Archive for August, 2011
One View On What Makes a Building “Green”
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011I’d like to thank Philip J. Reed for giving us his opinion on what constitutes green building in the following guest post. Philip works in association with the Daybreak community in Utah. He has a close personal interest in green-friendly practices and sustainable living, and will be happy to follow up on any questions you may leave in the comments below.
Green building is a popular subject these days, but do you know what makes a building green? The concept relies on much more than environmental friendliness; economic development, transportation and infrastructure, land use, and still other ideas are all part all incorporated to promote a balanced, sustainable lifestyle.
At its core, this type of construction emphasizes the smart use of resources and processes to minimize the impact a structure has on the environment. Green buildings may contain products that have been reused, recycled, or made from a renewable resource. They support a healthy indoor environment and also employ smart landscaping, such as the use of native plants that won’t require extra water. Better designs minimize heating and cooling losses in a building, and make better use of energy as well. Even construction processes are more efficient, reducing the waste produced during building.
Spikes in energy prices and a significant environmental push in the 1960s and 1970s prompted early ventures into green building in the United States. The movement was formalized in the 1990s, and has continued to blossom today. To give builders a better sense of how to construct an environmentally friendly and economically smart structure, organizations such as the National Association of Home Builders have created Model Green Home Building Guidelines to provide more understanding of what constitutes green building and techniques to use which will facilitate the process.
Homes in Salt Lake are now constructed with a greener focus, and growing numbers adhere completely to EPA Energy Star® guidelines. Sustainable communities and neighborhoods now keep community gardens, walking and bike trails, activity centers, and community pools in mind. Business owners are incorporating smart principles into the design of their buildings, and several are LEED® certified. Even construction companies are doing their part by recycling a significant amount of their waste.
Those who believe in green building are passionate about the effects these practices can have on improving human and environmental health. Building choices, neighborhood design, and green infrastructure are all concepts which can have many beneficial results reaching far into the future.
References:
Daybreak Utah
U.S. EPA
U.S. Green Building Council
EPA Green Building FAQ
HGTV Pro (Article)
