Building green is a subject that's on a lot of people's minds, but few of us know how to go about it. Just what makes a building green, and what are today's architects and engineers doing to improve the environmental friendliness of the structures they build. Here's a look at some of the most important elements in green building design, and how they're accomplished.
Energy efficiency is one of the biggest parts of going green. In order to be environmentally friendly, a building not only has to use sustainably produced, recyclable materials. It needs to not waste energy over the course of its existence. The bulk of a building's environmental load comes from the energy it uses, after all. Not everyone agrees on what makes a building energy efficient, however. That's why there needs to be more to a green building than just the label - you need to do your research to determine whether or not a building is truly environmentally friendly.
Energy efficiency is often evaluated on a hundred-point scale. By comparing these ratings to buildings of similar structure, evaluations on efficiency can be made. Being rated at above 75 on this scale may qualify buildings for EPA Energy Star ratings similar to those given to appliances. To achieve this, builders typically employ the Target Finder, an EPA guide to help establish or improve energy efficiency.
All that needs to be done is for the designers to enter the estimated energy consumption to generate a performance rating on the system. Excellent examples of green design are eligible for special recognition by the EPA.
Green building requires sound policy for consistent results. By using simple, standardized metrics throughout a building's design, designers can create processes that consistently meet not just local code, but more aggressive energy targets which result in greener outcomes.
Be sure to evaluate your progress toward the target during the process, a step which many organizations forget. This feedback loop will result in a greener outcome that, in general, conserves water and energy while employing environmentally sound materials and construction methods.
Green building is a complex area of study. To do so well and efficiently, it is essential to learn as much about the subject area as you can in order to make effective decisions with the greenest outcome.
More Information:
Categories
