What Are Some Environmental Advantages of Building Green?

Going green is more than a buzzword. It's a necessary step in every architect's job today. 

One of the most sought-after topics in architecture is how to create exciting new projects. Projects that support and don't hurt the environment. It's quite a challenge.

Architects are tasked with balancing stakeholder goals along with the need to design projects. Projects that reduce energy consumption, use green materials, and improve air quality. There's never been a better time to be in this industry. 

That’s not always easy. Bigger and bolder are not always the best objectives any longer. Instead, it's about building with the planet in mind. 

Building green has numerous advantages, of course. It's also easier than ever to find unique ways to incorporate green technologies into your next project. 

Being realistic, consider the strategies that let you incorporate “green” into truly beneficial spaces. 

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP

Let's Define What Building Green Is

Green building is the process of selecting materials and processes that reduce their impact on the environment. This is compared to traditional products and processes. That sounds simple enough. 

A green building reduces or eliminates the negative impact on natural resource use. Its focus is typically on areas of:

• Improving energy efficiency by using less energy to accomplish tasks

• Reducing reliance on natural resources with a move towards renewable energy 

• Lowering or eliminating carbon pollution being released into the environment

• Improving air quality within the space 

• Efficient use of water and all other natural resources

• Using non-toxic, sustainable materials 

• Sourcing materials that are produced in an ethical manner 

That's a lot to unpack. Building green can happen in residential or commercial spaces. It can be utilized in the architectural design of a modern hospital, a roadway through a busy town, or the local school. 

Why do so? 

The direct benefits of environmentally friendly buildings are profound. Members of the European Union have set out to make a difference through the European Climate Pact. It's an impressive goal to renovate buildings to make them climate-friendly. By 2030, -- just a handful of years from now – they aim to renovate 35 million buildings.

Core Benefits of Going Green in Architecture

The more ways an architect can design and implement green strategies, the more significant the benefit is on their property and the planet itself. 

Reduced energy consumption

A green building uses less energy without limiting the functionality of that space. That means high-tech electronics and all other appliances are not limited, but how much energy they use is.

Reduced energy consumption offers numerous benefits itself. It lowers the cost of powering a property. It also reduces the impact on using natural resources from the environment. Green buildings with low energy consumption tend to be more valuable in the eyes of the buyer. Who doesn’t want to save money on electricity? 

To reduce energy consumption effectively, architects must build with intent. Building with a focus on the following areas specifically:

• Use of high-thermal-resistant insulation 

• Install air conditioning and heating systems that require less energy to operate 

• Choose natural lighting with proper window and skylight positions to reduce the demand for electricity

• Improve temperature control methods 

It’s obvious what the benefits are. Less energy use means lower costs. It also means less demand for natural resources. You know, those that everyone says will run out soon? It also keeps more money in the user’s pocket. 

Lower maintenance and operational costs

The cost to maintain a building is high. The cost of operating it properly can also be high. 

In some cases, maintenance costs for buildings account for 80% of the building’s lifetime costs. What if you could lower this with simple strategies, like using the sun?

By incorporating strategies that utilize daylight and better manage tasks. This is based on the availability of natural light, and buildings see a massive reduction in these costs. 

It costs more to build green. However, the reduced maintenance costs provide an effective way to offset those higher costs. The end result is cost savings. If you can look past the initial cost, the benefits are there.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

All buildings produce some level of greenhouse gas. This is a substance that decimates the ozone layer and has been directly linked to climate change. Renewable energy sources provide much-needed relief. 

Building green is all about achieving a more carbon-neutral, pollution-less space. It takes architects to design these spaces to achieve this goal. It’s not a simple solution.

 It is possible to renovate to include these benefits, with careful attention to your unique needs. It's easier to do so from the start, but it’s still possible.

• Incorporate the use of solar power to meet the property's energy needs

• Utilize wind turbines to produce energy

• Efficient building envelopes reduce demand 

• Energy management systems can further improve gas emissions from that space

Architects are increasingly investing in energy solutions that don't rely on fossil fuels. That move often means a higher initial cost but lower long-term operational costs for many buildings. 

Improved indoor air quality

Photo by Daniel Hansen

The air you breathe is a resource. It’s one that could run out. It’s certainly one that can “smell bad” and pollute your lungs, too.

The European Environment Agency states that air pollution is the biggest health risk across the continent. With 96% of the population directly impacted. Indoor air has improved notably over the years, but there's room to improve even more so.

Are we building too good?

A particularly interesting complication to the improvement of building envelopes. A building's envelope, or how well it keeps treated air within the space, is a mark for true green building. Sealing up the holes that let air conditioning out is logical. 

Today's new homes and buildings are certainly more air-tight than ever. This produces a risk of limiting the flow of air through the space, and that’s actually a problem. Too good is not good.

Architectural design needs to do the seemingly impossible: Reduce the bad air particles from getting into the building while also ensuring carbon monoxide and other pollutants within the space can move out.

Improve indoor air quality by reducing emissions from HVAC and other appliances and systems within the space. Incorporate the use of air cleaning technologies such as better filtration systems. 

Research demonstrates the benefit here. Improved indoor air quality may reduce the instances of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, some forms of cancer, neurological disorders, and obesity. In other words, it’s worth getting right.

Enhanced indoor environment quality

Look beyond the air within a space. Green building technologies and solutions improve the overall environment. Here’s how.

• Focus on design strategies that improve lighting (with as much natural lighting as possible) to directly enhance mood and productivity within that space. 

• The use of ergonomic designs helps to reduce pain and pressure on the body. That directly improves overall comfort and productivity. 

Another strategy is to improve thermal conditions. Creating a consistent level of comfort in air quality, temperature, and humidity makes it easier for building occupants to remain comfortable. That reduces stress levels. It may even improve a person's quality of life. 

Enhance a building's ability to achieve this by:

• Incorporating as much natural light as possible into the space

• Use materials safe for day-to-day use without toxins 

• Eliminating the use of materials that emit dangerous pollutants 

• Use design strategies that support the movement and needs of the people working or living within that environment

• Invest in proper temperature control systems that create a balanced, even-zoned strategy for enhancing comfort

Photo by Clay Banks

Improved water efficiency

Here’s another resource we need to conserve. It takes more than turning off the water when brushing your teeth to make a difference, though.

Water efficiency continues to be one of the most important strategies to protect the planet. By using less water, it's possible to save water for future generations. 

The second benefit of sustainable practices is to reduce the amount of chemicals and pollutants added to the water resources available. That protects the water supply itself.

Architects have several unique methods they can incorporate from the design up that allow for significantly lower demand for water resources. 

• Installation of low-flow water fixtures within the space uses significantly less water without any noticeable difference

• Incorporation of rainwater uses, such as watering plants and the garden with rainwater instead of treated water from public resources 

• Use water purification strategies (those that are low-energy are best) to remove contaminants before they pass through the property

Material efficiency

Photo by Maicol Santos

Material efficiency is another direct benefit of building green. This method focuses on the physical process and materials applied in a way that uses the least amount of material without any limitation to outcomes. 

Do more with less. 

Let’s explain what that means logically. 

The benefit of material efficiency starts with reducing the impact of waste. That means less material is heading to the landfill. Reducing waste is critical to protecting the environment since landfills contribute significantly to air pollution and ozone depletion.

Material efficiency also lowers the cost of any build. Using fewer materials means less cost to purchase materials. It also means lower costs and less installation, clean-up, and maintenance over time.

Achieving material efficiency takes a design strategy with a significant focus on sourcing materials:

• Choose materials that last longer than others

• Recycle and repurpose materials for projects instead of purchasing newly manufactured items 

• Use fewer materials that can do the job (less roofing material, for example, or less insulation – using a higher quality product in either of these examples reduces costs)

Fewer materials, better processes, and less use of natural resources in the construction phase all directly impact the environment. Material efficiency strives to use the least amount of materials and energy to create a strong outcome.

Improved health benefits

Photo by K8

Ultimately, people care about themselves too. Green building helps you feel good.

Architectural design that focuses heavily on green building may help support healthier, longer lives. This applies, as noted, to improving indoor air quality. However, there are other potential health benefits from building green.

• The switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy like solar eliminates toxic exposure, which can impact mental and physical health. 

• Improved strategies for lighting and temperature balance allow for improved productivity and fitness levels. A person feels better and is more likely to move around. 

• Better focus and concentration can be a direct link to improved environmental controls. 

Improving the quality of life and the quantity of life of those living and working in these spaces is more within reach than many expect. Green building enables an opportunity for architects and designers to pinpoint specific areas of risk and improve them.

Improved landscaping and site design enhance biodiversity

Now that the interior is green, it’s time to think about nature. 

It's not just about having a natural outdoor area but enhancing biodiversity there.

The use, for example, of native plants and trees reduces the need for maintenance, care, and watering. These plants already adapted to the local conditions and climate. They need less human interaction.

Integrating permeable pavements, bioswales, as well as rain gardens within building landscape design helps to support local wildlife such as pollinators and beneficial insects. These strategies also incorporate natural ways to filter water, such as the use of rain gardens and bioswales, which are natural filtration systems.

Green roofs and walls help to support better air quality. They also support a more sustainable urban environment for wildlife. They are also quite impressively beautiful as well. This adds to the mental health stimulation that space can have on a person's wellbeing.

Building Green Offers Direct Benefits Worth the Cost

Green building takes more time and effort than using traditional materials and methods. It’s harder. It costs a bit more.

Yet, the benefits of improved health, protection of natural resources, and improved overall comfort make it well worth investing in from an architectural standpoint.

Architects and designers capable of implementing more of these strategies are likely to see profound improvements in the quality of life within those environments.