Green designs or sustainable designs are often used in place of each other. They are complementary terms and usually cover all aspects of building green. However there is a general confusion in the understanding what sustainable design means. Sustainable design means a design which is more or less self sufficient like a self actuating biosphere.

The important aspects of sustainable design is that the design places the least load on the environment, is able to regenerate most of the resources required for its sustenance and helps improve our way of living. This involves holistic planning in the use of natural sunlight and wind. The most optimum use of solar energy to reduce electricity consumption and wind flow patterns to reduce the CFC producing air conditioners are some of the aspects of sustainable design. A sustainable design looks at conserving water by harvesting rain water. It includes recycling bathroom water for watering the gardens. It looks at converting organic waste products into manure for use in the buildings kitchen garden.

A range of initiatives such as sharing a common swimming pool, common rainwater harvesting plant, solar panels all add up to the conservation aspects in a sustainable design. Why, even car pooling by residents of a green community is part of sustainable design movement. Sustainable design encourages the use of locally available material which can be reused and easily replenished. So if repairs are required of the building, material need not be hauled over long distances but be utilized from around the environment. Converting all these ideas into practice requires government help. To do this several governments have set sustainable design standards. The most common sustainable design standard is the LEED standard adopted by USA and some other countries in the world. The contribution of the scientific community in providing life cycle calculations for sustainable designs have been an important factor.

These life cycle calculations include life cycle energy analysis and use of modern technology to complement the ‘sustainability of the designs. The initiatives range from synthesizing local building practices with the best of technology, use of powerful computers to simulate best sustainable designs to material improvements in designs of solar arrays and other equipment. The Greek concept of ‘Gaea’, which epitomizes a perfect harmony between Earth and all beings living and non-living, is a final ideal that proponents of sustainable design strive to achieve.