Green buildings have become popular recently because of the environmental benefits as well as their aesthetic beauty. The whole concept behind them is to conserve natural resources and improve the quality of life of occupants.

Green buildings are defined as buildings that factor in environmental impacts during the planning, construction and operation processes. They aim to decrease or eliminate negative impacts on the environment while creating positive outcomes. In addition, they align with three Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs); 3-Good health and well-being, 7-Affordable and clean energy and 9-Industry, innovation and infrastructure.

If you think green buildings are limited to special structures, worry not for any building can be considered a green building be it a school, home, office and hospital provided it has the features of a green building. The criteria may vary from country to country depending on the climatic conditions of the area, the culture & traditions and environmental, economic and social priorities.

Kenya has hopped on the band wagon and constructed a couple of green buildings. The notable ones are UNEP, Strathmore Business School and Pope Paul VI Learning Resource Centre at CUEA.

 

Below are four green building features that you could incorporate into your home or office:

1. Enhance health and well-being

 

 

Good indoor air quality is an essential part of Green buildings for it caters to the health and well-being of the occupants. This can be achieved by creating well ventilated home and office spaces. Installing various ventilation ducts and large windows encourages air circulation and prevents the buildup of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in rooms.

Large windows not only bring in fresh air but ample sunlight. According to research natural light can boost mental health and well-being. It can heighten the production of serotonin; a mood enhancing hormone that brings about feelings of well-being and happiness. In addition to this, well lit rooms reduce the need for artificial light during the day cutting down on electricity usage.

During construction it’s imperative to avoid building materials and chemicals that release harmful or toxic emissions. For example when selecting paint for indoor application, steer clear of paint that has high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Exposure to VOC may lead to short or long term effects. Short term effects include headaches, nausea and dizziness, whereas long term effects are liver and kidney damage.

2. Green approach to energy

 

Green buildings have the potential to offset any negative impacts caused to the environment during construction by generating its own clean energy when in operation. Solar energy can be generated through the installation of solar panels on roofs or vantage points. The solar panels will convert sunlight into electricity which will power the house instead of relying on the electric grid. Coincidentally, this has an economic advantage of cost savings on electricity bills.

In addition, opt for energy efficient lighting bulbs such as LED and fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs are known to be more efficient than ordinary light bulbs.

3. Manage water resources efficiently

 

Water efficiency is a key feature of Green building. Harvesting rain water is a great way to collect and conserve water for future use. This water can be used for cooking, cleaning and watering gardens/lawns. Traditionally, water was harvested on roofs by setting up a system of pipes that connect the gutters to a water tank. This is a useful water harvesting method that can still be used today.

Installing a grey water recycling system in the building is a good way to recycle used water and purify it for re-use.

Avoid wastage of water by closing taps when not in use, fix leaking pipes and exploring innovative ways to recycle water in your home.

Lastly, careful consideration should be given to the impact the building has on the surrounding drainage system. This can be integrated during the planning and construction phase therefore mitigating undue stress on their operations.

4. Use of sustainable and clean (non-toxic) materials

Use recycled materials instead of virgin materials for example, old jeans and newspapers can be used for insulation. Other options are recycled glass, aluminum or steel and reclaimed wood can be used for the foundation of the building. On this note Gjenge Makers is a Nairobi based start up that manufactures building material (bricks) from recycled plastic and sand. This is a great alternative to virgin materials.

Moreover, when considering housing material, environmentally friendly flooring options can be your best bet. Cork, linoleum and bamboo are good materials that are biodegradable and easily sourced.

Conclusion

So there you go, 4 features of Green Buildings you could incorporate to your home or office. In foresight it would be advisable to make provisions for resilient and flexible structure that are adaptable to environmental events such as earthquakes, floods and fires.

Sources

https://www.worldgbc.org/how-can-we-make-our-buildings-green