Green Buildings
Abstract
The overall aim of the research is to study green/energy-efficient buildings from an environmental perspective. It will
summarise the result of the research questions:
“Do green buildings have a superior indoor environment?”
“Does energy efficiency add value?”
“What prevents profitable energy-efficiency measures from being undertaken?”
Contents
Introduction
Green/sustainable buildings
Energy-efficient/low-energy buildings
Conventional buildings
Theroretical framework/ Standard rating systems
LEED
Purpose of the study
Research scope and limitations
Green buildings
Sustainability in green buildings
Early project stages
Restoration and adoptive reusage
Green materials
Economic aspects
Net zero energy buildings
Indoor environment
Case examples
References

LEED
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification used in
the United States. Managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, this building rating system is completed by on-site or
third-party verification. Many building types can apply for this certification program, including new construction,
existing buildings, homes, and communities. LEED has four certification levels including, certified, silver, gold, and
platinum. LEED has nine areas of focus, including location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency,
energy and atmosphere, material and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, regional priority, and
integrative processes. The LEED certification program aims to have buildings use their resources more efficiently and
create a safe environment for all its occupants throughout the building’s life cycle. As of 2019, 80,000 projects were
registered, with 32,500 projects having completed the certification process. Top users of LEED certification include
Intel Corp., Colgate-Palmotive, Mars Inc., and Method Southside Soapbox Factory.
WELL
WELL is a building certification program managed by the International WELL Building Institute
(IWBI). WELL focuses mostly on building design attributes that impact occupant health and well-being. WELL evaluates
buildings on 11 concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind,
community, and innovation. This green building system features a few preconditions or prerequisites to completing a
WELL certification. Like LEED, WELL can be used for a wide variety of building and building spaces. As of 2019, 3865
projects were registered, and 232 had earned their WELL certification. Top users of WELL include Wells Fargo, EY,
Deloitte, Lenovo, and Fandango.

Fitwel
Like WELL, Fitwel focuses on the health and wellbeing of the building occupants as well
as the surrounding community. However, FitWel does not have any prerequisites for completing this green building
certification program. Like the previously mentioned programs, FitWel can also be used in a variety of building types
and spaces. FitWel focuses on location, building access, outdoor spaces, entrances, stairs, indoor environment,
workspaces, shared spaces, water supply, cafeterias and prepared food areas, vending machines and snack bars, and
emergency procedures. As of 2019, 840 were registered, and 240 had completed their FitWel certification. Top users
of FitWel include Skanska Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., and the Tower Companies.
Green Globes
Green Globes is a building rating system used in the US and Canada. Green Globes is
structured so that it can be done as a self-assessment in-house with the project manager and design team. It uses a
questionnaire that is aimed at helping the user make changes to complete the certification. Like FitWel, there are no
prerequisites to complete this certification. Like LEED, Green Globes has four levels of certification. Green Globes can
be used in new construction, existing buildings, and commercial interiors. This certification program focuses on energy
usage, water, waste management, emissions, indoor environment, and environmental management.
BREEAM
BREEM, or the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is the
oldest green building rating system. Created in 1990, it has since certified projects in over 50 countries, has over
560,000 certified projects, and over 2 million registered. This green building rating system is measured across 9
categories: management, health and well-being, transport, water, materials, land use and ecology, and pollution.
BREEAM is aimed at making buildings more sustainable, as well as improving building performance and efficiency.
Many other green building certification programs, including Green Globes, were inspired by the ideas and innovations
of BREEAM. Top users of BREEAM include Futurebuild and Overbury.
DGNB
DGNB, a green building certification program created by the German Sustainable Building
Council, focuses on promoting sustainable building practices across Europe. DGNB uses a holistic approach with an
emphasis on performance. This green building rating system has three levels of certification, platinum, gold, and silver.
For this certification program, buildings are evaluated on ecological quality, socio-cultural and function quality,
technical quality, and process quality. As of December 2018, over 4800 buildings have eared a DGNB certification.

Green Star
Green Star is an international sustainability reporting and rating system, that is popular
particularly in Australia and South Africa. All Green Star categories include an innovation category that rewards
projects for creating and utilizing new approaches to sustainability. Like the other certification programs on this list,
Green Star can be used in a variety of building types and is assessed in categories such as indoor environmental air
quality, energy, transportation, water, materials, land use and ecology, and emissions. The main goal of Green Star is
to guide project teams to make conscious decisions regarding energy usage and material selection. As of 2019, over
1450 projects had completed the Green Star certification.
BCA Green Mark Scheme
BCA (Building and Construction Authority) Green Mark Scheme is a green certification program that focuses on the
development of sustainable buildings in Singapore. This certification program focuses on innovation and governance to
create a community of care and a more sustainable environment. BCA Green Mark Scheme has 5 key attributes:
energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environmental quality, and innovation features.
Since its launch in January of 2005, BCA Green Mark Scheme has certified over 1700 buildings.
BEAM PLUS
BEAM PLUS is a certification program recognized by the Hong Kong Business Environment
Council that focuses on incorporating sustainability into planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
a building. BEAM PLUS has five focuses for assessment: site, material, water and energy use, indoor environmental
quality, and innovation. The BEAM PLUS certification program has a goal of educating the community about
sustainability and sustainable practices and has intentions to extend BEAM PLUS beyond Hong Kong.
CASBEE
CASBEE, or Comprehensive Assessment System for Build Energy Environment Efficiency, was
launched in 2015 and can be used for both new construction and existing buildings throughout Japan. Starting in 2005,
earning a CASBEE certification became mandatory in 24 Japanese municipalities. CASBEE moved internationally in
2014 when a building in Tianjin, China earned their CASBEE certification. This program focuses on energy and resource
efficiency, and local and indoor environments. CASBEE was designed to reduce the life cycle of resource use, as well as
improve quality of life for building occupants and the surrounding community.
GORD
GORD, or Gulf Organization for Research and Development, aims to encourage
sustainable economic development and environmental leadership through sustainable building design. GORD is the
first performance based green building certification program in the Middle East and North Africa. This certification has

two stages: (1) obtain the design and build certificate following design phase and, (2) pursue the conformance design
audit. Since its launch in 2007, over 100 million square feet of building space have received GORD certification.
Miljöbyggnad
Miljöbyggnad, or Environmental Building in English, is a green building certification program created
by the Sweden Green Building Council in 2010. Including both new construction and existing building pathways,
buildings can earn gold, silver, or bronze certification levels. Interesting, since water usage is not a threatened resource
in Sweden, there is no section regarding water efficiency. However, this program focuses on indoor environmental
quality, energy use, and material use. Miljöbyggnad uses principles from LEED and BREEAM to develop its certification
attributes. Thus far, over 1000 buildings have received Miljöbyggnad certification.
References
1.) https://www.wbdg.org/resources/green-building-standards-and-certification-systems
2.) http://www.ibec.or.jp/CASBEE/english/certificationE.htm
3.) Bernardi, Elena, et al. “An analysis of the most adopted rating systems for
assessing the environmental impact of buildings.” Sustainability 9.7 (2017): 1226.
4.) https://www.usgbc.org/articles/leed-numbers-16-years-steady-growth
5.) https://www.fitwel.org/certification
6.) https://centerforactivedesign.org/fitwel
7.) https://www.wellcertified.com/about-iwbi/
8.) https://www.greenglobes.com/about.asp
9.) https://www.dgnb.de/en/news/statements/Comparison_LEED_and_DGNB/index.php
10.) https://gbca.org.au/
11.) https://www.bca.gov.sg/green_mark/
12.) https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/about-us/what-is-green-building/index.jsp
13.) https://www.usgbc.org/articles/leed-and-industrial-facilities-meet-four-top-users-leed-videos
14.) https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/iwbi-named-to-fast-companys-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-
innovative-companies-for-2019/
15.) http://www.southlandind.com/insight/green-globes-versus-leed
16.) https://www.dgnb.de/en/council/publications/reports/
17.) https://files.bregroup.com/breeam/BREEAM_Awards_2019_Winners_Brochure.pdf
18.) https://www.gord.qa/gsas-projects
19.) https://www.linkme.qa/news/285280/-Ashghal-Projects-Awarded-3-Star-GSAS-Certifications-in-Design–Build.htm
20.) http://www.lusail.com/wp-
content/File%20Store/LCAC/Section%2003%20Building%20Permit%20Application%20Procedures/GSAS%20Toolkit%20
and%20Calculator%20Pack%20for%202%20Star%20Rating/1.%20GSAS%20Technical%20Guide%20V2.2.pdf

21.) http://insight.gbig.org/green-building-in-sweden-sgbc-miljobyggnad/
22.) https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/d513/0f439c6daa659418b191981e504b59b5826f.pdf
23.) https://www.bastaonline.se/environmentally-certifiedeco-labeled-construction-has-increased/?lang=en
24.) http://www.gbig.org
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) defines green spaces as “land
that is partly or completely covered with trees, shrubs, grass, or other
vegetation.” Examples include urban parks, trails, community gardens,
rooftop gardens, and vertical gardens. Spaces such as these are
increasing in demand for their outstanding advantages. Green spaces
provide social, environmental, and economic benefits to the community.
They are beautiful to look at and are incredibly functional as well.
Social Benefits
Green spaces positively impact mental health. They provide residents with
an opportunity to stay active and increase interactions with nature. Some
studies have found that interacting with nature can support healthy
behavior and brain function; this results from the stimuli nature offers.
It creates a revitalizing environment that relieves attention fatigue
found in day-to-day life. Further research states that people who spend
as little as two hours in nature a week account for higher levels of
wellbeing.
Additionally, green spaces provide an area to interact with others.
Conversations, relationships, and friendships curate as people mingle and
socialize. Providing a space for social interaction within the community
is proving to be quite crucial, especially for cities. During the height
of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people became restless during quarantine.
Thus, revealing the importance of these areas.
Many people yearned to be in nature once more when they were not allowed
to do so. Once lockdown restrictions became more flexible green spaces
provided safe meeting places for loved ones. Green spaces are becoming an
integral part of the community. People view them as necessities rather
than amenities now.
Environmental and Economic Benefits
Green spaces also provide environmental benefits. These areas are dense
with varieties of vegetation and reside in urban locations. Having these
high plant-filled sites helps to offset heat island effects found in
cities. Flora aids in reducing surface and air temperatures to cool the
community. Also, the foliage assists in purifying the air of pollutants.

Approximately 80% of the U.S population resides in cities, so green
spaces are currently in high demand. Adding these areas into any project
or neighborhood can increase property value immensely and improve
residents’ quality of life. Green spaces boost the local economy by
bringing value to the property and attracting more potential residents.
LEED Credits Available
Not only are green spaces great for the community, but they are also
eligible for LEED credit. It is possible to obtain up to two points in
this category. The green space must be easily accessible for community
members. A minimum of 70% of dwelling units need to acquire green spaces
within a ½ mile walking distance.
The number of points delegated depends on the provided square feet per
person; 121 square feet per person awards one point; 145 square feet per
person awards two points. It is also critical to note schoolyards,
playgrounds, public seating areas, public plazas, and vacant lots are not
green spaces.
Overall, green spaces are a great addition to any project. They help
improve the community through social, environmental, and economic
benefits, as well as helping to achieve a higher LEED certification
level. Now is a perfect time to consider perusing green spaces as they
provide many opportunities and will continue to grow in high demand.
Sources:
https://www.usgbc.org/credits/cities-existing-communities-existing/v41-
3?view=language
https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/uep/openspace.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/green-spaces-are-a-necessity-not-
an-amenity-how-can-cities-make-them
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/how-leed-can-integrate-buildings-healthy-
outdoor-spaces
Top 5 Sustainability Projects 2022
Northwood – WELL HSR
Following the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Northwood Office, a
real estate investment and management company enrolled 47 buildings in

WELL’s Covid-19 response program, working with our SIG team to prioritize
occupant well-being and employee satisfaction. Together, Northwood Office
and SIG worked on updating existing policies that dealt with emergency
preparedness, cleaning, and business continuity. Additionally, outdoor
air supply and filtration assessments were completed to prioritize good
indoor air quality in all occupied spaces. In August 2021, SIG helped
fulfill its goal, and all 47 locations achieved the WELL HSR
certification. In 2022, working directly with SIG, Northwood Office
earned WELL HSR renewal for 61 buildings!
SIG Personnel:
Project Manager – Libby Dunne
QA/QC – Amanda Howard
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center (MCCNO)
MCCNO is the sixth largest convention facility in the nation
boasting 1.1 million SF of exhibiting space. The building has achieved
high praise and recognition for its many awards and achievements. Most
recently, MCCNO has earned LEED Gold, making it the largest LEED-
certified project in Louisiana. Additionally, this accomplishment made it
the largest convention center project in the United States, certified
under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance. MCCNO is also the first
convention center in the world to receive initial certification under
LEED v4.1 O+M. The building is committed to sustainability; in 2022
alone, 87 water bottle filling stations were added, 200 trees were
planted in the center’s new 7.5-acre pedestrian park (which features rain
gardens that manage stormwater), and a waste audit was conducted to
reduce event garbage!
One New York Plaza

One New York Plaza is a class A office building featuring 50
stories and over 2.5 million SF. SIG was contracted to work on seven
floors of the office leased by Morgan Stanley. Stanley’s goal is to
pursue a campus LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors certification and Fitwel
certification for all seven floors. While collaborating with the SIG
team, several floors have received individual LEED ID+C: CI Silver and
Fitwel 2-Star certifications. The remaining floors are on track to meet
these same accomplishments.
SIG Personnel:
LEED PM – Amanda Howard
LEED QA | QC – Jenn Mahon
LEED Support – Juliette Nanos
Target Field
Target Field, located in Minneapolis, MN,
home of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club has prioritized sustainability
and certification since 2011. Our SIG team helped the stadium recertify
in 2017, achieving LEED Gold Certification and making it the first
stadium in the world to achieve LEED Certification via Arc! Looking to
recertify again, the SIG team helped Target Field reach its goal of
achieving LEED Platinum in June 2022, making the facility the first major
sports stadium to earn LEED Platinum using LEED v4.1 O+M | Arc!
SIG Personnel:
LEED PM – Greg Patton
LEED QA/QC – Asa Posner
LEED Engineering – Jeff Stewart
265 Franklin

265 Franklin is a mid-size class A tower featuring 21 stories and
370,000 SF in Boston, MA. The building is located in the financial
district and highlights magnificent views. Working directly with our SIG
team, the building achieved its first BREEAM In-Use Certification in
November 2022. They also earned BREEAM Pass (2 stars) and scored highest
in transportation, water, and pollution! Both teams collaborated to
achieve a 90% waste diversion rate, resulting in 50 tons of construction
waste to be diverted from landfills!
SIG Personnel:
BREEAM In-Use Assessor – Gregory D. Patton
USGBC and IWBI Partner to Offer Dual Certification
By Kenedy Witherow,
Sustainable Investment Group (SIG)
This year at Greenbuild, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced their
strategic partnership to create a dual certification for buildings that
prioritizes wellness and sustainability.
This comes after a push throughout the last several years for landlords
and tenants to prioritize well-being and sustainability. Rachel Hodgdon,
president and CEO of IWBI, stated in an interview that “by forging this
alliance with USGBC, we’re sending a powerful market signal that
sustainability and health must go hand-in-hand.”
Starting in early 2023, the USGBC and IWBI will work together to build a
process for dual certification. The agencies have partnered before to
create ORIGIN, a user-friendly database that helps companies find
certified sustainable building materials. This next chapter in their
partnership is expected to be a powerful push for leadership and will
increase the pressure on real estate to prove that buildings should be
healthy and sustainable.
How will this work?

The partnership will streamline the process for achieving dual WELL and
LEED certifications through a new two-way crosswalk and a coordinated
third-party review overseen by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).
This partnership will coordinate across shared organizational objectives,
such as elevating equity in the built environment, opening new sources of
capital for green and healthy buildings, and bringing a unified voice to
these shared priorities.
The USGBC and IWBI are working to roll out a more robust way to integrate
the two rather than simply relying on the current crosswalks. However,
the existing crosswalks continue to provide insight and help guide the
process. The partnership hopes to offer more concrete details in early
2023 and is also focused on exploring future opportunities to accelerate
the adoption of LEED and WELL.
Sources:
https://www.usgbc.org/articles/usgbc-and-iwbi-strengthen-their-strategic-
partnership-accelerate-healthy-sustainable
https://placetech.net/news/green-and-healthy-dual-well-and-leed-
certifications-underway/
https://www.bdcnetwork.com/usgbc-and-iwbi-will-develop-dual-
certification-pathways-leed-and-well
GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT
SAVE
Environment – Water – Energy – Mother Earth
Green building, or sustainable design, is the practice of increasing the efficiency with
which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials, and reducing
building impacts on human health and the environment over the entire life cycle of
the building.
BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS
Environmental Benefits
 Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
 Improve air and water quality
 Reduce waste streams
 Conserve and restore natural resources

Economic Benefits
 Reduce operating costs
 Improve occupant productivity
 Enhance asset value and profits
 Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social Benefits
 Enhance occupant health and comfort
 Improve indoor air quality
 Minimize strain on local utility infrastructure
 Improve overall quality of life
GREEN FEATURES IN SANGATH IPL PROJECTS:
Reflective GLASS: Reflective glass is a new generation of
energy saving window glass that uses advanced coatings to
filter heat and radiation from sunlight while allowing natural
daylight to come in. That means low energy bills due to
savings in air-conditioning costs and artificial lighting costs.
Water based paints: Care about the environment both
inside your home and out. One of the great benefits of
water based paint is the lack of VOC (Volatile Organic
Compounds) chemical off gassing. Water based paint is
very low odor and dissipates quickly leaving no harmful
chemicals.

Percolating wells: Most effective way of preserving rain
water by which ground water level get recharged.
Percolating wells placed and design in a way that most of
rain water of campus including terrace get percolated to
recharge ground.
Cross ventilation : Cross-ventilation is the most effective
form of wind ventilation. We have adopted the best
practices to provide Homes with maximum cross
ventilation.
Water Efficient fixtures: faucets are designed to reduce
the flow of the water coming out of the faucet while
introducing air into the water flow. Water has to pass
through very small holes and spreads out to cover more
surface. They are designed restricted flow of 8 ltr. Per
minute comparing to normal 12 to 14 Ltr. Per minute.
STP Treated water: entire grey water of basin, bathing &
kitchen sink is being treated to again use in landscape, car
washing and other application.

Friendly building for all: all area accessible through wheel
chairs, also provision for friendly toilets. Elevators with
Brail buttons and Floor announcing system
Landscape by Native species: Plants which are local
originated or sustained since long time with local climate.
which can withstand with local climatic condition without or
minimum human and other resource involvement. Local
species also help to restore native ecological system.
Electric charging points: it is not the technology of electric
vehicles is poor but we need to improve the facility to
promote such invention and development. all our parking
slots are equipped with charging sockets.
Waste segregation at source : we facilitate owners to
segregate waste at disposal only, there is facility to
segregate waste in 3 zones 1. paper, card Borad. 2. Plastic
Bottles, Glass 3. Kitchen waste

Power Generation through Alternate sources: With about
300 clear, sunny days in a year, india blessed with solar
energy. Our building roofs are smartly design to generate
solar power and same being used in common area electricity
requirement.
LED Lights & Motion Sensors : only standard brand LED
lights being used with motion sensors in all typical foyers to
control wastage of power.
Green building refers to both the physical structure as well as the practice of building such structures that
are environmentally responsible and contribute towards reducing carbon footprint.
The selection of materials has a significant role in designing green buildings. Materials that are recycled,
reusable, non-toxic (plant materials like bamboo and straw), and renewable are primarily preferred over
other materials. Furthermore, green buildings need structural and design innovations to achieve the goals
of sustainability.
Green Building Council, a national-level independent & non-profit organization, is the guardian to
oversee the adoption and implementation of the green building standards code. It has a green building
rating system, and as per the adoption of the green city code, it provides green building certification to
different building projects and campuses.
Defining green buildings
ICMA (International City/County Management Association) defines green buildings as an integrated
approach to designing and building cost-effective, energy-efficient, healthy, and eco-friendly living and
working environments.
In a broader sense, green building is not limited to only designing a building. In fact, the entire life cycle
of a building (design, construction, operation, maintenance, demolition, and renovation) comes under the
green building concept.
A striking feature of green buildings is the use of building materials that can add energy efficiency and
resource responsiveness to the new built environment.

The birth of the green building concept
The green building initiative can be traced back to the 1960s, when American architect Paul Soleri
proposed the concept of ecological architecture. Soon after, another American architect Ian McHarg
published a book titled “Design Integrates Nature” in 1969. Several experts loosely agree on the fact
that this book paved the way for the official birth of green ecological architecture.
In the subsequent years in the 1970s, the global energy crises compelled further advancement in this
trend as designers focused more on energy-efficient buildings with provisions to reduce energy
consumption and use alternative renewable energy sources.
Scope of green building
A green building is sometimes called a sustainable building, as sustainability is one of the main
objectives of the green building concept. Any building can be green if it fits certain criteria. The criteria
are listed below:
 The materials and resources used are non-toxic and sustainable.

 The design integrates energy efficiency and water efficiency features.
 Energy sources used in the building should be renewable energy.
 Water conservation should be included as part of the sustainable design.
 Zero pollution and minimal waste generation measures are adopted.
 Indoor air quality is good and natural.
 The design, construction, and operation phases have no negative environmental impact.
 Occupants enjoy a superior quality of life.
Homes, offices, schools, hospitals, community centers, commercial buildings, and other existing
buildings can be green buildings, provided they adopt green building practices and fulfill other green
building requirements mentioned in the list above.
Need for green sustainable building
The exponential population growth in the past few decades has led to the relentless growth of modern
cities and incessant new construction. This has contributed to catastrophic environmental degradation.
Adding to that, the need for buildings and habitats is only going to increase in the future.

Therefore, finding a sustainable solution to deal with the problem is vital to avert undesirable
consequences of global warming and harsh climate conditions. Green building is a potential solution to
curtail the negative impacts on the natural environment.
The green building initiative is definitely a step in the right direction. Global cooperative practices such
as the enforcement of the international green construction code are necessary at the moment to undo the
worrying climate action.
The green construction materials sourced directly from natural resources should also be included in the
national green building standard framework.
Benefits of green building
Improved quality of life
It's no secret that our surroundings significantly impact our health. Green architecture focuses on
sustainable interior design elements, including ergonomic design features, improved lighting sources,
optimum thermal conditions, and better air quality. Due to these features, occupants living or working in
green buildings experience improved health, lower stress levels, and a better quality of life altogether.
Low water wastage
The green building concept puts great importance on water efficiency. A water-efficient plumbing system
is incorporated to improve water conservation and lower water wastage. Moreover, a specially-
engineered water purifier and storage system enables water recycling. This is an important step towards
saving vital natural resources.
Increased efficiency through shared resources
Local shared resources are becoming scarce, especially in overcrowded cities and urban settlements.
Green building practices consider sharing vital resources like water and energy and saving them from
overexploitation. The sharing of resources also helps in close-knit community development.
Achieving energy efficiency through renewable energy resources
Energy efficiency is a primary goal of any green building design. This includes the energy required
during the construction as well as the operational lifetime of the building. Innovating the building design
to accommodate better natural ventilation and light can reduce dependency on external energy sources for
heat and light.

Several other structural and technological innovations to enhance energy efficiency in a building have
been discussed in the later section of the article.
Minimal carbon footprint
As per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) findings, buildings alone account for about one-third
of all greenhouse gas emissions in the USA. Therefore, large corporations, public sector enterprises, and
even people in large are enthusiastically making efforts to achieve carbon-neutrality goals through green
initiatives. Using low-carbon or zero-carbon building materials in green buildings helps achieve these
decarbonization goals.
How to make buildings green?
Selection of sustainable materials

Green buildings are built from sustainable building materials that are renewable, recyclable, and reusable.
Non-toxic plant-based materials (like bamboo and straw) have little or no negative impact on the
environment and are thus, preferred over other building materials.
Structural innovation
ARchitecture and designers around the globe are finding new ways to accommodate better sustainability
in terms of energy, water, and light. Innovative designs include large windows and open spaces for better
ventilation and natural lighting. Integrating provisions for rainwater harvesting is another innovative
feature to enhance water conservation in residential and commercial buildings.
For instance, BiPV (Building-integrated Photovoltaics) is a game changer for meeting sustainable goals.
Integrating Photovoltaics or PV panels onto the basic structure during the construction phase of a
building can make the building self-sustainable for electricity needs. This can reduce the dependency on
the main electric grid, thereby curtailing the electricity network expansion, which is one of the major
contributors to CO₂ and other Green House Gases.
State-of-the-art technology integration
Integrating ArchiTech (Architecture + Technology) can substantially contribute to mitigating the
challenges pertaining to the wide-scale adoption of green construction. Innovative technological solutions
like BIM (Building Information Modelling), BMS (Building Management System), or IBMS (Integrated
Building Management System) are already changing the face of the construction industry.

These technologies help to achieve better decarbonization, improved eco-friendliness, and higher energy
efficiency.
Towards a greener planet through collective
responsibility
The responsibility to achieve carbon neutrality and reverse the negative environmental impact lies on
everyone’s shoulders. The public-private partnership is necessary to deal with the challenge of finding a
sustainable design and building solution without negatively impacting the environment.
Federal & Local governments, including the city council, can incorporate green building principles on the
administrative level. They are also responsible for establishing a green building standard framework to
achieve sustainable development goals.
On the other hand, people are largely responsible for adopting eco-friendly practices. The real change
will be visible when people, in general, will push for implementing green building concepts in their
homes.
World Green Building Council
World Green Building Council, a United Nations Global Compact member, is an action network
comprising more than 70 national-level Green Building Councils. The organization acts as a global
supervisor to enforce the green building standards code and international green construction code
throughout the world.
Moreover, the organization is on a mission to transform the strategic building and construction sectors by
optimizing the existing practices with sustainable construction practices. It aims to achieve better climate
action, health, quality of life, and resource distribution through collaborative research and actions by the
various stakeholders in the construction sector.
Currently, the council has associated itself with the World Bank to promote the Green Building concept
in developing countries and emerging markets through the Excellence in Design for Greater
Efficiencies (EDGE ) Market Transformation Program and certification.
Green building initiatives in different regions around
the world
European Union

The European Commission has unveiled its green building policy to promote the mainstream adoption of
climate-friendly architecture and green building design. It has set a common language around the green
building to be adopted in the member states of the EU. The policy is in line with its European Climate
Pact.
United States
The USGBC (United States Green Building Council), a non-profit trade organization, has been entrusted
with promoting sustainability in every phase of construction - design, building, and operation. It has
developed a green building rating system called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) rating system that is adopted worldwide to award green building certification to individual
building projects.
Singapore
Singapore is a model of a carbon-efficient economy in the world despite having natural resource
constraints and high population density. Singapore’s BCA (Building and Construction Authority) has
adopted a series of reformations to adopt Circularity and Replicability in mass construction to make the
country one of the greenest on the planet.
Conclusion
Any physical structure can be flagged as a green building if its fits into the criteria of using recyclable
and renewable materials for its construction and is optimized for high energy and water efficiency. As the
construction sector is one of the latest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the green building
concept can be a potential solution to reduce carbon emissions. However, it needs strategic public-private
cooperation and investment apart from policy reformation.
Want to know more about sustainable projects around the world? Visit the global project tracker to get
the latest updates on ongoing and upcoming sustainable construction projects. You can track the
progress of projects from the announcement to the commission phase and even get the point of contact to
participate in it as a contractor, engineer, designer, or construction professional.