Building can be good for the planet.

Architects are responding in different way to issues surrounding carbon

emissions, energy consumption and climate change.
The resulting green architecture is partly about adopting the right materials and
technologies, but basic concepts such as the correct orientation of buildings and
sensitivity to site are equally important in creating buildings that are at once
welcoming to occupants and low in their impact on the Earth and its resources.
Building is one of the most energy-intensive human activities. The construction
process alone takes up large amounts of energy, materials, land, and have a huge
impact on their sites and surroundings. When we begin to occupy a building, the
consumption of energy and the production of waste material continue.
Green architecture aims to produce buildings that have a low impact on the
environment while remaining attractive structures to look at and to use.

The key preoccupations of green architecture can be summarized as:

 choice of materials
 energy consumption and production
 waste management
 relationship of building to site.
Green architects seek to use materials that have a low environmental impact.
 This can mean selecting local materials, to reduce the energy consumption in
transportation – sustainably grown timber, straw bales and earth have all been
used.
 It might mean using recycled resources, such as car tires and bottles used in
Earthships.
 But it can equally mean utilizing conventional materials, such as concrete and
glass, that are valued for their insulating or light-admitting qualities.
In deciding on which materials to use, the architect is balancing their
environmental impact with the qualities they will bring to the finished building
– which in turn will have an environmental impact.
Renewable energy sources are key.
Green buildings often have solar panels, wind turbines and other methods of
energy production built-in.
But equally important are designing and orientating the building to make best
use of sun and shade. In some climates, especially where there is a prevailing wind,
orientation can help keep the building well ventilated or cool.
Green buildings normally eliminate air conditioning by appropriate orientation
and the careful placing of vents and window openings. The shape of a building can
also influence air flow.
Green buildings are also designed to retain the heat they gather from the sun or
generate on-site. Thick walls help interiors stay warm in the winter and cool in
the summer. If the walls are thinner, generous insulation can be fitted to achieve the
same effect.
Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives in
sustainable building.
Facilities should increase their dependence on water that is collected, used,
purified, and reused on-site.
A sustainable building is designed to reduce waste.
The plumbing system often allows occupants to recycle waste water from washing
machines or dish washing for flushing toilets.
Composting toilets are sometimes installed in green buildings, and users may also
be encouraged to compost other household waste to feed the soil and reduce the
amount of rubbish sent to landfill.
One central and often ignored aspect of sustainable architecture is building
placement.
Contrary to common belief, urban systems can be more environmentally
sustainable than rural or suburban living.
Optimal building density can make public transport viable but avoid the creation
of urban heat islands.
Careful mixed use zoning can make commercial, residential, and light industrial
areas more accessible for those travelling by foot, bicycle, or public transit.
 As small as possible, for a house that uses every sustainable technique under the
sun will not be as kind to the Earth as practically any house half its size.
 Positioned to take advantage of winter sun and summer shade, and to
minimize damage to the plants, animals, soil, etc already there.
 Located as close to public transportation, workplaces, schools, and/or
shopping as realistically possible.
 Recycled materials and even existing foundations or building shells
 Wood from stocks that are sustainably managed
 Materials that are low in embodied energy – that is, the energy required to
extract and produce them as well as to deliver them to a building site.
 Natural materials, such as bamboo, that can be easily replenished
 Efficient lighting systems that take advantage of daylight to reduce electricity
needs or include sensors and timers that shut off lights when they are not in use
 Water systems that collect rainwater and/or treat so-called graywater (from
sinks and showers) so that it can be reused for gardens or toilets.
 Strategies to ensure that a house will have long life because it is comfortable to
spend time in, architecturally significant, or adaptable to future uses
 Insulation, glass, and facades that are energy-efficent and that promote
cooling by natural ventilation instead of by air-conditioning.
 Features that take advantage of the sun‘s rays, either passively, using thermal
massing and high-efficency glass, or actively through photovoltaic panels, to turn
sunlight into electricity
 Interior materials and finishes, from carpets to paints, that minimize chemical
emissions and promote good air quality.
Sensitivity to site, makes green buildings extremely diverse.
They range from massive, earth-walled houses in Arizona to lightweight bamboo
structures in Southeast Asia, from highly insulated timber houses in Scandinavia to
glass and corrugated iron buildings in Australia.
Sustainability offers both hope for the future and a new richness in architecture.