Green Building:
Ecologically sustainable design provides environmental, social, economic benefits. Because built environments are the largest contributor to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, ESD features are utilized in the built environment which is known as green building that significantly reduces the impacts of our built environment in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and use of environmentally friendly materials which is beneficial for the environment. It is also economic in ways that green buildings can be cost efficient in the long run. In addition, it also improves indoor environmental quality that can create a healthier environment for the occupants of a building which may help increase their productivity.
Integrating ESD elements in built form has a number of benefits for the broader community such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water use, reduction in the impact of flooding events, protection of water quality, more sustainable resource use and reduced waste and support of sustainable products and materials industries. Other potential benefits of green building can include:
Environmental implications
The whole purpose behind sustainable building is to preserve our environment and avoid the depletion of the earth’s natural resources. When sustainable substitutions are made throughout each phase of the project’s development it allows us to: * Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems * Minimise energy use * Waste reduction * Reduce emissions * Conserve water * Improve air and water quality * Reduce waste streams * Conserve and restore natural resources * Temperature control
Economic implications
Not only does sustainable building improve the quality of our environment but it also has many economic benefits as well. By using sustainable materials, reducing energy consumption,
References: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/cleanup/revitalization/er3/benefits.html http://www.hickoryconsortium.org/what-the-hickory-consortium-does/28-benefits-of-sustainable-design-for-buildings.html http://thedesignbuildblog.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/the-benefits-of-sustainable-building/ http://www.rmit.edu.au/thinkgreen/greeninitiatives https://www.google.com.au/search?q=atrium&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.47008514,d.dGI&biw=1517&bih=783&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=7s6eUZbnBOSPiAengoGQCA#imgrc=_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design#Waste_prevention http://www.cleanlineenergy.com/technology/wind-and-solar http://www.geekabout.com/2007-12-31-438/greenest-buildings-in-the-world.html