The Case for Green Building

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The production, transportation, and construction of building materials contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, negatively affecting the environment and human health. Adopting green building practices reduces these impacts by promoting sustainability using locally sourced “green” materials, reducing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) needs, optimizing systems, and incorporating on-site water and energy harvesting. The philosophy of sustainable green architecture aims to harmonize with nature and conserve natural resources in and around the building site.

The construction industry and energy usage

The construction industry is a major consumer of primary energy, contributing significantly to energy consumption and environmental degradation. Building construction, operation, and demolition consume 15% of the world’s freshwater resources and 40% of all energy, while emitting 30% of the world’s greenhouse gases.

Recently, there has been a growing focus on increasing renewable energy production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as governments worldwide respond to international treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol, Basel Convention, and the Rio Declaration by implementing environmental regulations and standards.

The Role of Buildings in Climate Change

Global CO2 Emissions

Research shows that buildings contribute significantly to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy use. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from buildings are mainly generated from the consumption of fossil fuels, either directly or through electricity produced from such fuels.

40% of the World’s Energy Consumption

The building sector accounts for more than 40% of the world’s energy consumption and releases one-third of the global GHG emissions in developed and developing countries. Between 1971 and 2004, the growth rate of CO2 emissions in commercial buildings was 2.5% annually, while it was 1.7% in residential buildings. Additionally, GHG emissions are also produced through construction materials, such as insulation and cooling systems.

GHG Emissions

The energy used during the manufacturing, transportation, construction, operation, and demolition of buildings makes the building sector the largest contributor to GHG emissions compared to other major emitting industries. The building sector has the opportunity to make a major reduction in GHG emissions.

Adopting energy-efficient technologies in both new and existing buildings can save 30% to 80%

Buildings consume a significant part of the world’s energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting energy-efficient technologies in both new and existing buildings can save 30% to 80% during their lifecycle. Over 80% of GHG emissions from buildings are produced during their operational phase, primarily driven by energy needs for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and other uses. The manufacturing and transport of building materials account for a smaller proportion of energy consumption, typically 10% to 20%.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Green Building Council, the construction and operation of buildings consume 72% of electricity, 39% of total energy, and 17% of freshwater resources. Additionally, they generate a significant amount of municipal solid waste, chlorofluorocarbons, CO2 emissions, and other pollutants.

Green Buildings

Green buildings are designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly throughout their life cycle, with no negative impact on the health and well-being of workers during construction and occupants during operation, maintenance, and renovation.

  • Conserve natural resources:

    • They conserve natural resources by using them efficiently and reducing waste, resulting in lower utility bills and a reduced environmental impact.

  • Eco-construction:

    • Also known as sustainable construction or eco-construction, green building aims to cut the environmental impact of building.
    • It is not a single construction method, but a combination of techniques, materials, and technologies integrated into a project to enhance its environmental performance.
    • Green building emphasizes energy efficiency, water conservation, and using recycled, recyclable, and non-toxic materials.

  • Preserving the environment:

    • Green building practices are focused on preserving the environment and maximizing resource efficiency.
    • This approach prioritizes energy efficiency, sustainability, and comfort and aims to cut the built environment’s impact on human health and the natural world.
    • This includes using energy, water, and other resources efficiently, promoting healthy indoor air quality, enhancing employee productivity, reducing waste and pollution, and using sustainable materials during construction.
    • A green building can incorporate recycled, recyclable, or renewable materials, reduce indoor pollutants, and feature landscape designs requiring minimal water use.

  • Benefits:

    • Green buildings bring several benefits, such as a reduction in energy consumption by 30 to 40%, a decrease in the use of natural resources, protection of existing natural spaces and improvement of existing ecology, a decrease in water consumption by 30%, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 33%, improved indoor air quality, a 50% reduction in solid waste volume, the use of low-impact materials and a decrease in the use of high-energy materials in interiors.

Challenges

Challenges exist in mitigating GHG emissions from the building sector.

  • One major challenge is the need for a policy to reduce, rather than just displace, emissions.
  • Another challenge is reducing energy demand in the design of green buildings and choosing sustainable energy sources.
  • Governments must take steps to reduce GHG emissions from buildings by increasing energy efficiency, encouraging energy and distribution companies to support emissions reductions, and promoting a shift towards renewable energy sources.
  • Changing attitudes and behavior towards energy use is also essential to meet these challenges and transition to a greener future.

Conclusion

Green buildings can significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to one-third of total emissions in the built environment.

  • Sustainable building practices and techniques not only benefit the environment and human health but also improve the efficiency of the buildings.
  • But reducing the negative impacts by a certain percentage is not enough to solve the GHG problem. Holistic measures are required for true sustainability.
  • Most greenhouse gas emissions come from the building’s operation phase, whereas transportation of building materials and energy consumption of construction equipment contribute a smaller part.
  • Green buildings aim to cut the impact of buildings on human health and the environment.
  • Addressing the issues of local pollutants and deteriorating air quality is crucial.
  • Barriers such as a lack of regulations and political will, financing, awareness, trained contractors, suitable products, and experts, as well as high initial costs, need to be overcome for a greener and GHG-free environment.

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