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THEME PAPER
• generating 40% municipal must be reviewed, revised least consumers of energy
solid waste and and redefined and new and resources. In addition,
approach is put in place so Green Buildings are known
• emitting 50% ozone that buildings are planned, for its distinct advantages
depleting CFC besides designed and constructed of minimising use of water,
• promoting sick building in such a manner that built optimising energy efficiency,
syndrome. environment becomes conserving natural resources,
promoters of sustainability generating less waste and
Looking at the facts given and quality human living providing healthier space for
above, it can be visualised besides making value occupants, as compared to
that buildings, as an entity, addition to the nature and conventional buildings. Green
remain major consumers of natural resources. Buildings are also credited
resources, water and energy with saving energy up to 50%;
besides generators of large Green Buildings reducing water consumption
quantities of waste. In the Known for its positivity, by 40%; reducing carbon
process, buildings pollute negativities, dualities and emission by 35%; lowering
environment, water, air and contradictions, buildings CO 2 by 8000-12000 tons and
ecology besides destroying constitute a complex system 3 MW of connected electric
bio-diversity. All these of designing, construction, load / million sqft building
negativities of buildings, materials, resources, footprints; besides reducing
leading to adversely machinery, technology and 70% waste. Considering the
impacting climate and human environment. Revolving entire gamut, green buildings
health, rising temperature, around seven layers during its have been recognized for
increasing carbon footprints, life-cycle (siting, designing, its positivities in terms
global warming and climate construction, operation, of providing financial,
change; can be attributed to maintenance, renovation environmental and social
the manner in which built and deconstruction); benefits besides creating a
environment is being planned, increasing consumption of win-win situation for both
designed and constructed. resources (energy, water, owners, occupants, tenants,
Globally, it has been materials, natural resources) communities, society and
concluded that if buildings are and adversely impacting environment. Studies also
the prime culprit in adversely environment (generating reveal that,‘ green schools
impacting the environment, waste, polluting air/water, make learning easy and more
ecology and resources then creating heat islands, meaningful’; ‘green houses
buildings offer the greatest increasing storm water run- makes people happy and
hope and opportunity off); buildings are credited healthy’ and green hospitals
to minimise energy with negativities in terms of cure patients quickly’. Green
consumption and optimise adversely impacting human building may initially cost
the resources. This can be health, environment and more, but makes buildings
achieved by merely changing precious resources. cost-effective over its entire
the manner/approach, in life cycle, through lower
which buildings are being Looking at the entire gamut operating costs incurred
designed, constructed and of built environment, Green over the life of building.
operated. Accordingly, it Buildings have globally Potential financial benefits
becomes critical that current emerged as the best option to of improving indoor
options of creating buildings make buildings sustainable, environments exceed cost by
April, 2024, Volume 25. No.1 - SHELTER 13
