| The oil crisis and the series of natural disasters are a | | | | retain existing landscapes and organic elements of a |
| wake up call to all of us. They remind us how fragile | | | | place to be developed. Green materials are also |
| our modern lifestyles are and force us to accept the | | | | typically included and manufactured locally to the |
| reality that all these conveniences we enjoy can be | | | | building site. For plants selection, those that can |
| taken away in a flick of a finger. The only way we | | | | survive on low water are ideal for green buildings to |
| can ensure that our limited resources can cope with | | | | save time and effort. Environment-friendly compost |
| our needs and demands is through technology, which | | | | and mulches are used in place of pesticides. |
| is not without consequences. Oil spills, radioactive | | | | Energy Efficient |
| wastes, and the likes of biochemical weapons, are | | | | Effective green building design strategies can affect |
| examples of its undesirable and oftentimes | | | | the shape and orientation of the building and the use |
| destructive products. | | | | of natural lighting through effective window and wall |
| Times like these do more than give us an excuse to | | | | placements. Natural lighting is deeply encouraged in |
| worry. They offer us an opportunity to think out of | | | | green building concepts because it doesn't only have |
| the box. The practice of green building is a prime | | | | a positive impact on the well being of the occupants; |
| example of how we can meet today's challenges | | | | studies have also proven that it increases the overall |
| through effective use of technology. | | | | productivity of the employees. |
| The Meaning of Green Building | | | | Green buildings also make use of highly efficient |
| The two main principles behind green building are | | | | lighting systems, properly-sized energy-efficient heat |
| efficiency and reduction of the negative | | | | and cooling systems, and solar water heating. |
| environmental impact on human health and the | | | | Materials Efficiency |
| environment. These buildings are designed to | | | | Green construction projects are efficient in using |
| maximize the use of energy, water, and building | | | | recyclable, durable, and sustainable harvested building |
| materials. They are also designed to protect the | | | | materials. They also make use of materially efficient |
| health of the occupant, improve the output of | | | | strategies to reduce the amount of construction |
| employees and, most importantly, reduce the overall | | | | materials and reduce construction costs. |
| harsh effect of pollution and waste. Green building is | | | | Water Efficiency |
| also known as sustainable construction, sustainable | | | | The water systems in green buildings are designed to |
| design, and green architecture. | | | | use recycled water for toilet flushing. They also utilize |
| What are the Main Features of Green Building? | | | | the gray water system that retrieves rainwater for |
| Green building has consolidated a wide-range of | | | | site irrigation. |
| services and techniques to minimize and eventually | | | | Aside from that, they use ultra low-flush toilets and |
| extinguish negative impacts of buildings to the people | | | | other water conserving fixtures to minimize |
| and the surroundings. It banks on the use of | | | | wastewater usage. Re-circulating systems are also |
| renewable resources like natural lighting and greenery, | | | | employed for hot water distribution. |
| however, green building is more than just using | | | | Green construction is rapidly used and practiced in |
| environmental-friendly materials; it requires careful | | | | several countries around the world like Australia, |
| planning, design and integration of the green building's | | | | Canada, Germany, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New |
| best practices to maximize its impact during its entire | | | | Zealand, UK and the US. It is one of the world's best |
| life cycle. | | | | answers to abnormal climate change and global |
| Green Site | | | | warming. It might as well be our best hope to save |
| The most notable element of green building is to | | | | the Earth. |