| Sustainable architecture is a growing trend in today's | | | | It is also popular to use materials that can be |
| eco-conscious world. The use of sustainable building | | | | recycled or reused whenever they are no longer |
| materials promotes a healthier home or office as well | | | | functional or necessary in the building anymore. And |
| as a cleaner, better preserved environment. There | | | | finally, those that are durable and long-lasting are |
| are many great benefits to designing spaces that use | | | | considered sustainable because they will not need to |
| sustainable products and it does not have to be a | | | | be replaced often and will thus conserve resources |
| difficult task. | | | | over time. |
| Definition | | | | Advantages |
| What are these? These are products that are made | | | | Using "green" ones in sustainable architecture provide |
| from renewable sources, things that can be | | | | advantages to both the environment and those living |
| replenished and re-grown. They are distinguished | | | | or working in the new space. They can help reduce |
| from non-renewable ones in several ways. For | | | | the amount of energy needed to power a home or |
| example, they are classified distinctly because they | | | | office. They are also safer for the health and |
| help conserve things like water, air quality, energy | | | | productivity of the people in the building as non-green |
| and natural resources. | | | | ones often contain harmful toxins. In some cases, |
| Typical Ones | | | | green materials can lower the long-term costs of |
| Sustainable architecture uses the philosophy that | | | | maintain a building and replacing certain features. |
| resources are precious and should be used efficiently. | | | | And as for the environmental benefits, using |
| So these might include things like products containing | | | | sustainable products helps to protect natural raw |
| recycled elements, or wood products like bamboo | | | | resources like forests, water, and clean air. According |
| that grow back very quickly. | | | | to one study, over 3 billion tons of raw materials are |
| Water saving faucets and plumbing design are | | | | consumed each year for construction and remodeling |
| certainly part of the "green" movement as are | | | | and using green materials helps to reduce the toll of |
| landscaping techniques like drip systems that use as | | | | this consumption. |
| little water as possible. Green materials also include | | | | Sustainable architecture is a smart way to build for |
| products that are grown or produced locally so that | | | | the future. It is environmentally responsible and can |
| less energy and resources are used up in the | | | | also be the most economical choice in the long run. |
| transportation of the goods to the building site. | | | | |