This day and age, you hear everyone talking about going green. Whether you want to admit it or not, at some point everyone will have to follow with the green movement. This is because at the rate we are going, the earth is simply not sustainable. That means that over the years, we will begin to run out of certain natural resources that are needed in order for us to survive.This means that we can’t have a smart city without going green and as a part of it green buildings, but what is the meaning of green buildings?!
What is green building?
Green building -or sustainable building- is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and of reducing impacts on human health and the environment for the entire life-cycle of a building. Green-building concepts extend beyond the walls of buildings and include site planning, community and land-use planning issues as well. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment.
Why Build Green?
Pollution’s devastating effects on the environment have become more obvious in recent years, sparking a movement to promote energy efficiency, less reliance on fossil fuels, and a reduction in air and water pollution. Most scientists agree that such changes are necessary to protect our environment from further harm. The construction industry consumes a large quantity of energy and resources and creates a huge amount of pollution. In the United States, building and development account for 39% of the country’s total energy use, 12% of total water consumption, 68% of total electricity consumption, and 38% of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Environment Protection Agency.
How to build green?
The process of building green includes technical and aesthetic planning with nature conservation in mind. Building designs often reflect the surrounding environment and natural resources and utilize renewable building materials such as bamboo and straw. In addition, recycled resources found locally are used for green buildings, diminishing the cost and air pollution associated with transporting materials long distances. Careful site selection is important to minimize human impact on the surrounding environment. For example, placing a structure in an area that allows it to take advantage of cool breezes and sunlight can reduce energy use and expenses. More energy and expense are needed for larger buildings as well, so it is important to build small. Green roofs are another feature of green houses that reduce energy use and cost. These roofs are partially or completely covered with vegetation, which helps minimize heating and cooling costs, prevent storm-water runoff, and filter pollutants. Other features of green buildings often include energy and water conservation, recycling, and waste reduction. In addition, renewable energy sources such as solar power, hydro-power, and wind power are used for heat and electricity, which significantly reduces costs and decreases the impact on the environment.
Why is green building important?
The growth and development of our communities has a large impact on our natural environment. The manufacturing, design, construction and operation of the buildings in which we live and work are responsible for the consumption of many of our natural resources.
Benefits of Green Building:
Green buildings use less energy, water, create less waste, and are healthier to live, work, or go to school in than standard buildings. Contractors of green buildings incorporate techniques that use resources more efficiently during the entire building cycle—construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition—than builders of conventional structures. The environmental benefits of building green include the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, improved air and water quality, less waste flowing into streams, and the conservation of natural resources. Green buildings can also result in lower operating costs because they typically use less energy and materials and improved indoor air quality, which improves the health of occupants. With new technologies, constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the benefits of green building can range from environmental to economic to social. By adopting greener practices, we can take maximum advantage of environmental and economic performance. Green construction methods when integrated while design and construction provide most significant benefits. Benefits of green building include:
Environmental Benefits:
- Reduce wastage of water
- Conserve natural resources
- Improve air and water quality
- Protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Economic Benefits:
- Reduce operating costs
- Improve occupant productivity
- Create market for green product and services
Social Benefits:
- Improve quality of life
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Improve occupant health and comfort
- The Goals of Green Building
As you can see, green building is something that everyone should really jump on to. If you don’t plan to rebuild your home, then you may just want to make a few green changes within your home to ensure that you are able to get the goals that you want out of it. You can cut down on your energy usage, save money, and make a big impact on the environment. You will find that it isn’t as hard as people make it out to be, and you will feel better about yourself when you go green too!
Green Urbanism (GU) – International Conference
The 4th international conference on “Green Urbanism (GU)” is taking place in Rome, Italy, from 24 to 26 November 2020.
GU-2020 aims to bring together, scientists, urban planners, architects and other stakeholders from across the globe to discuss the latest research findings in all aspects of sustainability.
Moreover, GU international conference avails the opportunity for interested researchers, scholars, scientists, architects, and engineers from around the globe to submit their research papers and get them published in highly-ranked international journals by the esteemed publishers Springer and IEREK Press. Noting that submitted researches must be in the scope of at least one of the official conference topics and abiding the submission instructions.
Many critical topics will be discussed during the GU conference, such as:
- The Evolution of Green Urbanism
- Formulating the Principles of Green Urbanism
- Urban Design for Nature, Conservation of Natural Resources
- Passive Designs: Green Buildings for Sustainable Use
- Green Districts: Bike, Cycles, and Pedestrians’ Corridors
- Urban Growth of Developing Cities
- City Urban Form and Natural Resources
- Landscape, Gardens, Streetscapes, and Urban Biodiversity
- Urbanization of Rural Area: Energy, Water, and Food Security
- Urban Governance, Leadership, Best Practices, Research, and Awareness
- Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Environment
- Regeneration of the City Center and Urban Transit Hubs
- Waste Management, Pollution, and Health Risks
- Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment
- Effects of Sustainable Environments on Human Health
- Advancing Solutions towards Zero Waste Cities
- Transformation to Green Environment
For more information & registration, visit the conference’s official page: https://www.ierek.com/events/GU4th
