Eco – Friendly building tips & advice

The notion of a “green structure” was developed over 30 years ago in answer to the energy emergency and people's mounting concerns about our environment. The call to save energy and lessen ecological problems encouraged a wave of “green building” innovation that has sustained to this very day.

The development of a green building is not effortlessly defined. Frequently known as ‘sustainable buildings’ or ‘eco-homes’, there is a variety of opinions on what can be considered as a ‘green or eco – structure. It is commonly agreed that green structures are designed, built, and restored to energy-efficient procedures, and that they will have a positive economic, environmental, and social influence over their life cycle. Green provisions provide a fine set of guidelines for the construction industry, but these are still in the process of being declared official into Australian regulation.

Fundamentals of Green Building

There are four key areas which require consideration in green construction:

Materials

Material considered ‘Eco-friendly’ is obtained from renewable, natural sources that have been handled and harvested in a sustainable manner; or they are acquired locally to decrease the fixed energy expenses of transportation; or they are recovered from cultivated materials at close by sites. The materials are assessed using ‘green guidelines’ that look at their Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) in terms of the embodied energy contained, resilience, recycled content, excess minimisation, and their capability to be reused and/or recycled.

Energy

Reactive solar design will significantly reduce the heating and cooling expenses of a building, as will high levels of energy-efficient windows and good insulation.  Natural daylight lessens the buildings electricity requirements, and enhances people's health and efficiency. Eco-Friendly structures also feature energy-efficient lighting, low energy equipment, and renewable energy tools including wind turbines and solar panels.

Water

Reducing water use is accomplished by installing grey water and rainwater catchments’ that recycle water for irrigation and / or toilet flushing; using water-efficient equipment, for example low-flow shower heads, low-flush toilet systems, or waterless composting toilets, installing point of use hot water systems and insulating pipes saves on heating the water.

Health

Using non-hazardous materials and products will improve the quality of the air indoors, and lower the degree of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These products and materials are emission-free, have very low or no VOC content, and are unaffected by moisture so they deter moulds, spores and other microbes. The quality of the air indoors has also been addressed by installing ventilation systems and using materials that control the humidity in the environment and allow a building to breathe properly.
In addition to implementing the above core factors, an eco-friendly building should present cost savings to the developer and the occupants, and should meet the expansive needs of the community. This is achieved by using local labour, providing affordable accommodation and housing, and ensuring the structure is sited suitably for the needs of the community.

Building a better Future

Though still in its early stages, building eco-friendly is a rapidly expanding operation. Australian regulations now demand that eco-friendly specifications are met in all new structural designs and development, as part of their sustainable development strategy. This means that “green buildings” are emerging all over Australia. In an era that is threatened by climate change, energy deficiencies and escalating health problems, it’s common sense to develop buildings that are resilient, reduce waste & pollution, save energy, and encourage health and overall well-being. An eco-friendly building is much more than just a model for sustainable existence; it is building hope for our future.