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According to the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), global building emissions in 2019 were 9.7 gigatons of carbon dioxide (GtCO2). Which was 39% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) also reported that buildings were responsible for 39% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States that year. Preliminary data from GlobalABC suggest that global building emissions increased by 2% in 2021 compared to 2019 levels, making them a significant contributor to climate change. We will further explore Sustainable Construction in this context.
Escalated threats of climate change and resource depletion have put the construction and operation of buildings under scrutiny, leading to a critical paradigm shift in the field of architecture and construction. Green buildings and sustainable construction have emerged as a holistic approach to mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing overall sustainability.
While the terms "green" and "environment-friendly" are often used interchangeably, green buildings, environment-friendly buildings, and net zero buildings have distinct meanings despite being related concepts.
The primary goal of green buildings is to strike a balance between human comfort, resource efficiency, and environmental preservation. Such buildings are designed and constructed with the explicit intention of minimising negative environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This extends beyond energy efficiency or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and encompasses considerations ranging from site selection and materials sourcing to energy consumption, water usage, indoor air quality, and even the well-being of occupants.
Green buildings are designed and operated to minimise their environmental impact. They use less energy and water, produce less waste, and are made from sustainable materials. Green buildings can also provide benefits like increased comfort, improved indoor air quality and reduced operating costs. Examples include LEED-certified or Energy Star-certified buildings.
Environment-friendly buildings are a broader term that refers to any building that has a positive impact on the environment. This can include green buildings, as well as other buildings designed only to protect or enhance biodiversity, conserve natural resources, or reduce pollution. Such buildings primarily focus on minimising harm to the environment, often through the use of low-impact materials and energy-efficient technologies. These buildings employ sustainable practices but lack the comprehensive approach and ambitious scope adopted in green buildings. They not only aim to reduce negative environmental impacts but also to actively contribute to environmental regeneration by embracing principles of sustainability that encompass resource conservation, biodiversity, energy efficiency and even social equity. Some examples include buildings with green roofs or rainwater harvesting systems and buildings that use recycled materials.
Net zero buildings are a type of green building that – like green buildings – prioritise environmental sustainability but do so with a specific focus on achieving net-zero energy consumption and producing as much energy as they consume over the course of a year. This means that the building does not generate any net greenhouse gas emissions. Net zero buildings can be achieved through a combination of energy efficiency measures, renewable energy generation, and carbon offsetting. While green buildings strive for resource efficiency and holistic sustainability, net-zero buildings are primarily concerned with energy balance. Buildings that generate their own energy from renewable sources and even buildings that offset their energy consumption with carbon credits are examples of this type.
Thus, we see that green buildings represent a pivotal approach to sustainable construction that transcends mere environment-friendly or net-zero strategies. They are characterised by their comprehensive commitment to minimising environmental impact across all phases of the building's lifecycle. While environment-friendly buildings primarily aim to reduce harm to the environment, green buildings actively seek to enhance environmental regeneration and promote holistic sustainability. On the other hand, net-zero buildings focus exclusively on achieving a net-zero energy balance, which does not encompass the broader spectrum of sustainability integration addressed by green buildings.
In an era of increasing environmental challenges, green buildings stand as a beacon of innovation, demonstrating that sustainable construction can harmoniously integrate human comfort, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
The demand for green buildings is growing rapidly due to various factors, including the rising cost of energy, the increasing awareness of the environmental impact of buildings, and the growing demand for sustainable living.
Several major green building certification systems are in vogue globally to assess and recognise buildings that meet specific sustainability criteria. These certification systems provide valuable frameworks for measuring a building's environmental performance and guiding sustainable building practices, allowing project teams to benchmark their projects against established sustainability criteria. These include criteria related to energy efficiency, water conservation, materials usage, indoor air quality, and more. The following are some of the major green building certification systems in vogue:
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): LEED is the most widely used green building certification system in the world. It is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and covers a wide range of environmental performance criteria, including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, and sustainable materials.
LEED offers different rating systems for various building types, such as LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C), LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), and LEED for Operations and Maintenance (O+M). For certification, points are given across various sustainability categories, including energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method): BREEAM is a green building certification system developed by the Building Research Establishment in the United Kingdom. It is similar to LEED in that it covers a wide range of environmental performance criteria.
It assesses buildings based on criteria related to energy and water usage, materials selection, site ecology, health and well-being, and management processes. BREEAM has multiple variants for different building types, such as BREEAM New Construction, BREEAM In-Use, and BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-out.
WELL Building Standard: The WELL Building Standard is a green building certification system that focuses on occupant health and well-being. It is administered by the U.S.-based non-profit organisation, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It covers a variety of criteria related to indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, and access to nature. WELL certification complements other green building certifications by emphasising the human experience within buildings.
The Living Building Challenge is a green building certification system that is considered to be the most rigorous in the world. It is administered by the U.S.-based non-profit organisation, International Living Future Institute (ILFI). It requires buildings to meet a number of challenging performance criteria, including net zero energy consumption, net zero water consumption, and net zero waste production. Living Building Challenge projects aim to be regenerative, giving more back to the environment than they take.
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen - German Sustainable Building Council): The DGNB certification system is administered by the German Sustainable Building Council. It is a holistic system that assesses the sustainability of buildings across a wide range of criteria, including environmental performance, social and economic benefits, and quality of life. It is one of the most widely used green building certification systems in Europe, and it is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world.
GRESB (Global ESG Benchmark for Real Assets) is administered by GRESB BV, a benefit corporation headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands and owned by Summit Partners, a private equity firm registered in the United States with their headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts.
GRESB BV develops and maintains the GRESB Assessments, provides benchmarks and promotes widespread adoption of the GRESB Standards. While not a building certification system per se, GRESB assesses the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of real estate portfolios, including individual buildings, office buildings, retail centres, industrial facilities, and data centres.
The GRESB Assessments cover a wide range of ESG factors, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, social responsibility, and governance. It focuses on sustainability practices in real estate and is widely used by investors to evaluate the sustainability performance of property investments. GRESB is one of the most widely used ESG benchmarking and reporting frameworks for real assets. It is used by over 1,500 real estate funds, property companies, and investors around the world.
In addition to these major green building certification systems, there are also a number of regional and national certification systems. For example, the Green Globes certification system is popular in Canada, the China Green Building Evaluation Standard is popular in China, and the Green Star is the primary green building certification system in Australia.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 goals that aim to create a more sustainable future for all. Green buildings directly align with several SDGs, making them a crucial component of sustainable development. Green buildings can play a significant role in achieving many of the SDGs, including:
Green buildings prioritise indoor air quality, natural lighting, and thermal comfort, creating healthier living and working environments. These contribute to better physical and mental health, aligning with the goal of ensuring good health and well-being for all.
Through efficient water management systems, including rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, green buildings reduce water consumption and promote clean water and sanitation.
Green buildings prioritise energy efficiency and often incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines. By reducing energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels, they contribute significantly to achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
The adoption of green building technologies and practices fosters innovation in the construction industry, creating opportunities for sustainable economic growth and infrastructure development.
Green buildings promote sustainable urban development by reducing resource consumption, improving air and water quality, and enhancing overall liveability. They help create cities and communities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Green buildings exemplify sustainable consumption and production patterns by using eco-friendly materials, minimising waste during construction, and prolonging the life of the building through efficient design and maintenance. Green buildings can help to reduce the consumption of resources and the production of waste. They can also help to promote the use of recycled and sustainable materials. This aligns with the goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Perhaps the most significant contribution of green buildings is their impact on mitigating climate change. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting carbon-neutral or carbon-positive designs, they are instrumental in achieving the objectives of climate action by helping to mitigate climate change through reduced GHG emissions and improving energy efficiency.
Green buildings can help to create a more sustainable and liveable world for all by Reducing GHG emissions, conserving resources like water and energy, leading to biodiversity protection and reduced land degradation, and using sustainable materials and construction methods leading to minimised environmental impact.
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Green buildings are complex projects that require meticulous planning, coordination, and execution to ensure sustainability goals are met. Project management can help to ensure that green buildings are completed to the required specifications regarding time and budget.
The successful realisation of green buildings requires effective project management practices that accommodate their unique challenges and objectives. One should recognise that project management for green buildings is a specialised discipline that requires a deep understanding of sustainability principles, interdisciplinary coordination, and a focus on long-term performance. Successful project management in this context ensures that green buildings meet their sustainability goals while staying on budget and on schedule.
Some specific ways that project management can be used to support green building projects include:
Project professionals, including project managers, architects, engineers, and construction managers, play a crucial role in fostering green buildings. Their expertise and leadership can drive the adoption of sustainable practices, enhance project efficiency, and ensure that green building goals are met. They can contribute to the development of green buildings in a number of ways, including:
The leadership and commitment of project professionals can contribute significantly to fostering green buildings. By actively incorporating the following practices into their roles, they can help drive positive environmental, economic, and social impacts in the construction industry and contribute to a more sustainable built environment.
By actively incorporating these practices into their roles, project professionals can contribute significantly to fostering green buildings.
Green buildings offer a promising pathway towards a more sustainable future. These can help to reduce environmental impact, improve health and well-being, and create more liveable communities. Project management plays a vital role in ensuring that green buildings are successfully delivered. By applying project management principles and practices, we can ensure that green buildings are constructed to the highest standards of sustainability and performance.
In addition to the project management best practices discussed above, it is also important to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within the project team. This will help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and that new and innovative solutions are explored to achieve sustainability objectives.
As the world transitions towards a more sustainable future, green buildings will play an increasingly important role. By embracing green building principles and practices, project managers can help to create a better future for all.
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