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Features of Green Buildings
Green buildings contain many features that help protect the environment and that use resources efficiently. Planners take care not to build on ecologically sensitive land, such as wetlands. Instead, they build on previously developed land while also reducing the space used for parking lots. Some green buildings have green roofs, or roofs that are covered with trees and other plants, and use natural landscaping techniques on their grounds. Some buildings use natural lighting—with window blinds when needed to reduce glare—and natural ventilation. These buildings are often situated to make the best use of sunlight and wind. Often, green buildings are surrounded by mature trees. Green buildings usually incorporate low-maintenance materials and energy-saving technologies. Builders choose construction materials, furniture, paint, and carpeting that have low levels of off-gassing, which is the release of volatile organic compounds, known as VOCs.
Environmental, Economic, and Community Benefits of Green Buildings
The environmental and economic benefits of green buildings are enormous. Green roofs cool buildings, filter rainwater, and reduce stormwater runoff. They also help reduce the urban heat island effect. This effect occurs when an urban area is much warmer than surrounding areas because of human activities, such as covering land with concrete and asphalt for parking lots. Natural lighting and ventilation reduce reliance on artificial lighting and heating/cooling systems. Buildings that have green roofs and that use natural lighting and ventilation use less energy, which reduces air pollution. Natural landscaping techniques reduce water use. This conserves clean water and reduces the amount of waste products and chemicals (such as pesticides) that enter nearby bodies of water.
The interior of a building with skylights.
This building has reduced energy costs because it incorporates natural lighting.
Green buildings incorporate fewer materials and use materials that have fewer embodied environmental effects. These materials caused the least amount of ecological harm when they were harvested and manufactured. Companies that “build green” recycle during the building process. They also burn fewer fossil fuels while constructing the building, which reduces all types of pollution. Structures surrounded by trees are shaded from excessive summer heat and insulated from winter cold. Thus, they use less electricity for heating and cooling. Fewer fossil fuels are burned, and fewer pollutants such as carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. When buildings incorporate materials that have low levels of off-gassing, the environment is better protected from VOCs.
Buildings that are “green” also have reduced operating costs. In other words, they spend less on electricity, water, trash, landscaping, and other utilities and services. These buildings can save an average of 20 to 50 percent over buildings that are not “green.” Studies have shown that people who work in green buildings are happier and healthier. This affects companies’ bottom lines, because happy workers are more productive.
The benefits of green buildings have convinced many architects and construction companies to “go green” in order to protect the environment, save money, reduce pollution, and increase human health and happiness. Green building is a trend that is here to stay.
