Green Building New Construction
Energy Efficient Design and Construction
"Green building" is a loosely defined term referring to a collection of land-use, building design, construction, and operational strategies that reduce environmental impacts. Green building practices offer an opportunity to create environmentally sound and resource-efficient buildings by using an integrated approach to design.
Benefits of building green include:
- Reduced energy consumption
- Protection of ecosystems
- Occupant health
Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:
- Sustainable site planning
- Safeguarding water and water efficiency
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy
- Conservation of materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
Why Build Green?
1) Conserve Natural Resources
Here are some examples of how green buildings can conserve natural resources in three areas:
- SITE: Well-planned building sites reduce energy consumption by taking advantage of beneficial orientations and natural buffers from the elements.
- ENERGY: Buildings that are designed with high-efficiency mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems save significant amounts of energy over their life spans. Renewable resources like solar, and biomass power generation further reduce consumption.
- RAW MATERIALS: By selecting building materials with high recycled content, mining of new raw materials can be reduced. Materials can be employed that are rapidly renewable, with a low amount of energy needed for their manufacture, such as bamboo for flooring.
2) Create Healthier Environments
Green buildings create healthier indoor and outdoor environments for the people that work and live in them in the following ways:
- LIGHT & VIEWS: If occupants are provided abundant light and connection with the outdoor environment, studies have shown they will be healthier, happier, and more productive. Having views to the outside keeps people connected to their surroundings, nature and the changing seasons.
- AIR:Proper venting not only ensures higher indoor air quality, it increases the efficiency of heating cold months, and cooling in warm months, saving energy and money.
- WATER: Green buildings have an impact on water both inside and outside their walls. Inside, efficient water use reduces stress on the water source. Outside, buildings and sites can be designed to prevent pollute drainage water, and irrigation requirements can be reduced by using native plants that will thrive in local climates.
3) Reduce Costs and Save Money
Perhaps the most compelling argument for building green is the money saved over time. Small initial investments produce big savings, which come from the following sources:
- BETTER ENERGY PERFORMANCE: By sealing the building envelope (foundation, walls, and roof, and the junctions between these systems), providing better insulation, more efficient appliances and lighting, and by harnessing waste energy within the building, great savings can be achieved over conventional buildings.
- SMARTER MATERIAL AND SYSTEM SELECTIONS:Building components and system that designed not to break, to be easily cleaned and serviced, or to not last longer without replacement are likely to save money. Quality material and components cost money but they save money.
- HIGHER RESALE VALUE:More efficient and healthier homes are more valuable, hold their value better, and are more attractive to home buyers.
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