| Introduction to Tropical Green Building Green building | | | | and overuse our global ecosystem is experiencing. |
| is the revolutionary development practice centered | | | | Unfortunately, finite sources of energy and materials |
| upon the mission of creating buildings which apply an | | | | are being depleted, and much of our environment is |
| increased efficiency of resources such as energy, | | | | being polluted or spoiled. Green building aims to repair |
| water, and materials. In turn, green building reduces | | | | the damage that less sustainable building methods |
| building impacts on human health and the environment | | | | have had on our environment and promote a system |
| by implementing improved site location, design, | | | | of building that enables us to live in a state of |
| construction, operation, maintenance, and removal - | | | | equilibrium with our surroundings. |
| encompassing the complete life cycle of building. | | | | The construction industry plays a major role here as |
| Natural building is a similar concept, which usually | | | | a primary consumer of materials and energy. At the |
| operates on a smaller scale and tends to focus on | | | | building scale, sustainable construction aims to provide |
| the use of locally available natural materials. | | | | long-lasting, health-minded, useful buildings. This goal |
| The related concepts of sustainable development and | | | | can be accomplished by conserving limited material |
| sustainability are integral to green building. Some of | | | | and energy resources by using durable, recyclable, |
| the primary outcomes of effective green building | | | | and renewable materials through energy-efficient |
| include 1) reduced operating costs promoted by | | | | design, and by using environmentally neutral energy |
| increasing productivity and using less energy and | | | | sources such as wind, sun, geothermal, and |
| water, 2) improved public and occupant health as a | | | | mechanisms including shading, simple evaporation and |
| result of improved indoor air quality, and 3) reduced | | | | cooling. |
| environmental impacts by means of, for example, | | | | At the urban and regional scales, sustainable |
| lessening storm water runoff and the heat island | | | | construction involves planning that preserves |
| effect. Practitioners of green building often seek to | | | | environmental quality, conserves energy through |
| achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony | | | | efficient design, reduces waste and consumption |
| between a structure and its surrounding natural and | | | | through sensible design, and reduces pollution by |
| built environment, although the appearance and style | | | | establishing efficient transportation networks. At all |
| of sustainable buildings is not necessarily | | | | scales, sustainable construction aims to support |
| distinguishable from their less sustainable counterparts. | | | | ecosystems through design with nature by |
| A fundamental principle of sustainable development | | | | establishing and improving habitats for wildlife, |
| concentrates on keeping our planet in a condition | | | | supporting biodiversity, replenishing groundwater |
| which will indefinitely support future generations. This | | | | instead of channeling rainwater into storm sewers |
| is an enormous challenge due to the state of stress | | | | and more. |