Green building: A comprehensive solution to urban heat

Abstract

Many cities are facing urban heat problems, the combined effect of heatwaves under global climate change, and local warming associated with urbanization, resulting in severe environmental, economic, social, and health impacts. It is urgent to address urban heat problems. Buildings are an important cause of urban heat, while buildings are favorable spaces to deal with urban heat problems through built environment decarbonization and the implementation of cooling strategies. Green building (GB) which has been recognized as an innovative philosophy and practice in the building sector, is proposed to address urban heat challenges. However, existing studies have offered a limited understanding of GB-based urban heat mitigation and adaptation (UHMA). Therefore, this study aims to examine how GBs can contribute to UHMA. In particular, this study analyses the contribution of buildings to urban heat problems in aspects of carbon emissions and the extensive modifications towards artificial landscapes, and discusses the possible impacts caused by urban heat problems. Afterwards, this study develops the framework of GB’s responses to urban heat in global warming mitigation, local warming mitigation, and urban heat adaptation. Based on this, such responses are analyzed in aspects of site planning, outdoor environments, transportation, building design, energy efficiency, water efficiency, material efficiency, indoor environmental quality, operation management, construction, and maintenance following the whole life cycle perspective. This paper helps understand how GB techniques contribute to UHMA and provides a reference to the revision of the GB assessment system for addressing urban heat problems.