Building materials and methods impact global warming and human health. Making changes in the way we build and remodel our businesses can address many of the environmental and human health issues that result from traditional building.
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Success_Stories
Environmental impact of traditional building
Our Homes use water, wood, energy, and other materials to support our needs and comforts. In return, buildings generate large amounts of waste, sewage, and air pollution. In the U.S., 170,000 commercial buildings are constructed, and nearly 44,000 commercial building are demolished, every year. Construction and demolition accounts for 60% of non-industrial waste in the U.S. Buildings.
Green Building is a trend in building, both residential and commercial, that takes into account the inefficiencies and damage created by traditional building. There are several goals of green building:
- Reduce waste and pollution
- Improve air quality
- Improve water and energy efficiency
- Increase us of renewable resources (natural materials that come from a replenishing source)
In the U.S., buildings account for 12% of all treated water use, and consume 39% of total U.S. electricity. Performance shows that green building can reduce energy use by as much as 30%, and water use by almost half. Green building results in the following benefits to the environment:
- Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce waste streams
- Conserve and restore natural resources
There is an increasing demand for green buildings from tenants, customers, and business partners.. Reasons for this increase vary, but the main focus is economic gain.
Studies indicate that substantial benefits for green building owners include:
- Decrease in operating costs; with energy prices rising and forecasted to continue to rise, an energy efficient building continues to save money indefinitely.
- Increase in building values; Green Buildings have a higher re-sale value.
- Increase in Occupancy; air quality and natural lighting create desirable workplaces.
- Increase in rent value; higher tenant demand
Many building owners are concerned with up front costs. The initial cost depends on several factors including the architects’ and builders’ green experience, and the kind of green construction used. U.S. buildings certified with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are one example. Initial cost varies with the level of green design and construction. Average additional costs for offices and schools were as little as .66% for certified LEED buildings, and as much as 6.8% for platinum LEED buildings, the highest LEED certification.
To offset many of the initial costs, the incentives are offered:
Tax credits
Grants
Rebates
These incentives are supplied by:
- Federal governments
- State or provincial governments
- Local governments
- Utility companies
Better materials and higher efficiencies provide pay back for initial costs over the lifetime of the building’s operation. (see 'Success Stories' below)
In addition to economic benefits, consumers and business owners chose green building for health and environmental concerns.
Health Benefits
The average American spends 90% or more of their time indoors. Levels of indoor pollutants may be two to five times higher, and occasionally more than 100 times higher, than outdoor levels. Sources of indoor air pollution include the following:
- Building materials; avoid by using paints and materials with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Furnishings; use natural cane, teaks and minimally processed woods.
- Cleaning products; use organic, natural compounds.
- Central heating and cooling systems; use outside air as much as possible. Keep vents and filters maintained.
- Humidification devices; clean regularly to avoid mold.
By improving indoor air quality, hospitals have discharged patients an average of 2 ½ days earlier than patients with the same condition in poor ventilated facilities. Schools, offices, and industries show increased productivity better physical and mental health. Schools report an average 20% increased test performance, and offices, 2-16% increased productivity.
Chose the Best Location
- Build where occupants can walk to and from residences or basic services
- Build close to public rail or bus lines
- Create bicycle storage and changing rooms
- Create priority parking for alternative transportation or carpools. See
Green Business Practices
Reduce Heat from Roofs and Parking Lots
- Provide shade by planting trees
- Use light- colored roofing materials with high ability to reflect solar heat (or high solar-reflective index)
- Install a vegetated roof covering at least 50% of area
- Build an open-grid pavement system (lattices of pavement with space for ground water percolation and plant growth)
- Construct at least 50% of parking underground
To use water efficiently and reduce the need for municipal water, consider these suggestions:
- Use captured rain or recycled site water for non-potable water needs
- Use high-efficiency landscape irrigation technology with controllers
- Treat wastewater onsite
- Recirculate water for centralized hot water distribution
- Use drought-resistant and native plants for landscaping
Reduce Waste
Most construction waste is from demolition and renovation, and roughly half of this waste is from commercial buildings. Managing waste efficiently could divert as much as 50-70% of waste from a landfill. To reduce the impact of construction waste consider these suggestions:
- Recycle materials on construction site
- Donate materials to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity
- Recycle electronics with a local or statewide program, or contact the manufacturer.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Commercial buildings use roughly half of electricity and total energy in the U.S. each year. Strategies for an energy efficient building, an economic as well as environmental benefit, include the following:
- Orient building according to the sun’s daily cycle for natural heat and light (passive solar heating)
- Install occupant-controlled, daylight-controlled, or motion responsive lighting
- Use and maintain energy-efficient heating and cooling systems
- Use thermally-efficient insulation, roofing and wall materials. Consider an ICF (insulated concrete form) wall system. It goes up fast, has high insulation value and uses recycled materials.
- Consider alternative or renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics
For more information see Conserving Energy
Purchase green materials for your building’s interior to improve air quality, human health, bio-diversity, and other environmental impacts. See Buying Green
Re-usable and Renewable Resources
- Purchase re-used or renewable resources (raw materials that are quickly replenished) such as:
- Salvaged or refurbished construction materials, such as beams, posts, flooring, paneling, doors, frames, cabinetry, brick, and decorative items
- Rapidly renewable materials (planted and harvested in less than a 10 year cycle), including, bamboo, linoleum, cork, poplar, pine, and wheat straw
- Certified wood by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) harvested from managed forests.
- Recycled content (post consumer)
- Regional materials
Improve Air Quality
Indoor air quality is the measure of pollutants and conditions that affect the health, comfort and performance of occupants, including temperature, relative humidity, light, and sound. Poor air quality may lead to short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, or long-term problems like asthma. Improve air quality by purchasing zero or low volatile organic compound (VOC) products like carpets, furniture, adhesives, sealants, paints, and coatings. Traditionally, these products contain high VOCs, respiratory irritants that float in the air.
Buy Products with “Eco Labels”
Environmental programs around the world create labels to help consumers evaluate the environmental impacts and benefits of certain products and services. U.S. labels include:
- Green Seal products
- Green Guard (indoor air quality)
- CRI Green Label/Label Plus (Carpet and Rug)
- Energy Star (energy efficiency)
- FloorScore-certified finished flooring
Internationally labels include:
Nordic Swan
EU Flower
Blue Angel (Germany)
Eco Mark (Japan)
Green Mark (Taiwan)
Environmental Choice Program (Canada)
Using internet or phone research find a professional building or design associations such as the following:
The U.S. Building Council
American Institute of Architects
The National Association of Remodeling Industry
The American Society of Interior Designers.
Interview professionals who have passed a green building exam, such as LEED. Ask them questions about their experience with sustainable building and design, area of environmental expertise, their business’ sustainability, and their personal interest in green building.
You may also want to check their license number at the contractor state license board or at the Better Business Bureau. Get recommendations from their past and current customers, and look at a portfolio of their former projects.
Research online for the top green contractors in your area, based on the volume of projects they’ve completed, and specific environmental, energy-saving, or sustainability standards they’ve followed. Attend green events and take green business tours.
Is there a nationally recognized standard for building green?
Many countries around the world have created environmental building standards to achieve best design practices, and sustainable building guidelines. Some include:
BREEAM, United Kingdom
Gold & Silver Energy Standards, United Kingdom
Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star
Effinergie, France
Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design (LEED), USA, Canada, & India
Green Globes, USA, Canada, and United Kingdom
Minergie, Switzerland
New Zealand Green Building Council, Green Star
Passivhaus, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom
EEWH, Taiwan
Am I required to build green?
Some countries, including the United States and Taiwan, mandate green building design for federal or local government buildings. Currently, a handful of cities in the U.S. require green building for private construction, most of which are large structures over 50,000 square feet. However, the focus is turning toward smaller structures. In the summer of 2007, West Hollywood became the first city in the U.S. to mandate green buildings for new residential and commercial construction. Other cities are following suit.
Do I need special permits?
Governments may require permits for some green building attributes, such as installing greywater irrigation, or photovoltaic panels. Check your local building requirements.
How can I learn more about green building for my business?
Check federal, state, provincial, or local government web sites for guidance. There are also many books on building green for businesses.
The first Gold LEED certified building in New York City, the 46-story, 856,000 square-foot Hearst Tower, boasts 90% recycled steel, and glass coating to reduce solar radiation. Its high-efficiency heating and air-conditioning equipment uses outside air for cooling for 75% of the year. Its roof collects rainwater for irrigation and humidification. Indoors, it supplies low toxicity furniture, finishes, and carpeting.
Australia’s first Green Star rated building, the ten-story “Council House 2,” was awarded six stars and shows 72% reduction in water consumption, 85% reduction in electricity consumption, 87% reduction in green house gas emissions, and 80% reduction in sewer emissions. These sustainability features cost $11.3 million and are expected to deliver a 10 year payback.
Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California installed about 10,000 solar panels, expected to generate 30% of Google’s peak electricity demand, and pay for itself within 8 years.
The first project in Latin America to become Gold LEED certified was the HSBC Bank Headquarters in Mexico City. It includes a 4,000 square foot green roof, an onsite greywater treatment plant, low-VOC carpeting, GreenGuard certified furniture, convenient public transportation, bike racks for employees. Builders also used local materials and resources.
The Adobe Headquarters complex in San Jose, California received the Platinum LEED certification. Adobe invested approximately $1.4 million for energy and environmental renovation. Adobe received $380,000 in one-time rebates, and approximately $1.2 million in annual savings.
