Green Buildings - Saving The Future
Category FRIDAY PROPERTY THOUGHT
As we face more and more issues relating to the effects of industrial and carbon emissions that are impacting the environment and also leading to global warming and associated problems, the property sector has taken it upon itself to play its part in being more environmentally friendly and efficient.
A green building or development is a development that in planning, positioning, design, construction or operation seeks to vastly reduce or eradicate the negative effects the development or operation of the property can have on the environment. This leads to a positive impact on our climate and environment as the carbon footprint would be decreased. The following are some features that make a building 'green';
- Efficient use of energy, water and other resources;
- Use of renewable energy, such as solar energy;
- Pollution and waste reduction measures, and the enabling of re-use and recycling;
- Good indoor environmental air quality;
- Use of materials that are non-toxic, ethical and sustainable;
- Consideration of the environment in design, construction and operation;
- Consideration of the quality of life of occupants in design, construction and operation;
- A design that enables adaptation to a changing environment.
In countries and regions with highly specialised property development skills it has become the norm for all new developments to be Green Certified in all facets of developments such as commercial, industrial, retail and residential. This gives developers some advantages in terms of the marketability and uptake of their developments. As green buildings lead to less utility consumption and corporations that invest in green building and lease or own green buildings receive various benefits also from regulators in their countries.
South Africa has definitely taken the lead on this in Africa as almost all new developments or buildings have a green aspect to them which can be certified by the Green Building Council of South Africa [GBCSA].
Author: Metcalfe Mtungwazi