Green Building Concept

GREEN BUILDING

So exactly what is Green Building, you may ask?

Today's emphasis has another slant on this colorful word.“Green building” is not about the colour of the paint, but no single definition exists to define exactly what makes a building green. Rather, there are multiple elements to consider, and ongoing debate about which should be given the most weight. Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages.The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

There are, however, common themes to almost all definitions of green buildings, all of which relate to the building’s ability to provide a comfortable and productive space, while minimizing environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle. In general, buildings that aspire to be green strive to get the most out of every unit of energy, water, and other resources - saving money on energy, reducing environmental impacts, and raising value and competitiveness.

Most tend to focus on five basic areas of concern, as depicted in the diagram.

Indoor Environmental Quality

Sustainability includes consideration for the short- and long-term health of occupants. For this reason, green building design typically incorporates measures to improve the air quality inside the building by selecting materials that do not release hazardous chemicals or compounds and providing adequate ventilation, temperature, humidity and lighting. Healthy indoor environments are being viewed increasingly as key not only to the health of occupants, but to their satisfaction and productivity, as well.

Water Management

The availability of fresh water has become an area of mounting concern as both developed and developing economies experience scarcity and increased competition for finite resources. Green building design should incorporate efficient water use. Managing wastewater, irrigation water, and storm runoff are also important to a sustainable approach.

In some buildings, rain is harvested, processed and reutilized for non-potable applications. Solutions of this nature can reduce the requirements for fresh water from municipal systems while at the same time avoiding the spread of pollutants through storm water runoff. Green roofs represent another emerging tool to prevent storm water runoff while adding to urban green space and providing a host of other benefits.

Energy

Are you mortified by the skyrocketing gas/electricity prices? Are you shocked by the price tag on your monthly electric/gas bills? Prices continue to escalate, and the cost of living rises yearly - does your income keep up with these rate increases?

If you look closely at your monthly budget, most likely a hefty portion of your outlay goes for fuel, electricity, and water consumption.Slashing these costs could make a huge difference in your cash flow.

The environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction and the threat of climate change make energy use a critical sustainability issue. Buildings use energy through direct combustion of gas or fuel oil, as well as the consumption of electricity, which is supplied primarily throughout the world via the burning of fossil fuels. But even as buildings require more and more energy to power computers, servers, and other equipment, designers are making strides to counter such demands by embedding efficiency deep within projects. Orienting the building to minimize solar radiation, including high grade windows and insulation and incorporating daylight into the design are just a few of the many ways to design an energy efficient building.

Material Use

Building construction will always require natural resources. But green building design can minimize impact by selecting salvaged materials, renewable materials, recycled materials, or materials sourced close to the site to reduce the impacts of the building over the course of its life. Diverting construction waste from landfills to recycling applications is an important element of sustainable management of materials.

Site Planning

Much of a building’s environmental impact can be determined before holes are dug and concrete is poured. Thinking sustainably begins long before the first shovel breaks ground, and starts with the choice of site selection and preliminary design.

Choosing to construct on a “brownfield” site (previously developed site contaminated by a hazardous substance or pollutant) in a dense urban area is one example of sustainable site planning. While choosing such a site for a project can present environmental challenges--dealing with debris and possible contamination, for example, it also has numerous environmental benefits. Choosing a brownfield site can mean that an alternate undeveloped area remains natural, minimizing urban footprint. In addition, brownfield sites are typically found in densely populated urban communities, where a construction project has the dual benefit of invigorating the local economy and encouraging occupants to walk, bike, and take public transportation where available.

In essence, green construction envelopes two major factors that are: sustainable development and proper resource utilization.  In green construction, the idea is to cater to the needs of the current population of an area effectively, while at the same time ensuring that as little damage as possible is done to the environment.

The thinking behind these projects is that the resources that are currently available are not unlimited, and unless the current population can effectively manage them, then future generations are bound to have a much harder time.  Even then, the current population needs to have its needs catered to fully, and therein lay the sense behind the green construction projects.

Numerous literary materials have been put out with regard to the use of different building materials in a bid to save the environment.  The sheer number of these sources is overwhelming, most of the time putting off the “would be” green construction ambassadors.  However, what comes out clearly is the fact that green construction does not need to be an expensive venture.  The real estate market seems to be responding positively to the introduction of green construction in the picture.

Not only are these homes much cheaper to maintain, they also tend to attract much higher prices when placed on the market against their counterparts with equal facilities.  The reason you can sell your energy efficient homes for more money is that they are super efficient and high performance compared to the other non-green homes.  In addition, these homes seem to get off the market much faster as more and more people are searching for the green homes to save money on their monthly bills!

Recently Dar es Salaam Glass Works have design and complete fixing NHC Iconic Building using Green Building Technology and Materials.To appreciate the importance of this technology, speaking during stakeholders meeting to discuss establishment of Green Building Council of Tanzania (GBCT), which Dar es Salaam Glass Works is a founding member, NHC Director General Nehemia Mchechu said that it is important for stakeholders in the construction industry to adopt the technology for betterment of the industry.

“Green building is one that uses less water, optimizes energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthy and comfortable space for occupants compared to conventional buildings,” he said.