An Overview ~

Sustainable/Green Buildings: Looking at How Architecture and Construction Can Reduce Pollution

Abstract

In this day and age, society is undergoing one of the biggest global challenges: the current climate crisis. Industrialization, especially in construction, has caused society to become wasteful. The construction industry has turned into one of the top producers of waste, energy combustion, and overall pollution. This study addresses the solution of green architecture and sustainable buildings that many construction/civil/architectural firms are currently utilizing. This study first describes and goes into detail on some of the most common sustainable building strategies such as: using recycled building materials, using clean energy, and using recycled water for water systems in buildings. It also describes and goes into detail on some of the most common green architectural design strategies such as the use of curtain walls, vegetation, and shape for harnessing natural energy. These strategies were all predicted to decrease waste and overall pollution. To collect data to prove these strategies are taking place in society, this study employs the data collection methods of interviews and meta-analysis. The interviews involved architects for green buildings, project managers for green buildings, and county government officials focused on green buildings. The meta-analysis involved a more specific type of green/sustainable building called net-zero buildings. The study concluded that these strategies are allowing society to reach a more environmentally friendly world, but also found that the more common sustainable/green strategies in society’s buildings are energy efficiency, reducing a building’s carbon footprint, and following government mandated requirements on sustainability/LEED-certification. 

What happens next?

After reading my research, if you would like to learn more, I suggest these resources!

• https://www.cnn.com/style/article/green-building-world-sustainable-design/index.html 

• https://inhabitat.com/living-water-recycling-building-wrapped-in-a-network-of-tubes/ 

• https://www.fastcompany.com/90721680/how-one-nyc-construction-company-saved-96-of-its-waste-from-the-landfill