Different processes implemented in the design, operation, as well as the maintenance of buildings require a significant amount of energy and raw materials. The construction process also produces large quantities of waste, which can be responsible for water and air pollution. However, by embracing green technology in the construction industry, it is possible to create a healthier and resource efficient models of construction, operation, renovation, and the maintenance of buildings. Green architecture is fundamental to the construction of sustainable buildings that can be considered as the contemporary trend adopted in architectural thinking, as it focuses on manipulating the relationship between the environment and buildings. In this light, it is essential for an architect or developer to use specific strategies that can assist in decreasing energy consumption, particularly in relation to construction aspects of green building.
The assessment of green building technology requires an understanding of the meaning of green building, which refers to the practice that involve the creation of structures and the use of environmentally responsible processes. Green building emphasizes on the implementation of resource efficient practices throughout the life cycle of a building. The practice of green building expands as well as complements the classical building design concerns such as the utility, comfort, as well as the economical aspects of construction. In light of understanding the meaning of green building, this research paper focuses on assessing different aspects of green building technology, which assists in the achievement of constructive sustainability. The assessment focuses on identifying different technological provisions that can be used for green buildings, which is an essential component towards the realization of construction sustainability.
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Literature Review
Sustainable Construction
There is a possibility of arguing that green building technology forms the basis of sustainable construction. According to Abualrejal, Udin, and Mohtar (2017), sustainable construction can be understood as the processes used in the designing, development, building, and the control of a construction project to minimize its negative impact on the environment and the public. It involves the development of buildings that utilize untouched materials and energy, consequently creating minimal pollution as well as waste (Wu, Shen, Ann, & Zhang, 2016). The primary aspects of sustainable construction include the environmental, economic, as well as social sustainability. The fundamental objective that this type of construction seeks to achieve includes the setting up of a healthy surrounding that is based on the effective use of materials and resources, including the use of sustainable building designs.
Green building is considered as the basis of sustainable construction, as this type of building meets the prerequisites of building performance standards and diminishing any type of disruption that the building might cause to the ecosystem (Abualrejal, Udin, & Mohtar, 2017). The building performance standards implemented in sustainable construction should maintain the nativity of the ecosystem and prevent the disruption of provincial as well as universal circumstances in the entire life cycle (Abualrejal, Udin, & Mohtar, 2017). On the other hand, green building is vital for enhancing the health of the residents through designing a healthy interior environment. This type of construction is deemed necessary for fulfilling essential terms for building codes, including the reduction of the environmental impact and costs that might emanate from the construction.
A considerable number of studies have provided information regarding to different cases of the “sick building syndrome,” which has the ability to create an unhealthy work environment, particularly in old office buildings (Redlich, Sparer, & Cullen, 1997). Most of the buildings that have the potential to harbor this syndrome include older buildings in hot climates, since such places face issues such as ventilation concerns. Due to the climates in such areas, the residents of the buildings have to leave their HVAC systems for longer period. The systems can accumulate condensation, which can support the growth of unhealthy mold spores (Mendes, 2016). However, through green construction, the energy-efficient green building solutions can be used to turn off the HVAC systems whenever they are not needed, which is essential for maintaining appropriate temperature as well as humidity for the achievement of optimum health. In this regard, architects can use advanced software as well as sensors for monitoring the ventilation system, which can assist in preventing carbon dioxide from underground garages from circulating within the building.
When promoting the sustainability of a building’s built environment, the Green Building Index (GBI) can be used as a tool. The Malaysian construction industry has been using this rating tool for the past decade, which focuses on improving the awareness of engineers and professionals involved in the construction industry about sustainable construction, green building, as well as green architecture (Abualrejal, Udin, & Mohtar, 2017). According to Abualrejal, Udin, and Mohtar (2017), the establishment of GBI was essential for adhering to the green policies developed in Malaysia. The rating tool was based on the rating systems used internationally, but the tool had to be made in line with the geographical conditions and the climate of Malaysia. The tool deliberates upon all these conditions.
Based on the idea that the tool focuses on the implementation of sustainable construction, it would be safe to say that it requires input from different players involved in the construction industry, as they should be involved towards reducing the environmental impact that might emanate from construction. The criteria that make up the aspect of sustainability include the desire to save energy, construction resources, recycle the materials to be used in the construction process, and adapt buildings that fit the climate, culture, and the environmental needs of a given geographical location (Borland et al., 2016). The consideration also involves ensuring that the professionals involved in the construction industry are aware of all the relevant parties that might be involved in contributing to environmental friendly developments through sustainable construction.
Sustainable Building Design
Green building also constitutes the sustainable aspect of the design process. According to Abualrejal, Udin, and Mohtar (2017), sustainable building design is manifested through the implementation of a passive cooling strategy as well as a building envelope design. The aspect of passive design emanates from the idea that the ventilation should be controlled. In this case, during the design process, the design of the building should allow are to move in and out of the buildings, which can ensure the circulation of fresh. The circulation is also essential to the maintenance of desired indoor temperature, which is necessary for providing the residents with comfortable surroundings (Ding et al., 2018). Designed buildings should focus on the air conditioning system for heating and cooling the rooms, which is one of the components that can affect the use of energy.
The preceding paragraph is indicative of the provision that several factors exist in a building’s internal environment. These factors, which can be chemical, physical, or biological, affect the indoor environmental quality of any building (Tham, 2016). These factors should not only be considered when implementing measures necessary for ensuring the comfort of the occupants, but also their health and well-being. For this reason, sustainable building designs should focus on ensuring that the building is energy efficient, the built environment should be sustainable, and should be environmentally friendly. These factors affect the manner in which the building is constructed, which means that they should be considered during the design phase.
Technologies used in Green Building
Several technologies could be used for achieving sustainable solutions in buildings. The solutions should not only be eco-efficient and effective, but should be based on sustainable materials that can minimize the consumption of energy during the production and use phases. The solutions should also consider whether the applied technologies can be recycled at their end life or reused, including whether they could be toxic or biodegradable, as they can give back to nature as food in the ecosystem (Rivera-Gómez & Galán-Marín, 2017). For this reason, the technological applications used in the process should not only be embedded in sustainable production, but in consumption systems as well. The general background and the rational for utilizing the sustainable tools and methodologies applicable is the idea that the applied technologies should focus on improving the wellbeing and health of the people using the different buildings.
One of the technologies that can be used in ensuring sustainable energy consumption in a building is solar energy. Different governments and entities have been exploiting solar power as a green building technology. In green construction, solar power can be used actively and passively. Goel (2019) provides that solar power can be used actively through the implementation of a solar system that can absorb the radiation from the sun, after which the energy derived can be used for electrification and heating. The use of solar power in this manner can reduce the need for the occupants of a building to use electricity or gas. On the other hand, passive solar power uses the rays from the sun to warm homes, which can be tapped through the strategic placement of windows in the building. Heat absorbing surfaces can also warm the building.
Another way of ensuring that a building is sustainable would involve the use of biodegradable materials. Such materials are eco-friendly. According to McIntosh & Pontius (2017), traditional construction methods can lead to the accumulation of toxic chemicals as well as waste products, a majority of which can take a considerable number of years to degrade. Even though the degradation process can be successful, the materials used might contaminate and harm the environment. However, when using biodegradable materials in the contraction process, for instance organic paints, the negative impacts that they can have on the environment is limited or minimal (Rivera-Gómez & Galán-Marín, 2017). Such materials break down easily, and in the process, they do not release some of the toxins that might be harmful to the environment. As part of green building technologies, biodegradable materials can used in building the foundation, walls, as well as the insulation of a building. In addition to using biodegradable materials, the art of sustainable building also involves the construction of self-powered buildings. In this case, focusing on constructing buildings that can generate sufficient power for its needs, including directing the surplus energy to other uses can be a suitable way to achieve this. A common example that could be used involves the construction of wind turbines on top of high-rise building (Goel, 2019). The heavy air currents can be tapped to propel the turbines, consequently generating power that can be used in the building.
One of the most significant concerns that should be considered in the construction of a building or a home is the insulation. A significant number of people are misinformed with the notion that insulators constitute wall filters that are made from costly as well as highly finished materials (Goel, 2019). This consideration is not true, as green insulation can be used in place of the identified materials. In this case, green insulation is part of the green building technology as it involves the elimination of the need to use expensive finishes, most of which are made from non-renewable components. For this reason, during the construction process, the builders should consider using green insulation as part of sustainable construction, as they can make use of materials such as newspapers. In this regard, builders should consider using recyclable materials to line the walls of a building, which is sustainable (McIntosh & Pontius, 2017).
Green building also involves the application of efficient water technologies that are also part of sustainable construction. The considered water technologies are those that can enhance the re-use as well as the application of efficient systems for supplying water to be used in the buildings (Jadhav, 2016). Examples of such technology include the installation of conservation fixtures, putting efficient systems in place that can be used for harvesting rainwater, dual plumbing, as well as the re-use of greywater (Jadhav, 2016). These applications will ensure that the water used in a building is managed efficiently, recycled, and used for other purposes such as flushing toilets. Buildings with dual plumbing experience a reduction in sewer traffic, including an enhancement on the on-site reuse of the water being supplied in the building. Goel (2019) provides that in urban areas, the use of the water efficient technologies lower wastage by more than 10%, which is a sustainable practice that should be widely adopted.
The health and safety of the occupants of a building is also an essential component addressed by green building technology. By applying green building technology in the construction of different buildings, assurances are provided regarding the safety and health of those that will occupy them. For this reason, sustainable indoor technologies are vital for green constructions. The materials that could be used to ensure that the indoor environment is sustainable include those that are hazardous free, non-toxic, have low volatile emissions, and can resist moisture (Ding et al., 2018). Examples that could be considered are those obtained from bamboo, wood, or cork. Such materials do not have carcinogenic and toxic elements, including elements that can be irritating to the occupants of a building. Goel (2019) indicates that using materials with low VOCs can limit the exposure of individuals to chemicals that can be irritating and health threatening such as lead, phenol-formaldehyde, as well as vinyl.
Green building involves using construction processes and materials that ensure environmental responsibility and are resource efficient. The processes expand and complement the concerns of classical construction design, in terms of a building’s economy, its utility, comfort, as well as durability. Green building, also identified as sustainable building, can incorporate the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, examples being content that could be recycled, reused, or derived from renewable resources. Such materials are vital for creating a healthy indoor environment that constitute limited pollutants, and might feature landscaping that can reduce the wastage of fresh water. Green building technology is also used for reducing the impact of the built environment on the health and well-being of the occupants, including negative impacts on the natural environment. Green buildings are efficient in the use of energy, water, and other resources, including the reduction of waste and environmental degradation.
The thoughtful creation of buildings and construction is necessary for leaving a legacy to be enjoyed by generations in future. The consideration of using green building technology in the construction process emanates from the provision that individuals are responsible for enhancing the lives of future generation. For this reason, it would be necessary for professionals in the construction industry to focus on fulfilling the requirements that dictate conscious and sustainable development through the application of the best technology, developing the support of strong environmental institutions, and engaging in advocacy campaigns for changes to be felt. Through green building technology, it is possible to work towards ensuring the existence of a sustainable relationship between the built environment and the ecosystem.
References
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