The term "green architecture" describes buildings which are designed and constructed to be environmentally conscious. Many of those who intend to buy or build a new house or office are considering green architecture... and the market seems to be increasing all the time. The driving force behind this growth? The desire to take care of the environment while keeping ourselves and our families safer. Pretty smart, right?
It definitely is. Because statistics provided by the U.S. Green Building Council (the U.S.G.B.C.) show that our buildings contribute hugely to global pollution. Almost 40% of the carbon emissions, 70% of the countrys electricity consumption, and a full 15 trillion gallons of water usage come from buildings.
It is a big reason to invest in green architecture. Buildings created using green design hugely reduce the impact of homes and other edifices on the environment. Buildings conceived with green architecture use up 36% less energy... plus, they require fewer materials for building and use methods that send far less trash into landfills. And as far as investments go, green architecture is not that big an expenditure. A green building only costs approximately 1 to 2% more to build... an extra expense that is recouped quickly through energy and water savings.
It is not just private residences and offices that use green architecture principals. More and more cities are incorporating U.S. Green Building Council guidelines into government buildings. And all over the country, architects are learning about and creating green architecture for private and public buildings. The AIA, or the American Institute of Architects, has even proposed a green building measure called Sustainability 2030. With this measure, architects all over the country will be using green architecture principals to bring buildings carbon emissions down to zero by 2030.
How Else is Green Architecture Important?
We have all heard of global warming. And even though global warming remains a divisive topic, we all know how important it is to protect the environment. Expanding the use of green architecture is one very important way of doing just that. The truth is, though, that environmentally conscious building methods do more than just protect the environment. Green architecture has a whole host of other benefits.
The most obvious additional benefit to green architecture is its savings. While green buildings are slightly more expensive to design and construct, their long term savings can be immense. These savings are particularly significant for companies, who spend huge amounts of energy, and need to save money in todays tough economy. Businesses who use green design are going to save a huge amount of money in the long term.
One thing that many do not know about green architecture is that is also healthy for us... and not just because it is good for the Earth. Studies have shown that the improved air quality, etc., of a green building reduces allergies, sickness, and breathing problems. This increases productivity in companies (another way in which companies save with green architecture) and raises overall quality of life.