"Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition."
This topic covers the concept of sustainable building materials and their importance in the construction industry. It includes the study of eco-friendly materials, their benefits, and their impact on the environment.
Renewable resources: Materials that are made from natural resources that have an unlimited supply, such as bamboo, straw, and timber.
Resource efficiency: The ability to use fewer materials during the construction process without compromising quality or safety.
Energy efficiency: The ability to reduce energy consumption during construction and use of the building.
Recyclability: The ability to reuse or recycle building materials at the end of their useful life.
Cradle-to-Cradle design: The design of buildings and building materials that consider the entire life cycle of the product, from creation to disposal.
Passive solar design: The design process that takes advantage of natural heating and cooling properties of building materials to reduce the need for mechanical heating and cooling.
Indoor air quality: The use of materials that do not release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants into indoor air, thus protecting occupants' health.
Embodied carbon: The amount of carbon emissions associated with the production, transportation, and use of building materials.
Water efficiency: The reduction of water use during construction and the lifespan of the building.
Natural ventilation: The use of natural ventilation solutions to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, energy costs, and overall carbon footprint.
Life cycle assessment (LCA): The evaluation and comparison of the environmental impact of various building materials and construction practices.
Biophilic design: The use of natural elements, such as natural light, vegetation, and water, to promote human well-being and connection to nature.
Durability: The use of materials that have a long lifespan, reducing the need for frequent maintenance or replacement.
Thermal mass: The use of materials that can store and release heat, reducing temperature fluctuations and demand for heating and cooling.
Net-zero energy buildings: Buildings that generate as much energy as they consume, typically through the use of renewable energy sources and highly efficient building materials and systems.
Recycled Materials: These are materials that have been repurposed from their original use, such as recycled glass, steel, and plastics.
Bamboo: A fast-growing, renewable, and sustainable plant that can be used for flooring, cabinets, and furniture.
Salvaged Wood: Wood that has been reclaimed from old buildings or structures and repurposed for new construction projects.
Fly Ash Concrete: A material made from coal waste that is often used as a replacement for cement in concrete.
Straw Bales: A natural, renewable, and non-toxic insulation material that is often used in eco-friendly homes.
Hempcrete: A sustainable alternative to concrete made from hemp fibers and lime.
Cork: A renewable and biodegradable material that is commonly used for flooring, insulation, and wall coverings.
Earthbag: A low-cost and sustainable building material made from bags filled with soil, sand, or gravel.
Rammed Earth: A sustainable building technique that involves using a mixture of soil, gravel, and water that is compressed into forms.
Natural Insulation: Materials like cellulose and wool are used as insulation instead of synthetic materials, reducing waste and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Solar Panels: Convert sunlight into electricity, which can be used to power homes and reduce reliance on non-renewable sources of energy.
Green Roofs: Roofs that are covered in vegetation and plants to reduce heat absorption and provide a natural air filter.
Mud Bricks: A natural and low-energy alternative to bricks made from fired clay, mud bricks are made from earth, water, and straw.
Low VOC Paints: Paint that contains fewer volatile organic compounds, reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and promoting better indoor air quality.
Strawboard: A sustainable alternative to particle board made from compressed straw fibers.
"This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages."
"The common objective of green buildings is to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment."
"Green building also refers to saving resources to the maximum extent, including energy saving, land saving, water saving, material saving, etc., during the whole life cycle of the building."
"Other certificate systems that confirm the sustainability of buildings are the British BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) for buildings and large-scale developments or the DGNB System (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen e.V.) which benchmarks the sustainability performance of buildings, indoor environments and districts."
"The World Green Building Council is conducting research on the effects of green buildings on the health and productivity of their users."
"The World Green Building Council is working with the World Bank to promote Green Buildings in Emerging Markets through EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Market Transformation Program and certification."
"There are also other tools such as Green Star in Australia, Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) used in the Middle East and the Green Building Index (GBI) predominantly used in Malaysia."
"Building information modeling (BIM) is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places."
"Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity"
"Natural building is a similar concept, usually on a smaller scale and focusing on the use of locally available natural materials."
"Sustainability may be defined as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."
"Although some green building programs don't address the issue of retrofitting existing homes, others do, especially through public schemes for energy efficient refurbishment."
"A 2009 report by the U.S. General Services Administration found 12 sustainably-designed buildings that cost less to operate and have excellent energy performance."
"Occupants were overall more satisfied with the building than those in typical commercial buildings."
"Reducing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation."
"Green building technology focuses on low consumption, high efficiency, economy, environmental protection, integration, and optimization."
"The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort."
"Green building refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition."
"Providing people with healthy, comfortable, and efficient use of space, and being in harmony with nature Buildings that live in harmony."