Green Building Technology Essay Example for Free

Green Building Technology Essay1. Introduction Would there be a engineering that good deal derive nature and human cosmoss at the same time? Conventional belief over the intake of technology is that nature is sacrificed and use up for the sake of human beings. However, technology is not just now about efficiency any a messiness, and its associated grounds atomic number 18 expanding. Concern over purlieu is sensation of the most full- elicitn ones, and Green grammatical construction technology f solelys under it. Green structure technology aims to create environmentally responsible buildings or housings throughout its life span, patch using the resources available efficiently. It involves the whole transit of building certain structure, covering the processes of design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction (EPA).In short, it is construction technology that tries to optimize environmental sustainability and efficiency while not g iving up the necessary qualities of living spaces. Idea of Green building arose as OPEC oil embargo occurred in year 1973 with an Initial name and address of reducing its fossil provide usage. This being a motive, march on researches was done by un wish groups and kelvin building came into housing move (Marble Institute) After that, there had been increased attention and development of potassium building technology. People be more(prenominal) gratifyed in sounding for environmentally friendly housings and many governments be promoting it through different kinds of discolour construction standards. Yet, is this technology really giving us substantial benefit in our cursory lives? What kind of benefits, in specific, is it providing? What would be the processes of achieving such(prenominal) impacts?Even though this technology does not run through a long history, it is already causing changes in reducing readiness and resource usages scotch and social benefits are in ris e too. Green building has substantial positive effect in both environment and economy, with potential for meliorate outcomes in the future. This can be supported by numerous facts and application of technology. particularised applications of admitling susceptibility usage leads to outright reducing of resources used in construction, which in freehandger ground, leads to overall change of human society.2. Functions in Resource Conservation2.1 Background The need to conserve born(p) resources arose from several(prenominal) natural changes in climate. First major change was the global increase of temperature, which also caused devastating natural disasters.(Figure 1)For example, this diagram from NASAs investigation implies that until the bakshis of 1990s, at least there were be humiliated-zero global temperature anomaly. But it has exceeded the point of 0 degrees Celsius since then, reaching utmoster points. This caused problems like shifting natural characteristics for some countries (i.e. gaining more tropical climate, while the area doesnt fall under tropical area) and extreme weathers like soup up waves leading to hundreds of casualties (IPCC). Stanford researchers hollers summers allow keep acquiring hotter for the next 20 years (Rust,2011)Additional problems of spicy push button dependencies and its consequences are not negligible too. Oil prices have doubled since 10 years ago with annual increase of 25% between 2004 and 2008 (Bauer, 2010). For countries who import their energy resources, reducing the energy usage and speech money is a big concern. High dependency in energy usage often causes crisis in some special crisis situations. It could be financial, political, or literally natural disaster. spell so, housing alone takes up major portion of hit energy usage.According to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it accounted for 38.9 percent of total U.S. energy phthisis in 2005. In year 2006 it took 72 percent of total U .S. electricity white plague and this number exit rise to 75% by 2025. So it can be seen how change in managing housings can lead to positive changes (EPA). Green building technology tackles against these problems with many different technologies, adopting them appropriately for each aspects of energy conservation. While so, 2 examples that directly fight against specific aspects are brought up here.2.2 Heat ControlFirstly, it has been give tongue to that the heat energying and cooling process of a household heavily uses electricity and causes substantial coke emission. next are statistics stated by EPA The honest household spends at least $2,000 a year on energy bills over half of which goes to heating and cooling. Out of the total energy consumption in an average household, 50% goes to space heating, 27% to run appliances, 19% to heat water and 4% goes to air conditioning.The meter are self-explanatory heating and cooling alone is a big part of whole energy consumption. Temperature swear technology for verdure building enables reducing such consumption and carbon emission. During summer the insolate light directly envisions through houses through windows or hits the surfaces of outer building and heats up the whole construction. tetrad factors affect heat accumulation in a home solar heat gain, internal heat gain, air leakage, and temperature difference. To solve these problems, approaches such as using shades, changing color of outer building, change of crown structure, reducing internal heat generating sources (ex. Electronic equipment), and better use of spaces for air ventilation are used. like a shots buildings also use machine controlled ventilation system or, manual adjustment of ventilation openings to control the heat (Bauer, 2010).On the otherwise hand, during winter it is important to keep and gain every possible heat. A simple method like building the houses facing towards south or optimizing use of sunlight would be the most well-known methods. Additionally, methods of loading up the heat into the building are also used, which is using methods like using atria or double faade- dual dimensioned surfaces like windows or wall surfaces- which can support the heat insulation by 20% (Bauer, 2010). As a particular example, window films are proven to be effective in solar radiation cut, reducing the heat level entering a house. The benefit of windows films is clear it reflects the sun radiation that causes heat and let the room keep cool with slight efforts, in terms of both represent and energy usage. This means less air conditioning is used and less energy is consumed.It is proposed by solar Gard, that Not only do Solar Gards architectural solar control window films help cut energy expenditures by up to 30%, its Environmental ware Declaration (EPD) scientifically proves that Solar Gard and Panorama solar control window films have a meshing positive environmental impact worldwide (Solar Gard).These are spe cific effects of window film proposed by them1. One square meter of a low-e wood window, the type with the smallest carbon footprint, has a carbon court of 253 kilograms. The carbon cost of Solar Gard window film is less than one kilogram per square meter. 2. Solar Gard window film saves 1001 times more GHG emissions from entering the atmosphere than is used and/or created during its manufacture. 3. Solar Gard window film installed between 2007 and 2008 saved 3.6 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere this is equivalent to the carbon output of 16,350 American families (with four people).This particular products such effects can be expected from other window films too. In short, all these heat controlling technologies serve to reduce the electricity usage with special energy conserving effects of reduced carbon emissions.2.3 Emission ControlSpeaking of carbon emissions, there are specific uses of materials that combats them. In United States, housing alone ta kes 38 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions (EPA). degree centigrade dioxide emission is one of the well-known factors that are blamed for the global warming. The famous Kyoto Protocol was established in regularize to limit this and also to achieve better results with global warming around the world. Choice of materials for constructions is therefore guardedly chosen from the planning stage, since once used in the process of construction, it is hard to replace them afterwards. polar sorts of materials has different amount of carbon emissions, and in green building that is considered as major criteria. Other aspects of renewability and sustainability are also considered carefully when material is picked. One specific example of such effort would be use of wood for floorings. Wood has its advantage as a building material from its characteristics of low embodied energy, low carbon impact, low pollution emission, and sustainability. Low embodied energy means it takes less e fforts and resources in order to get it. Wood, since it has minimal energy processing during harvesting, has relatively lower embodied energy than those like steels, concrete, aluminum, plastic.In terms of carbon impact, it has lower carbon emission than most of other construction materials. Compared to other drippy or metal types or materials, it shows significantly lower level of carbon emission just as shown in figure 2.Figure 2 Basically, this is the most important characteristic of wood usage for green building, and it is listed as the followings in the website of The Solid Wood Flooring Company* For every tonne of CO2 a tree absorbs from the atmosphere nearly of a tonne of oxygen is produced * Over 83% of the timber supplied in the UK is certified to be sustainable * Using wood instead of other building materials saves an average of 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per cubic metre. * An EUR wooden pallet stores around 29kg of CO2 taken from the atmosphere during the growth of the tree Whil e metals and other fossil-based materials are not renewable resources, wood can be maintained forever if carefully used. It has to be accompanied by careful forestry planning, but it is definitely one resource that can be continuously re-grown.3. Impacts3.1 Social ImpactsWith all the features that efficiently use the natural energy and resources, green building technology also supports well-being of tenants in the buildings. It typically contributes to improve employees and students health, comfort and productivity.Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)one of the criteria of the U.S Green Building Councils LEED-H rating systemevaluates the subtle issue that influences peoples side of mind and body in a space. It has been scientifically proven by related study that people tend to be more productive and contribute better performance in environment with better ventilation and proper temperature control (Abdou, 2006).Figure 3 Just as shown in figure 3, change working or living condition leads to better work performances. The study sponsored in part by commercial real estate giant Cushman Wakefield, reported 30 percent fewer sick old age among one companys employees, and discovered a 10 percent increase in net revenue per employee in another company, after each office moved to LEED-certified buildings. Schools operating in green buildings also depict higher test scores and heightened academic enthusiasm among students (Abdou, 2006)Plus, nature friendly methods and materials used in green buildings proved to ease sicknesses that could occur in daily lives of tenants. It is believed to contribute widely to respiratory problems, allergies, nausea, headaches, and skin rashes. With much emphasis on ventilation, non-toxic, low emitting materials and cutting use of air conditioning, green buildings indeed create healthy and more comfortable living environments, which keep people away from Sick Building Syndromes (Fisk, 2002).In summary, all these benefits retrieved from applying green building technology can lead to wholesome social benefit of people, by promoting health initiatives and pleasurable living spaces. because it further goes on to the bigger scale of expanding economic ground, by astir(p) productivity and economic activity of the users of this technology.3.2 Economic ImpactsGreen buildings are so much more cost effective compared to conventional buildings. According to the USGBCs LEED rating system, green buildings tend to be 25-30% more energy efficient and more likely to generate the renewable resource on-site. Due to its cost effectiveness, energy saving and easy maintenance, green buildings outperform non-green buildings in the resale securities industry. Basically a newlyconstructed green building leave behind perform 10.9% better than its original construction value. Prospective buyers who realize the utility and maintenance cost and are more concerned about the sustainable design of the building bequeath be attracted toward s it. Though there is a common intelligence that green buildings cost a heavy premium over figure buildings, the cost of green design has dropped in the last few years as the number of green buildings has risen. Hence buildings both residential and commercial with sustainable design component continue retaining a high property value in the retailing market (McGraw Hill Construction, 2010).By continuing to grow in different ground of constructions from the usual ones, green building technology is opening new opportunities for more economic activities with its prospects. As consumers and suppliers become more interested in such technology, it carries much potential for better outcomes.4. upcoming ProspectsThen would these outcomes continue to exist in the upcoming future too? Green building is getting on the line of popularity within the general public who are becoming more aware of environmental conservation. Governments are back up it with various policies and incentives with br andings. It does seem like there are some positive prospects for green building technology to continue to grow in the future. There are supple amounts of factors encouraging such potentials.Regarding the future upcoming green building designs, buildings such as Zero-Energy Buildings are being explored. Zero-energy building (ZEB) is the assignment given to buildings that have zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. These buildings harvest energy produced on-site to meet their own energy needs. In addition to this, ideas of green schools are also being certain. Certified Green Schools are growing rapidly as part the LEED System. This trend will speed as understanding of the health and educational benefits of green schools grow (Yudelson, 2010).On the other hand, research efforts for further protection of environment are encouraging the future growth too. Awareness of the coming global crisis in fresh water supply leads building designers and managers to take further steps to reduce water consumption to increase sustainability. This will be done in buildings through the use of more conservation-oriented fixtures, rainwater retrieval systems and innovative new water technologies. Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) examines the impact of materials and will allow architects to determine what products are more sustainable and what combination of products can produce the most environmentally friendly results (GEP, 2011).In 2011, the annual human body Power Global Green Brands Study polled more than 9,000 people in 8 countries (USA, UK, China, Brazil, India, Germany, France and Australia) to analyze consumers perception of green products. All participating countries, either developed or developing, indicated that they were quite willing to open up their wallets and pay a bit more for green options in real estate. Most of the informants showed great interest to the green buildings. To be precise, 60% of the surveyed consumers globally intend to extend their green choices more and more to items in the real estate, energy and technology sectors (Longsworth, 2011).By 2013 overall global green building market, both residential and commercial, may more than double in its scale from approximately $36-$49 billion to $96-$140 billion. When looking solely at the commercial and institutional real estate development markets, the green building market is projected to grow from its current occupation of 10-12% of the market to 20-25% (GreenBuildings.com). The future market trends are predicted to continue to grow with certain incentives and initiatives. One of them would be green building technology being encouraged to be used in government sectors.Government offices will need to be transformed into green buildings because of regulatory requirements in many countries. Such need will be the key growth area for green building market. Cash incentives for developers will play a major role in this too. Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan hav e developed strong support system and incentives for green building developers, designers and owners. Seeing benefits from such incentives, more experts will enter into green building area, stimulating its growth (FrostSullivan, 2009). 5. ConclusionGreen building, regardless its short history, has achieved a lot in a short term. Its variety of technologies gave rise of new solutions for using less energy merely enjoying more nature friendly benefits, and as it get popular, economic and social benefits arose. Specific technologies that have been discussed were temperature control technologies and choice of building materials. Such direct outcomes lead green buildings positive impacts to be applied on overall human society and economy.From the current outcomes of green building technology and its go popularity, it seems to have good prospects for the future growth too. There are different factors of future designs and economic incentives encouraging this trend, and so further growth followed by more positive impacts can be expected. These all because support the idea green building has substantial positive effect in both environment and economy, with potential for even better outcomes in the future.Still, there are problems and limitations of green building technology that we have to consider about for the moment. It is a new born technology and yet to be fully developed. Hence full green buildings that incorporate much of the technology are prone to be accused for its high costs as mentioned before and also its insufficient development of efficiency are often pointed at as something unworthy of further developments. Nevertheless, its future potentials cannot be abandoned simply because of its current limitations. Since the initial goal of green building is to reduce human use of natural resources and promote sustainability, current green building technology should be pushed on for further developments that can solve problems at the moment and so off move on to achieve its goal in an even better way. Besides, its potentials are sufficient to predict better efficiency and profound benefits for our society.Hence green building technology should be acknowledged for its accessary impacts on environment not only for the current moment, but also for the upcoming future that will aid human beings to continue to live on without exhausting the natural resources.