Green Building Technology - The Best Technology to Make the Earth Better Place to Live

Short Summary

Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

Elements or Components of Green Building include Material, Water, and Energy Health. A green building has four main components on which it is designed: materials, energy, water and health to make green building more sustainable.

Green building technology is rapidly gaining currency globally as more developers and institutions seek to reduce energy utilization.

Also known as eco-friendly construction, green building entails the creation of structures that have a low environmental impact throughout their life cycle: from design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition phases.

It is important to note that green building techniques differ from region to region, but the general areas of action include structural framework, energy efficiency, materials efficiency, water efficiency, operations and repair optimization and waste and toxic diminution.

The objective of ecological construction is to reduce the negative effects buildings have on the environment, including emitting carbon dioxide and other toxic gases, depleting earth’s resources through careless harvesting of materials and global warming.

Areas of Technology that this Idea Addresses

The advantages of energy-efficient construction, green or sustainable building; go far beyond simply saving on energy costs. This Idea will address the following areas;

1) Prefabrication of Materials building lifecycle

Insulspan Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are manufactured in quality-controlled facilities where excess materials are collected and reused. Manufacturing the panels in a controlled environment means there is less waste and increased quality.

2) Installation of Structural Insulated Panels (Sips) During Construction

A standard building project can bring into being a hard to believe amount of construction waste. By utilizing prefabricated, construction crews install the shell of a structure more quickly, and without producing excess construction waste.

3) The Impact upon the Build Lifecycle

Quality building structures, that have proven to use less energy, retain higher selling values than less-efficient buildings. Energy appraisals now recognize this value as do potential buyers who understand the continued cost savings over time.

The most sustainable homes and buildings are those that retain a high level of efficiency in their life. As soon as a structure is unviable, it will require replacement, thus the need to use more building supplies. SIP buildings present higher efficiencies for much longer than conventionally constructed buildings. This makes SIP buildings a truly sustainable building solution.

What Is Innovative About This Idea

Green building is environmentally-conscious construction and operation of a building structure. With the change in mind-sets today the idea of promoting sustainability and green building concepts has taken a front foot in the Real Estate industry.

A Green building is a building which is constructed using reusable materials and other materials which make the building efficient and environmentally friendly. And Green building technology typically covers everything from geothermal heating to energy-efficient appliances.

Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits of Green Building Technology

The world over, the evidence is growing that green buildings provide some of the most effective means to achieving a range of global goals, such as addressing climate change, creating sustainable and thriving communities, and driving economic growth.

Highlighting these benefits, and facilitating a growing evidence base for proving them, is at the heart of what I would like to do. The benefits of green buildings can be grouped within three categories: environmental, economic and social as explained below;

1) Environmental Benefits

Green buildings can not only reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment, through the use less water, energy or natural resources but also they can in many cases have a positive impact on the environment close to the building site by generating their own energy or increasing biodiversity.

a) The building sector has the largest potential for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to other major emitting sectors (UNEP, 2009).

b) This emissions savings potential is said to be as much as 84 Giga-tonnes of CO2 by 2050, through direct measures in buildings such as energy efficiency, fuel switching and the use of renewable energy (UNEP, 2016).

c) The building sector has the potential to make energy savings of 50% or more in 2050, in support of limiting global temperature rise to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels) (UNEP, 2016).

d) Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in developed countries have been shown to produce 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than average buildings, and 51% less potable water than if they had been built to meet minimum industry requirements.

e) Green buildings certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) results in energy savings of 40 - 50% and water savings of 20 - 30% compared to conventional buildings in India.

f) Green buildings achieving the Green Star certification in South Africa have been shown to save on average between 30 - 40% energy and carbon emissions every year, and between 20 - 30% potable water every year, when compared to the industry norm.

g) Green buildings achieving the LEED certification in the US and other countries have been shown to consume 25% less energy and 11 per cent less water, than non-green buildings.

2) Economic Benefits

Green buildings offer a number of economic or financial benefits, which are relevant to a range of different people or groups of people. These include cost savings on utility bills for tenants or households (through energy and water efficiency); lower construction costs and higher property value for building developers; increased occupancy rates or operating costs for building owners; and job creation. Since the publication of World GBC’s groundbreaking 2013 report, The Business Case for Green Building, I have sought to strengthen the link between green buildings and the economic benefits they can offer.

a) According to the European Commission, 2015 the Global energy efficiency measures could save an estimated €280 to €410 billion in savings on energy spending (and the equivalent to almost double the annual electricity consumption of the United States.

b) According to Green Building Council / The Delphi Group, 2016, Canada’s green building industry generated $23.45 billion in GDP and represented nearly 300,000 full-time jobs in 2014.

c) US Green Building Council / Booz Allen Hamilton, 2015 stated that Green building was projected to account for more than 3.3 million U.S. jobs by 2018.

d) According to Dodge Data & Analytics, 2016, Building owners report that green buildings - whether new or renovated - command a 7% increase in asset value over traditional buildings.

3) Social Benefits

Green building benefits go beyond economics and the environment and have been shown to bring positive social impacts too. Many of these benefits are around the health and wellbeing of people who work in green offices or live in green homes.

a) Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Syracuse University Centre of Excellence / SUNY Upstate Medical School, 2015 has established that Workers in green, well-ventilated offices record a 101% increase in cognitive scores (brain function).

b) American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2013 states that Employees in offices with windows slept an average of 46 minutes more per night.

c) According to Park and Yoon, 2011, Research suggests that better indoor air quality (low concentrations of CO2 and pollutants, and high ventilation rates) can lead to improvements in the performance of up to 8%

Our Better Places for People project focuses on creating buildings which are not only good for the environment but also support healthier, happier and more productive lives. World GBC and the Green Building Council of South Africa established a joint project to develop a framework to enable complex socio-economic issues to be integrated into any green building rating system in the world.

Explaining Eco-Friendly Construction

Green construction is one of the best ways to invest in the future of both your small business and your local community, which also benefits the global community. The environmentally conscious building offers benefits for every important aspect of life. There is nothing more important than the physical health of yourself and your employees. Green buildings can increase the economic as well as physical health of your business, especially over time.

1) Green Building Design

When seeking to build or remodel our buildings to make them greener and healthier, always check for contractors' certifications. Request to see samples of their work as well as speak with former clients regarding the quality of materials and workmanship. This should be done to ascertain the viability as well as the sustainability of the Green building technology being employed. You should consider the climatic conditions as well as other environmental factors that could affect the design before deciding on which to implement. Thus the design will vary from one place to the other depending on the above factors.

2) Green Building Materials

Use recycled glass, drywall and steel to save on cost as well as benefit the environment. Linoleum made of natural material and renewable resources like bamboo, rubber, and recycled fibre carpets are good for traditional flooring. Adopt the use of High VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and stains instead of low VOC products. Those products include natural stains and formaldehyde-free glue.

3) Green Technology

You should employ an advanced green building technology using green roof systems that utilize plants to absorb stormwater and prevent runoff. A green roof will keep the top floor cooler and reduce the impact of direct UV sunlight, which can significantly extend the life of a conventional roof. They also improve air quality by producing oxygen and filtering out pollutants. Energy-efficient windows represent another advance in green home construction. All of these factors contribute; thus, try to cover as many as you can. Instead of focusing on a single top-notch system, try to incorporate as many eco-friendly improvements as possible.

Here's an example of how I will cover many major factors that help our environment:

Optimized Lighting – Use technology like Solatube and some smart construction and design to ensure that the use of the sunlight is maximized and artificial lighting is reduced to a minimum

Cooling - There are certain tricks that one can use in order to maximize air drift, as well as make sure your insulation is doing its part. If it gets really hot, solar-powered roof ventilators will help.

Power - Speaking of power, solar arrays have never been cheaper and more power-efficient. Excess energy can either be fed back into the grid or stored for later use if affordable you can invest in a battery solution like Tesla Power-wall or any equivalent.

Water Harvesting and Purification – Use the roof and other free space as a collection point for rainwater, which can be then transferred into bio-retention pits. It then gets filtered by native grasses in order to remove any excess nitrogen or contaminants.

4) Reduced Operating Costs

Optimize the use of natural resources to reduce energy costs as one of the money-saving benefits of green building construction. While it's estimated that the initial cost of green buildings is approximately 2% higher, the investment reaps substantial dividends of up to a 30% savings on heating, cooling and water usage every year. That means that an investment in green building more than pays for itself within a very short time. Over a twenty-year period, investing just $4 per square foot can yield $58 per square foot in cost savings. The green building materials used will cost less to repair and maintain than many traditional types of materials. Finally, you should construct the green buildings that demonstrate a commitment to preserving the local environment while contributing to the economy command a higher sales price.

Risk Factors in Green Building Technology

Some of the risks involved in building construction include; financial, standard of care/legal, performance, and subcontractors, and regulatory.

1) Financial Risk

The additional costs associated with the design, construction and ownership of green buildings are costly and therefore affect the ability to complete projects on time within a specified budget. Some of the anticipated financial risk issues in this project include the cost justification of building green during an economic slowdown, the availability of reasonably priced insurance, the availability and cost of surety bonds, commodity price volatility and the cost of LEED certification process.

2) Standard of Care/Legal Risk

Many building owners, tenants, and other third parties such as the federal and state governments and municipalities, are increasingly mandating that buildings meet a certain level of LEED certification. With these mandates comes an increased risk of legal liability for green building design and construction professionals in the event that the building does not meet the specified LEED certification requirements.

3) Performance Risk

Due to the fact that green construction requires an increased up-front cost and the importance of maintaining a certain level of LEED certification, many in the construction industry view the performance of green products, systems and buildings as a risk. This project will require additional contract provisions and warranties regarding the energy efficiency of green buildings. These new contract demands come with increased exposure to potential liability for breach of contract or warranty if certain goals are not met.

4) Regulatory

An increasing number of municipalities and counties are incorporating building codes and mandates associated with green construction. While these new rules are typically accompanied by some sort of financial incentive, they can also represent an increase in liability to everyone involved in the green construction process.

Core Skills Requirement for Green Building Technology

Green building calls for interdisciplinary skills, including the ability to work effectively with people from other disciplines as well as individuals having skill sets which cross traditional occupational boundaries.

While job requirements can vary a lot, the following are commonly-sought-after skills in Building and construction;

Specific Construction Skills and Experience

Specific construction skills include bricklaying, carpentry, pouring cement, installing drywall, and the installation of specific types of equipment. Employers typically appreciate versatile workers who can branch out into additional tasks as needed.

1) Physical Skills

As a construction worker, you l not only have to be strong and dexterous, but also be smart on how to use your body. Proper ergonomics, including correct lifting posture and careful attention to safety, can prevent painful and costly accidents; career-ending injuries are not just for athletes. Bad habits can also result in repeated minor injuries that young, fit people may dismiss and ignore, but which add up to pain and disability years later. Proper movement is more efficient and effective.

2) Technology and Office Skills

Construction businesses, like all other businesses, require budgeting, planning, record-keeping, and marketing to stay afloat. If you have office skills, including familiarity with word-processing, spreadsheet, and publishing software, excellent telephone etiquette, and good organizational skills and communications skills, you can be an important asset. Even if you spend most of your time-on-site, being able to pull into the office as needed is equally important.

3) Management Skills

Obviously, not all construction workers need management skills or leadership skills, but having them certainly gives you more options in your career. Managing worksites, developing estimates and negotiating prices, quality control, and reaching out to prospective clients are all important skill sets for construction workers with any ambition.

4) Design and Planning

Whether you are designing the project yourself or following someone else’s plan, you need to know how to read a blueprint. You also need to understand design well enough that you can spot problems or mistakes; while rare, blueprints can contain errors. You might also need to make decisions about what materials to use or how to schedule different phases of the project, and a good understanding of the project’s design will be critical.

5) Codes and Regulations

As a construction worker, you will be subject to building codes, environmental regulations, safety codes, and labour agreements. While entry-level workers will not be responsible for enforcing those regulations, training will go more smoothly if you know the rules already. Inspectors will appreciate if you know the kinds of information they’ll need for site visits.