The green building or sustainable construction is the creation, restoration, renovation or rehabilitation of a building by allowing him to best comply with the ecology at each stage of construction, and later, its use (heating, consumption energy, rejection of various flows: water, waste). This concept, which appeared in the late 1940s, also seeks to integrate building as much as possible into the natural environment by making the best use of little-transformed, local, healthy resources, and in the urban, working or rural environment by promoting social connections.
An eco-building aims to consume little energy for heating and hot water. Its bioclimatic design and the composition of its walls allow it to consume as little extra energy as possible, optimizing solar gains, phase shifts and well-dimensioned ventilation. Note that a BBC (low-energy building) or HQE (high environmental quality) house is not necessarily ecoconstructed: it can be insulated glass wool which significantly increases its cost of gray energy, and can reduce its effectiveness. insulation in summer. A well-executed eco-building would tend to store its surplus energy produced during the periods of hollow so that they can be used during peak consumption.
Regulation and operation
As a result of the increased interest in green building concepts and practices, a number of organizations have developed standards, codes and rating systems that let government regulators, building professionals and consumers embrace green building with confidence. In some cases, codes are written so local governments can adopt them as bylaws to reduce the local environmental impact of buildings.
Green building rating systems such as BREEAM (United Kingdom), LEED (United States and Canada), DGNB (Germany), CASBEE (Japan), and VERDEGBCe (Spain) help consumers determine a structure’s level of environmental performance. They award credits for optional building features that support green design in categories such as location and maintenance of building site, conservation of water, energy, and building materials, and occupant comfort and health. The number of credits generally determines the level of achievement.
Green building codes and standards, such as the International Code Council’s draft International Green Construction Code, are sets of rules created by standards development organizations that establish minimum requirements for elements of green building such as materials or heating and cooling.
Some of the major building environmental assessment tools currently in use include:
United States: International Green Construction Code (IGCC)
International frameworks and assessment tools
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
Climate Change 2007, the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is the fourth in a series of such reports. The IPCC was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information concerning climate change, its potential effects and options for adaptation and mitigation.
UNEP and Climate change
United Nations Environment Program UNEP works to facilitate the transition to low-carbon societies, support climate proofing efforts, improve understanding of climate change science, and raise public awareness about this global challenge.
GHG Indicator
The Greenhouse Gas Indicator: UNEP Guidelines for Calculating Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Businesses and Non-Commercial Organizations
Agenda 21
Agenda 21 is a programme run by the United Nations (UN) related to sustainable development. It is a comprehensive blueprint of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the UN, governments, and major groups in every area in which humans impact on the environment. The number 21 refers to the 21st century.
FIDIC’s PSM
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Project Sustainability Management Guidelines were created in order to assist project engineers and other stakeholders in setting sustainable development goals for their projects that are recognized and accepted by as being in the interests of society as a whole. The process is also intended to allow the alignment of project goals with local conditions and priorities and to assist those involved in managing projects to measure and verify their progress.
The Project Sustainability Management Guidelines are structured with Themes and Sub-Themes under the three main sustainability headings of Social, Environmental and Economic. For each individual Sub-Theme a core project indicator is defined along with guidance as to the relevance of that issue in the context of an individual project.
The Sustainability Reporting Framework provides guidance for organizations to use as the basis for disclosure about their sustainability performance, and also provides stakeholders a universally applicable, comparable framework in which to understand disclosed information.
The Reporting Framework contains the core product of the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, as well as Protocols and Sector Supplements. The Guidelines are used as the basis for all reporting. They are the foundation upon which all other reporting guidance is based, and outline core content for reporting that is broadly relevant to all organizations regardless of size, sector, or location. The Guidelines contain principles and guidance as well as standard disclosures – including indicators – to outline a disclosure framework that organizations can voluntarily, flexibly, and incrementally, adopt.
Protocols underpin each indicator in the Guidelines and include definitions for key terms in the indicator, compilation methodologies, intended scope of the indicator, and other technical references.
Sector Supplements respond to the limits of a one-size-fits-all approach. Sector Supplements complement the use of the core Guidelines by capturing the unique set of sustainability issues faced by different sectors such as mining, automotive, banking, public agencies and others.
IPD Environment Code
The IPD Environment Code was launched in February 2008. The Code is intended as a good practice global standard for measuring the environmental performance of corporate buildings. Its aim is to accurately measure and manage the environmental impacts of corporate buildings and enable property executives to generate high quality, comparable performance information about their buildings anywhere in the world. The Code covers a wide range of building types (from offices to airports) and aims to inform and support the following;
Creating an environmental strategy
Inputting to real estate strategy
Communicating a commitment to environmental improvement
Creating performance targets
Environmental improvement plans
Performance assessment and measurement
Life cycle assessments
Acquisition and disposal of buildings
Supplier management
Information systems and data population
Compliance with regulations
Team and personal objectives
IPD estimate that it will take approximately three years to gather significant data to develop a robust set of baseline data that could be used across a typical corporate estate.
ISO 21931
ISO/TS 21931:2006, Sustainability in building construction—Framework for methods of assessment for environmental performance of construction works—Part 1: Buildings, is intended to provide a general framework for improving the quality and comparability of methods for assessing the environmental performance of buildings. It identifies and describes issues to be taken into account when using methods for the assessment of environmental performance for new or existing building properties in the design, construction, operation, refurbishment and deconstruction stages. It is not an assessment system in itself but is intended be used in conjunction with, and following the principles set out in, the ISO 14000 series of standards.
Regulatory Instruments, R & D, Financial and Political Processes & Examples in some countries
It is impossible to list the existing oversupply of public, private (or both) initiatives at national and international level. An existing draft document from the OECD / IEA and UNEP gives the public a clear idea of the policies implemented in different countries.
A general conclusion to be drawn from reading the literature is that there is a noticeable increase in the number of policies and instruments that are either in the planning process or are currently in effect.
GreenBuilding Program of the EU
Launched in January 2005, the GreenBuilding Program is a voluntary program of the European Commission designed to help owners and users of non-residential buildings (private or public) improve the energy efficiency of their building stock. All companies, companies and organizations that want to contribute to the achievement of GreenBuilding goals by using renewable energy sources can take part. The GreenBuilding program works through the voluntary commitment of the participating companies and organizations. These obligations arise in each case from the energetic inventory of the building and the resulting recommendations for the improvement of the energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energies.
The participants will differ in “partners” and “supporters”. The partner status can be purchased by all owners or long-term tenants of non-residential buildings. As a GreenBuilding partner, you are entitled to help with the implementation of a plan of action with the aim of reducing the operating costs in the energy sector. This action plan takes into account that the use qualities of the building are maintained or improved. Supporter status is linked to a five-step process.
Creation of a GreenBuilding Development Plan that clearly defines the activities of the organization while participating in the GreenBuilding program.
Proof of successful support of at least one building owner / user in obtaining the GreenBuilding Partner status.
Approval of the support plan by the European Commission; The Commission grants the organization the status of sponsor for a period of three years.
Implementation of the support plan and reporting to the Commission.
Renewal of the sponsor status by the Commission after three years, showing that at least one other building owner / user has been helped to become a GreenBuilding Partner.
While there are no legal obligations associated with supporter status and supporters may opt out of the program at any time without consequence, however, in order to gain the right to use supporter status in their outside communications, participants must first go through the third tier.
Australia
In Australia, there is a method called First Rate designed to increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has established a green building standard known as the Green Star.
In Adelaide, at least three different projects are working to capture the principles of green buildings. The “Eco City” project is located in Adelaides city center, the Aldinga Arts Eco village has been established in Aldinga and the “Lochiel Park” is located in Campbelltown. Guidelines for the development of the two project plots are summarized in the statutes. These include the recycling of gray and rain water, the collection of rainwater, the use of solar collectorsfor the production of energy and hot water, the planning of solar-passive buildings as well as communal gardens and landscape architecture. Other projects, such as “Mawson Lakes” and the “Lightview” project near Northgate, both located north of Adelaide’s central business district, also meet green building guidelines.
Melbourne has developed a rapidly growing awareness of the environment, with many government grants and discounts available for water tanks, water-efficient products (such as shower heads) and hot water systems. The city is home to many green buildings and supports many sustainable developments, such as the CERES Environmental Park. Another project of this kind is EcoLinc in Bacchus Marsh. In addition, two of Australia’s most famous “green” commercial buildings are located in Melbourne: 60L and Council House 2 (also known as CH2).
There are at least three different projects in Perth that follow the principles of green building. The business building, located on Murray Street in West Perth and designed by Eco Design Consultant in collaboration with Troppo Architects, is one of them. The other two are mixed construction projects along Wellington Street in the city center. Guidelines for the building plans of the projects are summarized in the statues and confirmed by the Green Building Council Australia. The achievements for the achievement of the certificate, Green Star ‘concern
the quality of the indoor climate,
the energy,
the Transport,
the water,
the materials,
consumption of land and environmental protection
the emissions and
Innovations.
The latest building to receive the six-star award is located in Canberra, where the Australian Ethical Investmentment Ltd. is located. renovated an existing office complex at Trevor Pearcey House. The total cost was $ 1.7 million, with the renovation saving an estimated 75% of carbon dioxide emissions and 75% of water use and consuming over 80% recycled material. The architects were Collard Clarke Jackson Canberra, the architectural design was done by Kevin Miller, the interior design took over Katy Mutton.
In New South Wales, the BASIX (Building Sustainability Index) online survey system requires that in all newly built housing estates, water consumption and CO 2 emissions from detached homes should be reduced by 40% and by related buildings by 20 to 40%, respectively 30% compared to the average consumption in the country is restricted. The online system provides planners with a mathematical model of the construction project that takes into account the interaction between the entire energy and water system by publishing climatic and normalized precipitation readings for individual sites.
Canada
Canada has adopted the “R-2000” guidelines for buildings constructed after the year 2000. In order to comply with the R-2000 standard in its efforts to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability, builders are offered many incentives.
As a result of the R-2000 Residential Program, the EnerGuide for New Houses service has been established. It is available throughout Canada and was planned to allow home builders and buyers to build homes that use significantly less energy than normal homes. Some Canadian provinces prescribe this service as binding on all new homes.
In December 2002, the Canada Green Building Council was established in Canada. In July 2003, the US Green Building Council granted it the exclusive license to adapt the LEED rating system to Canadian standards. The path to LEED’s entry into Canada has already been prepared by BREEAM-Canada, an environmental impact assessment standard introduced by the Canadian Standards Association in June 1996. The US-American authors of LEED-NC 1.0 had adopted many of their uses of BREEAM-Canada for the guidance of their evaluation process and the allocation of credit points according to performance criteria.
In March 2006, Canada’s first green space services facility, the Light House Sustainable Building Center, was opened on Granville Island in the heart of Vancouver. Also planned as a venue for both public and professional visitors, the Light House Resource Center was established by Canadian ministries and companies to help implement “green” practices and recognize the economic need for green buildings for the new regional economy.
The Beamish Munro Hall at Queen’s University has been equipped with environmentally sound construction materials such as fly ash concrete, triple-glazed windows, dimmable fluorescent lights and a grid-connected photovoltaic matrix.
For the Gene H. Kruger Pavilion of Laval University largely environmentally friendly, non-toxic, recycled and renewable materials have been used, further come sophisticated biomechanical concepts used, which compared the energy consumption with a concrete building of the same size by 25% lower. The structure of the building was made entirely of wood products, which additionally reduce the environmental impact of the pavilion.
The Water Center in Calgary was officially opened on 4 June 2008 and awarded the Gold Certificate of Canadian LEED. The 17,000-square-foot office building costs 95 cents (CAD) per day, conserving energy and water, and providing a productive, healthy environment for both visitors and employees.
In 2005, the École polytechnique de Montréal received a gold LEED certificate from the US Green Building Council for its two Lassonde buildings. The buildings are characterized, for example, by their BACnet control systems, which enable permanent monitoring of energy and water requirements, as well as sensors that automatically switch off air conditioning systems and lighting.
France
In July 2007, the French government set up six working groups to define new ways for France’s environmental policy. The proposed recommendations were then subjected to a public survey leading to a proposal package, which was published at the end of October 2007. The proposals contained there were submitted to the French parliament in early 2008.
The name of the process, “Le Grenelle de l’Environnement”, is based on a conference held in 1968, in which the government negotiated with the unions to end weeks of social unrest.
The six working groups address the following topics: climate change, biodiversity and natural resources, health and environment, production and consumption, democracy and governance, and competitiveness and employment.
The suggestions are as follows:
the investment of one trillion euros over the next four years in clean energy as part of a far-reaching environmental plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the proposal for green taxes; cutting 20% of France’s energy use and increasing its use of renewable energy by 20% by 2020, such as wind power and biofuels;
the transport of freight via new high-speed railway tracks and waterways instead of highways;
a number of “green” taxes, including a tax on the most polluting vehicles, as well as a tax on transport trucks crossing the French border.
Bauetiketten
French regulation (FR) for new building structures estimated that the much-needed improvement in the level would require a regular (every five years) increase, reaching 40% (compared to RT 2000) of energy consumption in 2020 (RT 2020) should have. Current labels are:
THPE 2005 = 20% better than RT 2005
THPE EnR 2005 = 30% better than RT 2005+ (renewable energy production for the majority of heating systems)
Within the framework of “Grenelle de l’Environnement”, it is expected that there will be an acceleration of performance for the following objects for tertiary buildings:
I. Low Consumption Buildings (BBC) to 2010 with minimum needs regarding the levels of renewable energy and CO 2 absorbing materials.
II. New Passive Houses (BEPAS) or Positive Houses (BEPOS) by 2020.
III. Labels for the renovation of existing BBC buildings
All of these projects are compatible with European and international regulations and frameworks.
Germany
The project of the German Energy Agency “low-energy house in stock” makes an important contribution to the energetic renovation of buildings in Germany. The so-called “low-energy houses” fall below the requirements of the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) on comparable new buildings on average by about 50 percent. In remediation, both methods from the field of energy-efficient construction as well as insights from the urban planning, sustainable renovation of residential buildings play a major role. At least one model project is implemented in each federal state. Especially companies benefit from the new sustainable buildingsbecause their energy efficiency can contribute to significant savings in operating costs.
The following construction projects in Germany use techniques for green buildings:
Solar settlement in Freiburg im Breisgau, in which construction projects in Plusenergiebauweise be promoted;
Vauban project, located in the eponymous district of Freiburg;
houses planned by Baufritz; they combine the uptake of passive solar energy with highly insulated walls, triple-glazed doors and windows, non-toxic paints and varnishes, summer shading, heat recovery ventilation and greywater treatment systems.
the rebuilt Reichstag building in Berlin, which produces its own energy.
India
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is actively engaged in promoting sustainability in the Indian construction industry and is the central pillar of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), which has licensed the LEED Green Bulding Standard from the US Green Building Council and is currently responsible for the certification of Indian new and shell construction in accordance with its standards, while the US Green Building Council will be responsible for all other projects. Many energy-efficient buildings have been built in India’s various climatic zones. More and more Indian architects are adopting the Green Bulding Techniques.
The CII-IGBC has recently announced that construction company Shree Ram Urban Infrastructure intends to try to obtain the LEED Platinum certificate, making it the first such project to have this status, not only in India but also around the world receives. The planned building, to be titled Palais Royale, will be constructed in Worli, Mumbai, and is expected to be over 300 meters high.
Israel
Recently, Israel has enacted a voluntary standard for “Reduced-pollution Buildings” 5281. This standard is based on a scoring process (55 = certified, 75 = excellent) and, together with the complementary standards 5282-1 5282-2 for energy analysis and 1738 for sustainable products, provides a system for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings. The US Green Building Council’s LEED rating process has been applied to a number of buildings in Israel, including the new Intel Development Center in Haifa. However, local industry is already pushing for the timely introduction of an Israeli version of the LEED.
Malaysia
The Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) promotes Green Bulding techniques. A prominent representative in the field of ecological construction is the Malaysian architect Ken Yeang.
Mexico
The Mexican city of San Felipe, Baja California, is home to the largest solar cell-powered community in North America: El Dorado Ranch, a construction project in San Felipe, has created a residential neighborhood that is completely disconnected from the grid and has more than 3,000 properties.
Because of the arid climate in this city on the Sea of Cortez, numerous initiatives for green buildings have been launched, including:
Straw bale construction, allows insulation factors from R-35 to R-50, as verified by the US Department of Energy;
predominant use of Xeriscape Landscaping, a method that reduces water and energy consumption and the use of chemical pollutants;
Use of the special Paspalum grass variety “SeaDwarf”, a saltwater tolerant grass with the ability to withstand sustained irrigation with a salt content of more than 20,000 ppm TDS in golf course construction.
New Zealand
The New Zealand Green Building Council was founded in July 2005. In the same year an institutional committee was formed and finally on 1 February 2006 with the formal organization status provided. That same month, Jane Henley was named CEO, and began activities to gain membership in the World GBC. In July 2006, the first full body of 12 members was formed to discuss New Zealand’s industry participation opportunities. Some of their main concerns could still be enforced in 2006/2007, such. World GBC membership, the launch of the Green Star NZ Office Design Tool and the incorporation of other companies.
South Africa
The Green Building Council of South Africa (established in 2008) has developed Green Star SA, an assessment tool based on the Green Building Council of Australia to give the real estate industry an objective measure of green buildings and the green To acknowledge and reward leadership in the real estate industry. Each Green Star SA rating instrument represents a different market sector (eg office, retail, multi-unit residential, etc.).
The first instrument developed by the Green Star SA office was released in raw draft for public commentary in July 2008. A final final release will take place at the Green Building Council of South Africa Convention & Exhibition ’08, 2-4. November 2008.
The process of incorporating an energy standard , which aims to promote energy-saving practices as a standard in the South American context, is in full swing in South Africa.
Green Building Media (founded in 2007) has also had a decisive influence on the establishment of green buildings in South Africa. This happened not only through their information portal , but also via the monthly e-Journal of South Africa, which is sent to experts in the construction industry. There are two annual events dedicated to sustainability: the Green Building Conference and a retooling seminar.
Great Britain
The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) has been promoting sustainable building in Britain since 1989.
The UK Building Code sets requirements for insulation levels and other aspects of sustainability in the construction industry.
In Wales, information on and access to sustainable buildings is available through a non-profit organization called Rounded Developments Enterprises . They are leading a sustainable construction center in Cardiff.
One of the UK’s best-known green buildings is the Friendly Street Building by Media Centers.
United States of America
In parallel with the LEED, numerous other sustainable development organizations and programs have been set up in the United States:
The National Association of Home Builders, a home builder, redeveloper and component supplier industry, has launched a voluntary green building program called NAHBGreen. The program includes an online rating system, national certification, industry education and training of local examiners. The online rating system can be used by contractors and homeowners for free.
The Green Building Initiative is a non-profit association of leading companies in the construction industry with the aim of establishing building designs that are progressive and environmentally oriented, but can also be carried out by planners in a practical and cost-effective manner. The GBI has developed a web-based assessment process called Green Globes, which will be extended in accordance with ANSI procedures.
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s EnergyStar program evaluates farm buildings for their energy efficiency and provides EnergyStar qualifications for new residential buildings that meet their energy-efficient building standards.
Washington was the first state in the United States to legislate in 2005 for green buildings. According to the report, all public facilities with a floor area of more than 465 m², including the state-financed school building, must meet or exceed the LEED standards of construction or renovation. The benefits associated with this law are likely to be the following: saving water and energy costs by 20%, reducing wastewater production by 38% and reducing construction waste by 22%.
One of the first small towns in the United States to enforce a green building law was Charlottesville, Virginia. This is a significant shift within design and architecture understanding, as the LEED rules were originally designed for farm buildings. However, as US homeowners’ interest in “green” housing construction grows, companies involved in the production and manufacture of LEED building materials will likely be candidates for the next round of private equity and stock market investing.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The LEED is a progressive part of the US Green Building Council, which is currently seeking a national standard for green buildings. The Green Building Rating System is an intermediary certification program set up with the intention of monitoring the “green” construction of buildings on the basis of specific criteria. Under the LEED various sub-companies are summarized, such as the LEED for New Construction, for Core and Shell, for Commercial Interiors, for Existing Buildings,for schools, retail and healthcare facilities (schools, retail and health care facilities) and for homes. The LEED has developed detailed checklists, processes and criteria that must be followed when constructing buildings so that they can be certified by the Company. The aim of this certification is to make buildings a healthy and safe zone for the people living and working there.
The LEED has developed certification models at different levels that are based on different criteria and can be credited both in credits and in points. The credits are distributed in six categories:
environmentally friendly location,
Water efficiency,
Energy and atmosphere,
Materials and resources,
Environmental quality of the interior,
Innovation and design process.
The different levels of certification are based on the amount of points a building receives for meeting the claims in all six categories. They range from “Certified” to “Platinum”, which is the best level of LEED certification and indicates the highest environmental and health compatibility.
In addition, the LEED awards numerous other certifications, such as:
LEED for New Construction: New Buildings and Major Renovations (the Most-Claimed LEED Certification)
LEED for Existing Buildings: LEED certifications for existing buildings
LEED for Commercial Interiors: premises furnished by tenants for commercial purposes
LEED for Core and Shell: Rough construction projects (entire building without interior fittings)
LEED for Homes: homes
LEED for Neighborhood Development: Environmental Development
LEED for Schools: Appreciates the unique nature of design and construction of K-12 schools
LEED for Retail: Consists of two rating systems; one based on New Construction and Major Renovations, version 2.2, the other on LEED for Commercial Interior, version 2.0
For existing buildings, the LEED has developed the LEED EB system (EB = existing building). Recent research has shown that buildings that achieve LEED EB scores can generate a tremendous amount of ROI. According to a White Paper published by the Leonardo Academy, which compares LEED-EB buildings with data from the 2007 Expirience Exchange Report of the BOMA , the LEED-EB certified buildings underwent above-average operating cost savings in 63 % of the assessed buildings. This ranges between $ 4.94 and $ 15.59 per square meter, with an average value of $ 6.68 and a median of $ 6.07.
The total cost of implementing LEED-EB projects and certifying them is between $ 0.00 and $ 6.46 per square meter. The average value is $ 2.43. This demonstrates that the realization of such practices is not expensive, especially compared to the possible cost savings. These costs are again significantly reduced if automation (building automation or room automation) and technology are integrated into the implementation.
Source from Wikipedia