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Green Building Practices

The environment is on everybody’s mind at the moment and we are all trying to find ways to do our part.  One option that you can look at is to use green building practices – building in a way that lessens the impact on the environment.  Read on to learn more.

What is Green Building?

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources such as energy, water, and materials while also reducing the impact that the building has on human health and the environment.  This is done using methods such as better siting, design, operation, maintenance, and removal.  The complete life cycle of the building – from erection to demolition – is affected by green building practices.

Why Use Green Building Practices?

Green building practices can lead to reduced operating costs by increasing productivity and using less energy and water.  Because the indoor air quality of the building is improved, it is healthier for the occupants of the building and actually leads to healthier people inside the building.  Because of the design of the building, they are more comfortable to live in.  This is due to strategies such as placing windows and walls to be shaded during summer while maximising solar gain in winter; insulation; exterior materials with a dense thermal mass; and high efficiency windows.  These buildings also have less of an impact on the environment, whether this is because they are reducing stormwater runoff, using sustainable materials, or gaining energy and water from renewable sources (such as the sun or a rainwater tank).  Less greenhouse gases are produced by green buildings.

Effective Green Building Practices

Effective green building practices can include the following:

• choosing the correct site for building
• protect and retain existing landscaping and natural features
• recycle and use recycled materials wherever possible
• use passive design strategies
• provide natural lighting within the building where possible
• use a properly sized and energy efficient heating/cooling system with the correct insulation
• consider alternative energy sources such as photovoltaics
• select sustainable building materials
• install a rainwater tank for use in the garden or home   
• be water efficient wherever possible by using water conserving fixtures
• install a solar hot water system
• use products with zero or low emissions

The Green Star Rating

Green Star is a comprehensive, national, voluntary environmental ratings scheme that evaluates the environmental design and achievements of buildings.  It was developed to establish a common language, to set a standard of measurement for green buildings, to promote integrated, whole building design, to recognise environmental leadership, to identify building life cycle impacts, and to raise awareness of the benefits of green buildings.  The nine categories included in all of the Green Star rating tools are:

• management
• indoor environment quality
• energy
• transport
• water
• materials
• land use and ecology
• emissions
• innovation

A 4 star Green Star rating (45-59) signifies ‘Best Practice’.  A 5 star Green Star rating (60-74) signifies ‘Australian Excellence’.  A 6 star Green Star rating (75-100) signifies ‘World Leadership’.

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