Hypothesis
There has been an argument about the efficiency of green buildings and whether they are indeed sustainable. In this case, green buildings have proved to be much better than other buildings and this is as far as environmental aspects are concerned. As a matter of fact, it should be known that new technologies are being developed and this is the way to go. People are being encouraged to develop green structures and this is aimed at reducing the environmental impact that other buildings have had on the society.
Abstract
It is undeniable that the world is going green and this will ultimately involve everything. As a matter of fact, the idea of green buildings has been greatly embraced by different people in our society and this trend is expected to continue as time goes by. Generally, these buildings are being developed to be in line with the current technology and advancements but the overall objective of green buildings is to reduce the environmental impact (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 4).
The most outstanding benefit of green buildings is the reduction in wastes and this is something that other developments have not taken care of. Gases that are emitted from materials like formaldehyde have had a serious impact on the occupants’ health and this is something that needs to be solved through green buildings.
As a matter of fact, indoor air quality is greatly enhanced through green buildings. This should reduce air impurities and other organic compounds that can be distributed and found in air. Many materials that have been used in other buildings emit toxic gases and that is why we can say that green buildings are better in indoor air quality.
Green buildings enhance maintenance optimization and this is something that argues well in their favor (Langdon 12). Green is a term that has become popular in recent years and this is as far as buildings are concerned. In this case, it has been used to describe the design and construction of buildings. These are buildings that have a minimal impact on the environment.
Introduction
Green buildings revolve around a structure that is environmentally friendly. In addition, the structures are supposed to be resource efficient. This is as far as the buildings life cycle is concerned. All this should be catered for from the time the building will be set up to the time that it will be demolished.
The maintenance and operation of the building should also be green oriented as far as the aspect of green building is concerned (Langdon 27). It should be known that the general practice of green buildings complements various and distinct design concerns. In this case, we can look at the buildings economy and its general comfortability.
As a matter of fact, it is also good to look at the buildings durability for long term sustainability. Generally, these buildings are being developed to be in line with the current technology and advancements but the overall objective of green buildings is to reduce the environmental impact (WBDG Sustainable Committee 7).
The built environment can also have an impact and effects on human health and this is what green buildings seek to demystify. We should take care of our natural environment through various initiatives and green buildings are one of them.
Discusion
It has been proven that green buildings reduce the environmental impact on human health and this is undeniable. All in all, these buildings are designed to enhance the efficient use of other resources like energy, water and others. In a broad perspective, green buildings have a positive impact on employee productivity and that is why they are being advocated for.
It has also been proven that green buildings are in a better position to protect the health of various occupants (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency13). This therefore is a good reason as per to why green buildings should be advocated for. Most green buildings are designed to reduce pollution that other buildings have had on the environment. In this case, environmental degradation is effectively taken care of.
The most outstanding benefit of green buildings is that they reduce waste and this is something that other developments have not taken care of. In a broad perspective, the concept of green buildings has also been replicated in natural buildings. These buildings are more concerned with the use of natural materials.
In this case, they are used because they are naturally available than other materials that have to be imported or bought from other places (Langdon 32). The general retrofitting of homes and houses is not addressed by green houses in any way and this is a fact that we should comprehend with. We all agree that many buildings have always been constructed on large parcels of land.
Wholesomely, the general idea of green buildings is aimed at taking care of the environmental impact that any new construction can have. People and the whole society have been encouraged to come up with sustainable developments and this is as far green buildings are concerned.
Our construction practices are supposed to be energy efficient and this is where this concept and aspect comes in. In a broad perspective, green buildings have both economic and social impacts on our environment (WBDG Sustainable Committee 9). For long term sustainability, there have been efforts to come up with good designs that will be used for new structures. In this case, a good and sustainable design will take care of the buildings life cycle.
Most green building practices have been designed and used to create the synergy that is needed. Green buildings lay more emphasis on renewable resources and techniques. Other aspects like the use of trees and plants can be seen in the aspect of green roofs. This is mostly aimed at reducing any rainwater run-off that might be anticipated for.
Replenishment of water has also been taken care of through green buildings and this will continue as time goes by through good technological advancements (Langdon 29). This technology has been changing as time goes by and there are differences depending on the region that one comes from. This can be explained from the fact that every region can not have the same materials and capabilities.
There are some general practices that can not be avoided and this is as far as green buildings are concerned. It should be known that there are various optimization principles of green buildings that are supposed to be taken care of. All this technologies can be used to produce and come up with a good cumulative effect that is desired by all.
Buildings should be designed to be in harmony with the surrounding environment. A good building should be able to generate renewable energy and this is a fact that needs to be catered for (Pushkar 18). The structure and design of green buildings is supposed to reduce costs that come with other buildings. In this case, the design should look at the life cycle stages of the whole project.
The idea of green buildings can not replicate itself and this means that they will always vary. Any variations in the design of the building should be looked at because they affect the environment. Green buildings are energy efficient and this is the main aim of coming up with such structures. As much as there might be efforts to minimize the use of energy, the generation of renewable energy is highly advocated for. This will therefore reduce the impact that such a building might have on the environment.
The only problem will be seen in the generation of power and this because such an activity is very expensive (Langdon 17). Green buildings are supposed to reduce the consumption of water in a broad way. In this case, the facility should rely on water that is collected from the site. This is normally preferred against the idea of relying on piped water that is not sustainable.
It should be known that the idea of conserving water should be advocated for through the general life cycle of the building. In this case, the recycling of water should be emphasized for long term sustainability. Re-usage of water on-site should be advocated for from the initial design stages of the building.
Heating and water treatment should be encouraged because it will ultimately enhance the quality of water. Other aspects like on-site irrigation should be encouraged through recycling (Pushkar 23). This can therefore reduce the demand for local water supplies. Green buildings are efficient as far as materials are concerned. In this case, renewable materials like bamboo are mostly encouraged. Such materials can be sustainably managed as time goes by and this is good.
Most of these materials like wood plates and stones can be found locally and this can therefore reduce on costs. Recycling of industrial goods should be encouraged because this will reduce the impact that such materials have on the environment. A perfect example is the use of demolition debris that can be found on various sites.
To reduce the energy that is used in the transportation of materials it will be good if they are assembled locally and on site (Perlman 27). As a matter of fact, they should be extracted and manufactured within the locality for long term sustainability. In a broad perspective, this will minimize waste and thereby maximize the benefits that are supposed to be got from the use of local materials.
Indoor quality enhancement is also catered for through green buildings. In this case, they are supposed to enhance comfort and the general productivity that should be expected from the occupants. Such aspects should be catered for through the design stages of the building. As a matter of fact, indoor air quality is greatly enhanced through green buildings.
This should reduce air impurities and other organic compounds that can be distributed and found in air (Pushkar 29). Indoor air quality should be the main concern as far as the design of green buildings is concerned. Green buildings are built with good construction materials that can minimize emissions that have an impact on the quality of air. The general interior finishing has also focused on low emissions and that is why green buildings have always improved the quality of air.
Many materials that have been used in other buildings emit toxic gases and that is why we can say that green buildings are better in indoor air quality. Gases that are emitted from materials like formaldehyde have had a serious impact on the occupants’ health and this is something that needs to be solved through green buildings.
All in all, the productivity of the occupant is greatly compromised through other building materials that do not focus on green buildings (Perlman 43). Therefore, such materials should be avoided to enhance indoor air quality. Lighting is also catered for through green buildings and this is something that has been ignored by other buildings.
Green buildings enhance maintenance optimization and this is something that argues well in their favor. As a matter of fact, the personnel that will be in charge of operations and maintenance should be incorporated in the planning process to ensure that the idea is properly executed.
Waste reduction is greatly advocated for through green buildings and houses (Pushkar 23). If the buildings are designed well, they will reduce waste and give on-site solutions. This is as far as the occupant is concerned because they play a large role and part in such aspects. A perfect example of an on-site solution is composite bins that need to be everywhere. Rainwater collectors should be installed on every building to collect water that can be used in the building.
Conclusion
Green is a term that has become popular in recent years and this is as far as buildings are concerned. In this case, it has been used to describe the design and construction of buildings. These are buildings that have a minimal impact on the environment. This is as far as the negativity that has been associated with other buildings is concerned (Perlman 36).
As a matter of fact, people are being encouraged to go green all over the world and this is based on various challenges that have been seen and witnessed as time goes by. This is because the global environment has become a major issue of concern and such issues can only be solved through green initiatives. Green means being earth friendly and this involves a lot of aspects.
Works Cited
Langdon, Davis. The Cost of Green Revisited. California: Stanford University Press, 2007. Print.
Perlman, Jeff. The Cost and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings. New York: Cornell University Press, 2008. Print.
Pushkar, Becker. A methodology for design of environmentally optimal buildings by variable grouping: Building and Environment. New York: Routledge, 2005. Print.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Green Building Basic Information. 2010. Web.
WBDG Sustainable Committee. Design Guidance. 2011. Web.