Green Construction
What are the 6 overarching goals for the environmental improvement of facilities?
Protect ecosystems and support restoration of natural systems Promote development of liveable communities Use resources efficiently (water, energy, land, materials etc) Create healthy indoor environments Move toward eliminating waste and pollution (production of material; construction of project; use of project; deconstruction of project) Move away from fossil fuels
What are the economic benefits of sustainable design?
- Savings on energy, water and materials - reduced liability risks for things such as poor air quality
What are ways to improve the green star rating of a building?
- Sustainable sites - Develop only on appropriate sites, preserve open space, manage stormwater etc - Water conservation- reduce use of drinking water for irrigation and sewage transportation -Material and resource conservation- recycle materials, reduce construction waste, use renewable materials. -Indoor environmental quality - improve indoor air quality, maintaining thermal comfort standards, providing day lighting
What are Green Buildings and what are they designed to do?
-Property that reduces its impact on the environment and human health - Designed to use less energy and water and reduce the environmental impacts of the materials used
What are the 10 things developers can do to promote sustainable design?
1. Select and develop sites to promote liveable communities 2. Develop flexible designs to enhance building longevity 3. Use natural strategies to protect and restore water resources 4. Improve energy efficiency while ensuring thermal comfort 5. Reduce Environmental impacts related to energy use 6. Promote occupant health and well being indoors 7. Conserve water and consider water reuse systems 8. Use environmentally preferable building materials 9. Use appropriate plant material 10. Plan for recycling during construction/demolition and occupancy
Define sustainability
the ability of society to continue functioning into the future without being forced into decline through exhaustion or overloading of the key resources on which that system depends
