Green Buildings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Green Buildings - Essay Example Conventional use of energy requires exploitation of resources such as coal in the production of electricity, use of hydropower among other energy sources that have been in use for many years. Consequently, the use of the above sources of energy in buildings leads to massive environmental pollution and environmental degradation. For instance, the use of coal to produce electricity results in massive emission of carbon dioxide and environmental degradation in areas were cola has to be mined. As a result, the entire process leads to land and environmental degradation among other negative effects. To reduce environmental degradation and pollution from emissions, buildings are designed and constructed with features that minimise overreliance on conventional energy by relying more on natural lighting and energy conservation designs. There are various standards of grading buildings on a scale, which reflects the extent of energy efficiency in such buildings. In other words, the more efficie nt a building is, the more green such a building is, with several certification bodies coming up to rate and certify energy and resource efficient buildings. The research aims at investigating different requirements before certifying a building as green and the requirements that a building has to meet to warrant the green title. A few case studies of highly rated green buildings will be analysed with respect to the perspective of energy and resources efficiency, and how such buildings contribute to environmental sustainability. Moreover, the dissertation will seek to investigate different aspects that are used to rate these buildings and the different ratings used by the recognized certification bodies with close investigation of implications of building rating in addition to the current market response to green construction. Though the concept of green building dates back to the early 90s when groups advocating for sustainable