Benefits of Green Buildings over Conventional Buildings
BENEFITS OF GREEN BUILDINGS OVER CONVENTIONAL BUILDINGS
ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
Green buildings save money because they conserve resources and enhance efficiency by: * Using natural insulation such as roof gardens * Using technology such as solar panels, fuel cells, and photovoltaics * Conserving water and reducing runoff using solar water heating, contour landscaping, and water-conserving or water-recycling appliances * Maximizing energy conservation and efficiency by optimizing building orientation and integrating natural daylight and ventilation
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Green buildings reduce the environmental impact of the building industry by:
* Using materials that are selected based on their life-cycle environmental impacts * Making use of renewable energy resources * Minimizing the use of mined rare metals and persistent synthetic compounds * Applying reduce, reuse, and recycle to materials in all phases of construction and demolition * Reducing harmful waste products produced during construction
SOCIAL BENEFITS :
Green buildings enhance occupant safety, health, and comfort by: * Applying maintenance and operational practices that reduce or eliminate harmful effects on people and the natural environment * Reducing or eliminating toxic and harmful materials and finishes * Employing personal, local control over temperature, air flow, and lighting.
MYTHS ABOUT GREEN BUILDINGS :
Perception #1: Green buildings are costlier
Reality: Considerable research and analysis has been carried out with regard to the cost impacts of a green building. The cost could be slightly higher than a conventional building
The critical paradigm is to look at the incremental cost in relation
to the life cycle . Over its life cycle of 75-100 years, the operating cost would work out to 80-85 % while the incremental cost which is a one-time cost is only 8-10 %.
Perception # 2: Green buildings
ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
Green buildings save money because they conserve resources and enhance efficiency by: * Using natural insulation such as roof gardens * Using technology such as solar panels, fuel cells, and photovoltaics * Conserving water and reducing runoff using solar water heating, contour landscaping, and water-conserving or water-recycling appliances * Maximizing energy conservation and efficiency by optimizing building orientation and integrating natural daylight and ventilation
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Green buildings reduce the environmental impact of the building industry by:
* Using materials that are selected based on their life-cycle environmental impacts * Making use of renewable energy resources * Minimizing the use of mined rare metals and persistent synthetic compounds * Applying reduce, reuse, and recycle to materials in all phases of construction and demolition * Reducing harmful waste products produced during construction
SOCIAL BENEFITS :
Green buildings enhance occupant safety, health, and comfort by: * Applying maintenance and operational practices that reduce or eliminate harmful effects on people and the natural environment * Reducing or eliminating toxic and harmful materials and finishes * Employing personal, local control over temperature, air flow, and lighting.
MYTHS ABOUT GREEN BUILDINGS :
Perception #1: Green buildings are costlier
Reality: Considerable research and analysis has been carried out with regard to the cost impacts of a green building. The cost could be slightly higher than a conventional building
The critical paradigm is to look at the incremental cost in relation
to the life cycle . Over its life cycle of 75-100 years, the operating cost would work out to 80-85 % while the incremental cost which is a one-time cost is only 8-10 %.
Perception # 2: Green buildings