With the rising consciousness about sustainability and using resources carefully, there is a grave need for the construction industry to partake in the action. As one of the largest generators of waste and among the biggest contributors to pollution, the construction industry needs to make modifications and adapt to greener methods. Construction uses heavy machinery and vehicles and now with innovative alternatives, one can choose to go for green vehicles and greener materials for construction, thus adding to the ‘green-ness’ of the building or project overall.
Coming to building a green building, let’s discuss what materials, what methods and what factors can be taken into consideration to achieve this. Whether you are somebody who is going to be a part of a green building construction project or someone who is looking forward to building a green home of their own, we have got you covered entirely. So, without delaying further, let’s get started.
Green Building - What is it?
Before we get into the details of a green building, let us first understand what it is. Well, a green building was originally a response to the energy crisis and the ever-increasing concerns of people regarding the environment. Commonly called a sustainable building, it is a structure that is operated, renovated, built, re-used, or designed in a resource-efficient and ecological way.
Thus, considering the extent to which green construction can significantly impact the environment in a positive manner, we, at Infrabazaar, are highly dedicated to contributing to this kind of construction.
The following objectives must be taken into account while constructing a green building:
- Quality, delightful indoor spaces
- Optimal economic and environmental performance
- Lowering the general effect on the environment
- Utilizing water, energy, and other resources in an efficient manner
- Enhancing employee productivity
- Guarding resident health
Factors Considered to Build a Green Building
Several factors must be taken into account in order to build a green building. So before you start looking for construction materials online, it is best you comprehend the following properly.
- Offer a connection between the outdoor environment and indoor spaces by introducing views and sunlight into the occupied regions of the building.
- We believe that offering a high level of individual occupant ventilation control along with that of lighting systems is best for higher productivity levels, good health, and a satisfying atmosphere.
- Recognize and encourage rising levels of self-supply using renewable technologies. This lowers the impact on the environment related to fossil fuel energy utilization.
- Lower impervious cover, increase on-site infiltration and manage stormwater run-off to diminish the disruption of natural water.
- Decrease land development and pollution effects from the use of automobiles. This is why we offer second-hand machinery and automobiles so that the contractors can further reduce their carbon footprint.
- Last but not least, controlling erosion is crucial for limiting the negative effects on air and water quality.
Eco-friendly Materials that can be used in building a green building:
- Stone: it’s comparatively low maintenance, durable and ecofriendly
- Cob: it’s cheap and energy efficient, but not suitable for humid areas
- Bamboo: it’s among the fastest growing plants on the planet, making it a sustainable material. It’s also durable and lightweight, making it cheap and easy to transport.
- Cork: Great insulator and suitable for cold regions. It’s also mouldresistant, making it durable
- Adobe Brick: An ecofriendly building material that’s made of clay and straw, provides noise protection and can be cut and transformed easily, making it a popular choice for green building
Some recycled materials that can be used for green buildings are:
- Earthpacked tyres- recycled tires filled with sandbags for insulation
- Upcycled Plastic recycled plastic sheets and plastic lumber provide sustainable building solutions
- Shipping container scraps
- Steel Rods A very successful and sustainable building material, rebar steel is a strong option and also available in abundance
- Recycled glass a nontraditional, but easy-to-use material, recycled glass can be mixed with fly ash to make a substance like concrete, that’s suitable for blocks, panels or construction moulds.
Constituents of a Green Building
The following constituents must be kept in mind while working on a green building:
- Lighting efficiency standards
- Wind towers to pre-cool fresh air
- Varying air volume systems and effective chillers
- Daylight sensing
- Energy-efficient lighting
- System design
- Envelope efficiency measures
- Glass selection
- Building construction equipment standards
- Oil test kit
- Window shading
- Window sizing
- Insulation of the building
- Orientation
- Design of the building
At Infrabazaar, we provide eco-friendly building materials. This does not only further help in green construction but also aids in reducing carbon footprint overall.
How to Make a Green Building?
Essentially, six factors must be considered while making a building green. Given below is a detailed description of these aspects.
1. Sustainable Site
The site must involve soil erosion control and efficient utilization of nature. Further, the selection should be appropriate.
2. Efficiency of Water Utilization
- Track water consumption via controls
- Utilize ultra high-efficiency water controls and fittings
- Utilize recycled water for flushing toilets
- Installation of moisture denser on plants to conserve water
- Use stormwater or recycled water instead of potable water for the purpose of landscape irrigation.
3. Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Equipment
- Design building orientation so as to obtain maximum daylight
- Utilize a green roof and green walls to prevent heat from entering the building
- Utilize energy-efficient goods
- Utilize renewable energy to limit the impact on the environment regarding fossil fuel energy use
4. Eco-Friendly Resources and Building Materials
- Waste management
- Material storage methods
- Health hazard management of on-site workers
- Material pollutant management
- Salvage controls
- Effect of transportation and manufacturing
- Salvage and recyclable materials
5. Indoor Air Quality
- Pollution and climate monitoring systems
- Removal of chemically toxic devices and materials
6. Energy System Management
- Conventional energy optimisation
- Monitoring systems, control systems, and building management
- 30-40 percent operation cost savings
The objective is to have a building that achieves ‘Carbon-neutral’ by using green resources, managing waste disposal and building energy-efficient designs that minimise the carbon footprint. Green buildings are the future, bearing in mind all the factors that continue to have a negative impact on the environment. So, whether you plan to buy materials or plan to construct a building, remember to consider all the aspects like the design and the resource utilisation plan to achieve carbon neutral status for the building.
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