Sustainable buildings reduce water and energy use and are essential to sustainable city development designed to fight climate change. From huge skyscrapers to innovative museums, we will look at the eco-friendly buildings which open the way for more sustainable urban development.
According to the United Nations (UN), by 2050, 68% of people will reside in urban areas. These cities comprise just 3 percent of the planet’s surface, yet they use 78% of the energy and contribute 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, the UN changed the New Urban Agenda to advise cities on how to improve their urbanisation processes and help make cities more livable that are inclusive, resilient, healthy, and sustainable.
What is GREEN BUILDING, and how important is it in sustainable urban planning?
In contrast to the commuter towns, which were caused by the Industrial Revolution and the developmentalism of the 20th century emerging developments in urban planning is the creation of eco-neighborhoods which are urban developments that seek to minimize the negative impact on the environment and alter the lifestyles, of residents to help them become more responsible for their environment. Buildings and other infrastructures that use eco-friendly materials and sustainable technology are crucial to this effort.
According to Scott Kohea, a sustainable or green structure is one that, through its design and construction, can help maintain or enhance the standard of living of the natural environment within its vicinity. To achieve this, it’s essential to attain high efficiency. This includes reducing the use of water, energy, and other resources to reduce the impact of pollution. The LEED certification (Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized official certification that determines if an establishment is classified as sustainable.
CHARACTERISTICS of GREEN BUILDINGS
To assess the sustainability of a structure, LEED certification establishes a points system based on several sections that we’ll discuss in the following sections relating to design and construction.
Transport and location
Don’t build in environmentally sensitive areas and offer public transport to decrease the number of private automobiles used.
Sustainable sites
Maintain and protect the natural habitat. Reduce pollution and use of natural resources, and encourage interaction with nature.
Effective use of water
Reduce the amount of water used during construction, and offer methods to minimise the water footprint used by buildings.
The atmosphere and energy
Reduce your energy use, use renewable energy, and increase the efficiency of your energy use to lower the amount of pollution.
Resources and materials
Use recycling systems, employ sustainable materials, and save the most resources you can in construction.
Indoor environmental quality
Consider the overall quality of the space and its inhabitants, such as clean air, thermal management, or noise.
Design and innovation
Utilise innovative strategies for sustainability during the construction process.
Priority in the region
Make improvements to the environment. The site is located in the areas of environmental protection and social equity as well as public health.
