"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."
Choosing materials that are environmentally friendly, less toxic, and/or biodegradable, and finding ways to reduce the overall amount of material used in design and production.
Lifecycle Assessment: The study of the environmental impacts of a product from raw material extraction, through manufacturing, use, and disposal.
Green Chemistry: The design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.
Bioplastics: Plastics made from renewable resources such as corn starch, potato starch, or sugar cane.
Recycled Materials: Materials that have been reclaimed from waste and used in new products.
Sustainable Textiles: Textiles that have been manufactured using processes that minimize environmental impact.
Eco-Friendly Building Materials: Building materials that minimize environmental impact during manufacturing, installation, and use.
Renewable Energy: The use of energy sources that can be replenished, such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal.
Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an organization, product, or process.
Sustainable Packaging: Packaging that is designed to minimize environmental impact and waste.
Responsible Manufacturing: The use of sustainable practices in manufacturing processes, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and ethical labor practices.
Bamboo: A renewable and durable material that can be used for construction and furniture.
Cork: A lightweight and eco-friendly material that can be used to create flooring, wall coverings, and accessories.
Recycled Paper: A sustainable alternative to traditional paper that can be used to create packaging, stationery, and other paper-based products.
Bioplastics: A type of plastic made from renewable sources like plant starch, which can be used to create food packaging and other products.
Hemp: A sturdy and sustainable textile that can be used to create clothing, accessories, and even building materials.
Organic Cotton: A sustainable alternative to conventional cotton that is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Reclaimed Wood: Wood that has been salvaged from old buildings, furniture, or other sources and can be used to create new products.
Recycled Plastic: Plastic that has been collected, processed, and repurposed into new products, reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment.
Eco Concrete: A type of concrete that is made with minimal amounts of cement and recycled materials, reducing its carbon footprint.
Mushroom-based Materials: Sustainable alternatives to leather and other materials that are derived from mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms.
Natural Stone: A sustainable material that can be used for countertops, flooring, and other applications.
Solar Tiles: Tiles that are embedded with solar panels, which can generate renewable energy for buildings and homes.
Wool: A sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers that can be used to create garments, upholstery, and other textiles.
Air Purifying Materials: Materials that are designed to improve indoor air quality, such as air-filtering paint and coatings.
Bio-concrete: A type of concrete that can self-heal and reduce carbon emissions.
Ferrock: An eco-friendly concrete alternative made from recycled materials such as steel dust, silica, and recycled water.
Living Walls: Vertical gardens made from plants that naturally filter the air.
Mycelium Leather: A durable and sustainable leather alternative made from mycelium.
Cork Fabric: A lightweight and flexible material made from cork that can be used for upholstery and fashion.
Recycled Glass: A versatile material that can be used for construction, glassware, and artwork.
"This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages."
"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, protecting the environment and reducing pollution, providing people with healthy, comfortable and efficient use of space, and being in harmony with nature buildings that live in harmony."
"Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council."
"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."
"Currently, the World Green Building Council is conducting research on the effects of green buildings on the health and productivity of their users."
"Building information modeling (BIM) is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places."
"The common objective of green buildings is to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment."
"Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources; protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity; reducing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation."
"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."
"This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages."
"Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings which was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council."
"The World Green Building Council is conducting research on the effects of green buildings on the health and productivity of their users."
"Green building technology focuses on low consumption, high efficiency, economy, environmental protection, integration, and optimization."
"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."
"The DGNB System benchmarks the sustainability performance of buildings, indoor environments, and districts."