase by 101%, leading to better brain function [17].
- Including windows in offices leads to workers sleeping an average of 46 minutes more each night.
- It is shown through research that a higher quality of air indoors with lower carbon dioxide and pollutants concentration and a good ventilation rate can improve the performance of workers up to 8%.

*Features of a Green Building [18]*

Ethical

Although building green is definitely a move in the right direction for less harmful impacts, subsequently there are some concerns addressing the morality of this type of construction. Sometimes, the push to become better is also shadowed by unethical and dishonest practices; more than what is seen on the surface.

- For the title of a 'green building', the certification comes with negative connotation when tax breaks or company exploitation happens without even accurately pursuing the label [19].
- Even LEED certification is leeched off of for the benefit of making money at the expense of requirements for energy conservation. This has led to some court cases with contractors on one side and companies that do not receive a tax break on the other.
- Under the LEED, more than 25% of the certified buildings do not actually meet the operating energy quota as promised in the initial plans.

*Ethics and the Environment [20]*

Rating Systems

*LEED Logo [21]*

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 Logo [21]*

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 Logo [21]

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

BOMA BEST Logo [23]

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 Logo [24]

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 Logo [25]

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

OAA Logo [28]

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]

Pixel Building [26]

Type: Office Building

Location: Melbourne, Australia

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]

Museum of Tomorrow [26]

Type: Museum

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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]

Vancouver Convention Centre West [26]

Type: Events

Location: Vancouver, Canada

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]

ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall [26]

Type: Multi-use

Location: Fukuoka, Japan

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]

The Edge [26]

Type: Office building

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

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:

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