Chapter 1 - “Green” and “Sustainability” Defined

Abstract

The term “green building” is relatively new and a precise definition is elusive. The EPA defines it as, “the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from sitting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.” Green building strategies mainly relate to land-use, building design, construction, and operation that in aggregate help minimize or mitigate a building's overall impact on the environment. The primary objective of green buildings is therefore to improve the efficiency with which buildings use available natural resources such as energy, water, and materials, while simultaneously minimizing a building's adverse impact on human health and the environment. There are many ways that green construction methods can be employed to build a new building designed for long-term operations and maintenance savings. The nation has a vast existing building stock that can be made greener—and studies show that many building owners are interested in doing just that. The increasing prominence of the public's environmental awareness has become an integral component of the corporate mainstream and general global awareness of the human impact on the environment as well as increased consumer demand for sustainable goods and services are creating new challenges and opportunities for businesses in all aspects of construction-related industries.