Essay on Buildings As An Underlying Cause of Global Warming

According to a “go green” blog named 2B Green World Website-LEED Consultants, “buildings represent over 50% of US wealth; $800 billion is the amount of renovation and new construction in the United States, buildings account for 1/6 of the worlds freshwater withdrawals, ¼ of its wood harvest and 2/5 of its material and energy flow” (Go Green Facts 1).These figures represent the disadvantages of a world without green building. Throughout this report the focus is on LEED certification and accreditation, and the impact LEED has on several different service firms. The report begins with background information about the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED, and LEED

Sustainability is becoming an ongoing trend in construction. This word in reference to construction means to be built sturdy while not depleting the environment around it. According to Lafargeholcum Foundations [1], “Sustainability is one of the worlds most talked about but least understood words, its meaning

The indefinite growth of the human population, has monumental impacts on the natural environment, not only in the UK, but around the globe. Architecturally, the entire process of designing and constructing a building, both domestic and not, can lead to the rapid exhaustion of natural resources across the planet. Building with environmental design strategies in mind not only combats the impact we as humans have on the natural environment, but also has considerable economic benefits, due to lower running costs of buildings and advanced occupant productivity. There are also many social benefits, such as improved air quality which resultantly leads too enhanced health of a buildings occupants.

Climate change poses a serious threat to Earth and its inhabitants. There is now substantial evidence that human activity is causing global warming because of our large emissions of greenhouse gases. For instance, atmospheric carbon dioxide currently measures at three hundred and ninety seven parts per million, which is the highest it has been for at least the past one million years (National Research Council of the National Academies). Also, scientific data shows that Earth’s average surface temperature has increased more than 1.7 Fahrenheit over the past one hundred years (National Research Council of the National Academies). The evidence is unequivocal that our activities are the main culprit to the disruption of the climate system. In 2013, the top four emitters of carbon dioxide totaled to fifty-eight percent of entire global emissions (Loiseau). Among these four, China is the largest, accounting for twenty-eight percent (Loiseau). The United States accounted for fourteen percent; The EU accounted for ten percent; And India accounted for seven percent (Loiseau). Specifically, China’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions amounted to a massive 8.3 billion metric tons while the United States emitted 5.4 billion metric tons annually (Loiseau). India followed China and the United States with just over 2 billion metric tons emitted annually (Loiseau). This data could, however, be somewhat misleading. For example, even though China does emit the most, it only emits 6.2 metric

"Sustainable Architecture" - this phrase in recent years is mentioned a lot. The concept of "sustainable architecture" is associated, even identified with the concept of green architecture, ecological architecture, environmentally friendly, energy efficient ... to reach a stable value for the environment human life, reduce negative impacts on the environment in the present and future. However, although this interpretation is correct, but only one aspect, because that's what people are missing and need to achieve. Try to reach and understanding of sustainable architecture in general and more simple ...

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges that we currently face. With the ever-increasing uptake in the usage of fossil fuels, and getting ever closer to reaching peak oil, it is becoming of increasing importance to reduce our consumption of these non-renewable resources. The United Kingdom (UK) has been set a target to reduce its CO2 output level by at least 80% by 2050, in comparison to a 1990 baseline (Climate change act (2008)). This is a great challenge set by the European Union (EU) that UK is legally obliged to commit to. A large proportion of this CO2 output can be attributed to the UK’s housing sector, which currently accounts for 27% of the UK’s total CO2 level (Davies, P. and Osmani, M. (2011)). Clearly,

Green Buildings can help the earth in so many ways. Being certified means that you build more environmentally friendly, which means that building green friendly can reduce the negative effect buildings and operations have on the environment. Also green building greatly decreases the chances of fire, explosions, spills or splashes. Building green also reduces health problems such as allergies.

We can give any room in your home a green remodel. Green remodeling means conserving resources, and being energy efficient. We do this by reusing or repurposing materials instead of buying everything new. We also ensure that the room is as energy efficient as possible, and most importantly of all, we ensure the environment is healthy. During a green remodel, harmful chemicals are kept out, alternative, healthier methods are used. To learn more about this type or remodeling and all of our other services visit out website at

Green buildings could become one of the main factors to preserve our rapidly decaying environment. There is no easy way to define a green building, but a green building is essentially a structure that amplifies the positives and mitigates the negatives throughout the entire life cycle of the building (Kriss, 2014). There are many definitions for a green building, but all of them include the planning, designing, constructing, and operating of the building while taking into huge considerations of the energy use, water use, indoor air environment, materials used and the effect it has on the site the green building is being built on. The first green buildings dates back to as far as the 1970’s, when solar panels went from experiments to reality. Green buildings were not as popular as they are today due to their extremely high pricing. With technology rapidly growing, solar panels are becoming cheaper and cheaper, making the transition to creating green buildings more affordable. This is the primary reason for the increased growth of green buildings today. A modern company that is paving the way to the growth of green buildings named LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, focuses primarily on new and effective ideas for environmentally friendly buildings projects. With more than 60,000 commercial projects worldwide and 1.7 million square feet being certified every day, LEED is one of the leading groups for promoting green buildings. LEED has popularized the entire

The book's selection of outstanding, best quality work provides several examples for homeowners with a discerning sense of style and environmental responsibility. The spectrum of featured projects has a range between energy efficient restoration and the construction of intelligent extensions to the planning and building of new low-energy or passive homes. The book introduces not only the current building forms and materials but also case studies examining the best division of space, architectural planning, and the use of innovative technologies to control and improve heating and air conditioning. Therefore, Building Better provides a striking overview of the topic of sustainable building, and insightful information on details from technical data to blueprints. In the book, both homeowners and architects have their motivations, ideas, desires, and real experiences. Against this background, Building Better is both an inspirational and a practical guide for everyone who thinks that the sustainability not as limiting, but rather as a creative opportunity. As such, it is an essential reference for everyone who wants to build a

The future of the construction industry is dependent upon the ability to transform the practices of successful businesses into leadership programs that are able to successfully complete LEED construction projects. The ability to complete these projects at a high level of expertise will help utilize green practices in the industry to reduce building emissions and the buildings carbon footprint on the planet. . LEED projects are defined by sustainability. The definition of sustainability is providing for the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for their needs. Providing healthy, resource – conserving, energy-efficient buildings. “Green” building. Through this paper I will

There are many ways that us humans can do to make a building more sustainable. Maybe we can just start with the little things, and in the near future when we have more advanced technology we can invent even greener inventions,but it all starts with you, together we can generate, create, and build our ideas and make the earth a healthier place for the 21st

In modern times, there has become a greater desire from those in the construction industry to work together to create more environmentally sustainable buildings. Clients have an incentive to request more environmentally sustainable buildings to satisfy potential regulations, to cut down on energy costs, and potentially to gain favourable publicity/media. Designers are ever-more encouraged to propose innovative buildings which optimise materials and techniques to ensure greater environmental sustainability in an effort to win contracts. In a planet where resources are diminishing at an exponential rate, and civilization is accepting the detrimental impact contemporary living is having on the

Climate change is one of the fastest growing concerns in today’s society. The effects of climate change have already been seen across the world in the form of trees and plants flowering sooner, loss of sea ice, shrinking glaciers and longer heat waves . These effects will only increase over time. One of the causes of climate change is increased emission of green house gases (GHG). As a consequence governments worldwide are working towards implementing legislation to reduce these effects, one of which is to encourage people to make properties more sustainable. The focus here will be on Dr Johnson’s house, which is a 300 year old townhouse located within the City of London at 17 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE (see Appendix 1 for location). This old property has had little done to it to reduce GHG. As it will be sold to house an administrative section of the government department, a number of sustainable improvements will be analysed, along with legislation that should be taken into consideration when doing so. Furthermore, the provisions in the case that the property was located in a EU member state and if it was located in a country that is not a EU member will also be examined.

Imagine you are placed into the future. The year is 2100. You begin to live in this