Green homes building to COP26

The recent event in Glasgow outlined the importance of reducing the greenhouse gases which cause climate change. Innovative solutions need to be implemented to build green homes.

The construction activities emit potentially harmful atmospheric emissions. Hence creating structures and following methods that sync with nature & are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient is a potential solution. The entire project cycle of building, right from layout, construction, structure, process, maintenance, reconstruction, and deconstruction, must be in sync with the green technique.

Though the concept of the green home is nothing new, its importance is lost midway as everyone is in a race.

Real estate/construction is majorly responsible for climate change, with 36% of the world’s energy waste and a 27% carbon footprint. So, green building is a solution to overcome the challenge and reverse climate change.

Fundamental principles associated with green homes construction:

• Reduce resource/supply use [energy and water efficiency]
• Increase resource recycling.
• Use renewable or recycle resources/materials.
• Protect nature
• Create a healthy, non-toxic ecosystem

Green home building technologies

The aim of sustainable construction is embodied in different ways & methods to minimize the adverse effect of a building on its environment and make possible the quality of living for the consumers and communities around.

Explore the techniques, methods and usage of the right materials and the proper management in order to regulate energy consumption and the surrounding environment.

Sustainable building technologies for green homes construction involve:

• Eco-friendly building materials
• Geothermal power/solar energy for HVAC [heating, ventilation, and AC]
• Green insulation, LED & lighting, home automation or domotics, green/cool roofs
• Sustainable supply sourcing, which is the assimilation of social, ethical, and ecological factors
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system (basically in America) to be considered.
• Follow the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) that offers a broad range of services.
• Low energy homes and net-zero building designs.
• Water efficiency/conservation technologies that embody dual water distribution system, saving evaporation losses (use of surface films), coconut pick-ups etc.
• SPD/Electrochromic Smart Glass.
• Managing the Site for Improved Environment.
• Lean Manufacturing to Reduce Energy.
• Self-powered/sufficient buildings – It is a solution wherein the buildings can produce self-energy without any external resources.
• Implementation of EMS (Environmental Management Systems).

In continuation to the above, implementing efficiently the two techniques discussed below also helps greatly.

Prefabricating Materials in Controlled Environments

Prefabricating materials in a controlled environment helps in low environmental impact. It is beneficial as the waste is recycled, and the factory’s-controlled environment helps better air filtration for better wall insulation that’s directly proportional to enhanced energy efficiency. Helpful in improved quality buildings, less trash, reduced labour cost and the price of materials.

Construction Waste Management

Managing waste during construction reduces half of the problems that affect the atmosphere. Builder’s need to make sure the recycling rate to be above 90% to match with environmentally sound buildings.

Reducing waste now becomes easy with the hauliers through which around 75% of landfill avoidance is achieved.

Green home benefits:

We have been discussing the benefits all through, however, to speak a little more. Green & sustainable buildings contribute to a clean climate environment.

Protection of environment

The construction of buildings has a direct and indirect impact on the environment. So, environmental protection is the main benefit that aligns only with renewable sources/energies, bio-sources, recyclable materials usage and the preservation & conservation design methods.

Economic

WGBC report states that sustainable buildings give significant outputs – around 25 to 35% of energy savings and up to 40% water savings. Moreover, green homes boost the real estate market & reduce operating costs.

Social/Community well-being

Green homes enrich life & the surroundings, protects infrastructure, provide healthy & comfortable living. 

Green homes construction challenges:

High costs: The initial construction & design costs of green homes are greater than the conventional building; however, it has enormous advantages, high performance, and is profitable in the long term.

Lack of awareness & Government support: Even in this century, there is a lack of awareness in society in developing the green real estate markets. Respective state & central Government support goes a long way to building green homes and sustainable cities.

A building is certified green when it leaves no or reduced carbon footprint in the atmosphere and takes care of the health of inhabitants. A greenhouse gas emission causes climate change, and hence while construction activity happens to avoid climate catastrophe, the temperature rises must be maintained within 1.5 C.

To demonstrate at high-level, green homes can save 50% of energy according to the UNEP report 2005

Action speaks louder than words; hence, sustainability can be attained by the evolution in building techniques and resources acquisitions that lower waste, energy, and other hazardous things that arise during construction.

Let’s pledge to keep our environment green and save our planet!

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