Definition of green building

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CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Backgrounds

One important aspect of the green building includes the market for this type of structure. The demand has increased in the last decade and is expected to continue to do so. LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design registered public sector green buildings have increased 10 percent while commercial buildings have increased 5 percent of the annual construction market. Jerry, Y 2008 LEED registered buildings are only part of the green construction movement. There are a number of building councils, associations and government sponsored initiatives that support the construction of green buildings. Together an improved understanding of the green building and construction requirements are being formed. The literature search has only uncovered a fraction of available information that will better define and support the design and construction of a green building. The focus of the literature review at this point is to uncover the accepted definition of a green building and the most prevalent criterion used in the design and construction.

2.2 Current Issues Trends

2.2.1 Definition of green building

An important concept in this thesis approach is defining a green building. The California integrated waste management board defines a green building as, “a green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient. Green building is design to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health: improving employee productivity: using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently: and reducing the overall impact to the environment.” Jerry, Y 2008 5 describes a green building as, “…..a high-performance property that considers and reduces its impact on the environment and human health. Jerry, Y 2008” The Massachusetts technology collaborative renewable trust, defines a green building as, “….a building that has been constructed or renovated to incorporate design techniques, technologies, and materials that minimize its overall environmental impacts. www.mtcp.orgcleanenergyenergyglossaryefficiency.htm , 2008 The definitions of a green building will sometimes include a description of a high-performance building. A high-performance building and there design are an all-inclusive philosophy taking into consideration the interaction of the whole building structure and Systems. Michael, C, R, A 2000 The green building council Indonesia has developed criteria for high- performance building and started a project called “commercial high-performance building,” the goal is to apply design into construction principles. The green building council Indonesia GBCI has a vested interest in green building just by the nature of its responsibility to protect the environment. This responsibility includes the support for the green building concept. The USEPA definition of a green building is: “Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from sitting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.” “Green building is designed to reduce the overall impact of built environment on human health and the natural environment by: • Efficiently using energy, water other resources • Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity 6 • Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation For example, green building may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made from renewable resources, create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants e.g., reduced product emissions, and, reduced product emissions, and or feature landscaping that reduces water usage e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering www.epa.govgreenbuildingpubsabouthtm 2008

2.2.2 Building Councils