What is green building? This word is used a lot from architects, builders, politicians and the government, but what does it really mean?
According to Wikipedia, "green building or sustainable building is an outcome of a design philosophy which focuses on increasing the efficiency of a resource use weather it be energy, water and materials, while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal."
For a building, neighborhood or house to be Green Certified it must have a certain number of LEED points. LEED, according to the USGBC, United States Green Building Council's website is "an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts." These LEED points measure sustainability, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, locations & linkages, awareness & education, innovation in design and regional priority. A building may receive up to 100 points plus an additional 10 in regional issues, such as after a disaster in that region, to be certified you have to have a minimum amount of points. To be a certified building you need 40-49 points, silver 50-59 points, gold 60-79 points and platinum 80 points or above.
There are many benefits to building a verified green building such as the environmental, economic and occupant oriented performance. A myth about LEED building's are that they cost more to building. They don't have to cost any more to build but in the long run they cost less to maintain and to operate. These buildings are usually more efficient in their energy and water consumption and therefore cost less to operate. They also healthier and safer for the occupants.
Currently the classifications that can receive green certification are; new construction, and major renovation. This includes existing buildings that are being renovated, commercial interiors, core and shell buildings, schools and homes. There are also pilot testing neighborhood development, retail and health care to be certified.
Green building and sustainability have an important role in architecture and the community by reprioritizing the way buildings are built and the way designers think.
Comments