The five elements of green design
Website design By BotEap.comSuccessful sustainable construction begins with a design that addresses each of the following five core elements of green building design.
- Sustainable website design
- Conservation and water quality
- Energy and Environment
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Conservation of Materials and Resources
- Reduce urban sprawl and land destruction
- Promote higher density urban development
- Pursue brownfield development to save existing green space
- Minimize site disturbance and restore natural habitat
- Select a new site only when necessary
- When a new site is needed, don’t choose a site that is critical to the local ecosystem.
- Orient the building on the site to use natural resources such as solar energy.
- Select a site that allows access to public transportation
- Minimize the building footprint by using existing surfaces, lightening roof color and using natural shading
- Keep in mind that orientation of the proposed building that allows for natural drainage is often the least expensive way to improve the location.
- Ensure site assessment captures natural hydrological attributes
- Allow the use of low-impact stormwater retention systems
- Set a water budget and implement features to help meet budget
- Improve water quality and conservation by using native trees, plants, and grasses that do not require irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides
- Maximize passive solar orientation
- Reduce the need for artificial lighting by planning to use natural sunlight whenever possible
- Use exterior insulation to maximize the performance of the exterior envelope
- use natural ventilation
- Use Energy Star efficient appliances
- Use new age lighting products and settings
- Research all new energy technologies
- Protect the interior of the building during the construction process
- Make the building smoke free
- Maximize the use of daytime sunlight
- Ensure all interior finishes are safe and environmentally friendly
- Design a healthy heating, cooling and ventilation system.
- Use engineered high-stress materials whose strength reduces the amount of materials used
- Use recycled materials whenever possible
- Use materials that can be recycled when their functional life has elapsed
- Support the local economy and reduce the transportation of materials by using local suppliers of local products.