What is a Green Building? Everything about the Green Buildings!

Green building is the overall term for environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings. Type of buildings, their intended use and the features of buildings may vary. However, all green buildings stand out with their sustainability features.

In this article, we will talk about what green buildings are, their contribution to sustainable future and green building technologies. Enjoy reading!

What is a Green Building? What is the Definition of a Green Building?

​Green buildings are buildings that cause less damage to the environment compared to traditional construction practices. Innovative technologies and materials are used while constructing green buildings. Insulated construction materials are preferred, which provides saving on heating-cooling costs. Rainwater may be collected. They are designed to benefit from renewable energy resources. Some of the green buildings are built in integration with solar and wind panels. Some others can be covered with plants to reduce carbon emissions. Lands of green buildings are evaluated in maximum efficiency.

The term green building is also referred to as sustainable building, environmentally friendly building. Simply put, ‘green buildings’ are buildings that have less negative impacts on the environment.

Why Do We Need Green Buildings?

The rate of urbanization increased rapidly following the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The negative impacts of human activities on the environment have also increased along with modernization, industrialization and urbanization practices. In recent years, social awareness has been raised on climate change due to global warming. Terms like carbon footprint have become part of our everyday language. Not only civil society, local administrations and governments, but also the private sector takes action on how to build a more sustainable future.

The construction industry is in search of how to build more sustainable buildings. Architects and engineers are working on designs that will cause minimal damage to the environment. Traditional building construction process creates problems, particularly in terms of energy efficiency. Uninsulated buildings cause more energy consumption. When we refer to a green building, we come across various processes such as using more sustainable raw materials, efficiency of the construction period, and minimizing the waste generated during the construction of buildings, etc.

With the increasing impacts of the climate crisis, building designs that are compatible with nature, minimizing energy consumption and utilizing renewable energy resources are increasing. The most significant steps taken in this regard are defining green building standards and increasing the required processes for green building certification. So what exactly are we talking about when we say 'green building'?

What are the Features of Green Buildings?

We explained that green buildings are compatible with the environment and cause minimal damage to the environment. So, how do we achieve these positive impacts? When we are talking about green buildings, we mean efficient buildings in the first place. Insulated buildings decrease energy consumption and increase energy efficiency. However, energy efficient buildings are not just built with insulated materials.

• The 'solar heat gain coefficient' is taken into account while constructing these buildings. Simply put, this coefficient is the sunlight admitted through a window. The more sunlight admitted through, the warmer the building gets. Thus, energy costs decrease. Buildings that can make maximum use of sunlight also reduce the cost of lighting. The same logic applies in constructing airtight walls in building construction, which keeps moisture away and keeps the building cooler in the summer, reducing the cost of cooling.
• Water-efficient mechanisms are also preferred in the construction of green buildings. Flushes and taps that use water efficiently are installed.
• Solar panels and wind turbines are used while constructing these buildings. The energy obtained is stored and used in the energy requirements of the building. Thus, these buildings contribute to the environment and save energy.
• Materials that do not damage the environment are preferred during the construction of these buildings. Thus, toxic waste is minimized. Using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials reduce pollution and contributes to the conservation of biodiversity.
• Some green buildings are built with technologies that can harvest rainwater. The harvested water is filtered and used inside the building. Thus, water costs are reduced.
• Green buildings are also equipped with recycling facilities. Biological waste is recycled into compost and fertilizer.
• Most green buildings are constructed in a way that plants can grow on their outer walls. These plants ensure the absorption of rainwater, while also reducing the impacts of carbon monoxide emissions and contributing to the prevention of air pollution.

What Are the Benefits of Green Buildings?

Climate change due to global warming affects all of us. The world population is getting more and denser in metropolitan areas and the trend of urbanization is ascending. Hence, building sustainable cities becomes more and more important.

The environmental benefits of green buildings are the first to consider. Green buildings facilitate saving energy. They integrate renewable energy, and hence, contribute to reducing the negative impacts of global warming. Avoiding toxic materials helps to reduce environmental pollution. Environmental impacts are taken into consideration during both the design and the construction phases. Recycling activities are integrated into the buildings. Green buildings are designed to be compatible with the ecosystem.

The second benefit of green buildings consists of economic benefits. Insulation and efficiency are considered during the construction phase. Energy efficiency leads to saving from energy costs. Water efficiency encourages the efficient use of the world's dwindling water resources.

Green buildings also provide social benefits. They increase the quality of life in cities increasingly surrounded by concrete. They reduce environmental pollution and consider human health.

What Are the Standards for Green Buildings?

“Green building” is a dynamic and developing concept. As technology advances, so do the design and construction processes of green buildings. Some standards have been set in assessing green buildings. The first assessment system was BREEAM (Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method), which was established in the 1990s.

Today, the popular green building standards recognized is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. LEED sets criteria that consider the environmental impact of buildings and contributes to the standardization of green buildings. Today, LEED certification is globally recognized.

Increasing Significance of Green Buildings

Tackling the climate crisis requires a global and collective effort. Collaboration of NGOs, local administrations, states and global organizations is of great significance. In addition, raising awareness of individuals is also an indispensable part of tackling the climate crisis. Moreover, the significance of the contribution of the private sector increases day by day.

Considering the increasing global population as well as urbanization, the contribution of the construction industry for a sustainable future becomes invaluable. The growing importance of green buildings proves that not only governments but also private organizations play a significant role in building a sustainable future.

Construction industry had focused on supply rather than sustainability since the industrial revolution. The rapidly increasing demand, particularly following the World War II, brought along a rapid urbanization. Thanks to the scientific research, we now know that concrete releases extreme amount of CO2. Raising social, individual and institutional awareness has contributed a lot to designing sustainable buildings, reconsidering sustainable constructions and establishing sustainable cities.

We are sure that we will hear the terms 'sustainable urbanization' and 'green building' more frequently in the coming years. Technology advances. Mitigating the negative impacts of climate change due to global warming and reducing carbon emissions require collective efforts. Green buildings will certainly be a significant component of building lives compatible with nature!