The A to Z of green buildings

Green buildings promote the existence of natural ecosystems as well, with some of them promoting natural greenery. [iStockphoto]

With a superior interior, the resale value of a building is consistently and constantly high.

Saving Water: In many green buildings, wastewater from the building can be recycled or reused.

This reduces the wastage of water. In some of them, rainwater is collected and all of it is used inside the building after it has undergone purification. Some of the ways through which to ensure nominal and efficient use of the water available include greywater recycling, pressure reduction, cooling towers (to save on energy) and low-flow plumbing fixtures, which save on water.

Saving energy: Greening of buildings is mainly done to save on energy or to make them reliant on clean sources such as solar energy. Some buildings purely depend on sunlight to light their interiors, cutting down the cost of electricity and powering their needs using easily available, affordable solar.

Green buildings are also made to create a conducive and soundless environment to increase the well-being of those working inside the building. "Green buildings are designed to provide optimum sound presence, which includes proper sound insulation and acoustics.

They are made to fit and amplify the natural sounds and cut out the cacophony of irritating noise," writes Eartheclipse, a site that runs campaigns on climate change. People inside a green building have a heightened awareness and concentration and are likely to perform better.

Conserving the environment: Green buildings also preserve the environment as they are meant to.

They promote the existence of natural ecosystems as well, with some of them promoting natural greenery.

Cost-effectiveness. By efficiently using resources and thus cutting down on the usage of power and water, green buildings are cost-saving for investors and users. A reduction in operational and maintenance costs would mean that landlords can collect more taxes for their buildings.

What are the disadvantages of green buildings?

Initially, it is expensive to build. Apart from the high investment in terms of initial capital, it takes a longer time to complete such buildings. Selecting materials for use is also a daunting task. Often, it is not easy to control the air temperature in green buildings. Lack of expertise when repairing, and maintaining, such buildings are also an industry challenge.