Green building

How to shape the future of construction?

The concept of green and sustainable building is not new, but has never been more important. In fact, the construction sector is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and buildings are responsible for much of the world’s energy waste. What is the definition of green building? And what are potential solutions to achieve sustainable construction?

01. Benefits

Green building Benefits

Sustainable construction aims at reaching a high level of performance in terms of the environmental, economic and societal impacts of the concerned buildings:

  • Environmental: as the priority is given to local, renewable, bio-sourced and recyclable materials, and the design is based on the use of renewable energies (geothermal, aerothermal, solar, wood) and the preservation of resources (energy and water efficiency, better insulation), the first advantage of sustainable building is the protection of the environment.
  • Economic: according to a World Green Building Council report, savings in a sustainable building can be very significant: from 25 to 35% energy savings, and up to 39% water savings compared to a conventional building. Besides, green building boosts the real estate market and allows to reduce operating costs.
  • Social: green buildings help improve the quality of life, by enhancing occupants’ health, well-being and comfort (thermal and acoustic insulation, better energy and lighting management). Moreover, it minimizes strain on local infrastructure.

02. Definition

What is a green building?

Green building, also called sustainable building or green construction, is the concept of creating structures and processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.

Its main goals are to preserve resources like raw materials, energy and water, fight against global warming (greenhouse gases emission), minimize waste and other pollutions, and maximise the whole life-cycle performance. Sustainable building also aims to bring comfort and health to occupants by the use of materials of high sanitary and environmental quality, both for the actual construction and for the insulation.

Fundamental principles are linked to green building:

  • Minimize resource consumption (energy and water efficiency)
  • Maximize resource reuse
  • Use renewable or recyclable resources
  • Protect the natural environment
  • Create a healthy, non-toxic environment

03. Impacts

Green building technologies

The philosophy of sustainable architecture is embodied in various practices that aim to reduce the negative impact of a building on its environment and to take care of the quality of life of users and neighboring communities.

Its implementation is manifested by a set of choices of techniques, management methods, materials and the internal organization of functions and spaces, in order to control the energy consumption and the living environment of users.

Sustainable construction technologies used in green construction include:

  • Biodegradable materials
  • Solar power for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
  • Green insulation and lighting, smart appliances, cool roofs
  • Sustainable resource sourcing
  • Low-energy house and zero-energy building design
  • Water efficiency technologies
  • Electrochromic smart glass
  • Self-powered buildings

05. Implementations

Green building solutions implementations

Kaiterra Enterprise IAQ Monitoring Solutions by Kaiterra implemented by Gangnam City in Seoul (South Korea) in 2018

Sunstyle by Sunstyle implemented by Saint Charles International in Perpignan (France) in 2011

Sunstyle by Sunstyle implemented by Nouvelle Aquitaine in Nouvelle Aquitaine (France) in 2020

ECOPact Green Concrete by Holcim implemented by Sarthe Cancer Center in Le Mans (France) in 2021

Wall E+ by Caerostris implemented by Solutions Composite in Tours (France) in 2019

LightFi by LightFi implemented by University of Cambridge in Cambridge (United Kingdom) in 2018

Géostockage by ACCENTA implemented by Airbus in Toulouse-Blagnac (France) in 2019

Géostockage by ACCENTA implemented by Prologis in Moissy-Cramayel (France) in 2023

BrainBox AI by BrainBox AI Inc. implemented by Mountain Development Corp. in Roseland (United States) in 2021

Gramitherm by Gramitherm Europe SA implemented by City of Charleroi in Couillet (France) in 2021

Switch Automation by Switch Automation implemented by Oxford Properties Group in Toronto (Canada) in 2016

AI for high-efficiency Water Networks by Altereo implemented by Grand Annecy in Annecy (France) in 2022

Solatube Tubular Daylighting by Solatube implemented by ESAT in Montfermeil (France) in 2017

Smart Solar System Configurations by RenuLogix implemented by Homeowner in Los Angeles in Los Angeles (United States) in 2022

Smart X by Smart Impulse implemented by Equans in Littlehampton (United Kingdom) in 2021

NetHire by NetHire implemented by Solar A/S in Copenhagen (Denmark) in 2020

06. Challenges

Green building challenges

  1. High costs: the higher initial design and construction costs are considered as hurdles for green building projects, even though they are profitable in the long term. This is actually the top challenge to realizing high-performance buildings.
  2. Lack of public awareness / political support: lack of public awareness is still among the main obstacles in developing the green building market, especially in emerging countries. Little political support can be another challenge for the development of green building and sustainable cities.

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pauline.michiels@solarimpulse.com