This paper examines green building — also known as sustainable or green construction — and its relationship to sustainable development. It traces the origins of the green building movement from early solar energy experiments in the nineteenth century through the energy crisis of the 1970s to the modern industry. The paper then evaluates the environmental, economic, and societal impacts of green building practices, including their growing share of the U.S. construction market. Finally, it addresses three core principles of green building: energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, and waste and toxic reduction, explaining how each contributes to a more environmentally responsible built environment.
The paper demonstrates effective use of cited sources to substantiate empirical claims. Rather than presenting statistics or historical facts as common knowledge, the author consistently attributes them to named sources (Katz, 2012; Patsalides, 2011; GSA, 2009; Loveland, 2013), modeling proper APA citation practice for undergraduate academic writing.
The paper opens with a combined introduction and definition section that establishes its scope and roadmap. It then moves through a historical overview, an environmental and market impact analysis, and three focused thematic sections on energy efficiency, water efficiency, and waste reduction. This structure follows a classic expository pattern: define the subject, trace its history, assess its impact, and examine its key operational dimensions. The conclusion is embedded within the final thematic section rather than presented as a standalone paragraph.
Green building — also known as green construction or sustainable building — refers to a structure and the use of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the entire life cycle of the building: from siting and design through construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. A green building design therefore involves finding a balance between constructing a home and maintaining a sustainable environment. It requires close cooperation among the design team, engineers, architects, and the client at every stage of the project. The practice of green building has expanded and complements the classical building concerns of utility, economy, comfort, and durability.
Sustainable development refers to the ability to achieve continuing economic prosperity while simultaneously protecting the planet's natural systems and providing a high quality of life for people (Katz, 2012). Green building is closely related to sustainable development because it promotes building practices that conserve energy and water resources and preserve open spaces through brownfield development. This paper examines how green building and sustainable development came about, highlights the impact they have had on the environment and the market, and explores the concepts of energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, and waste and toxic reduction.
Companies and individuals have been building green homes for close to thirty years, and throughout that time the green movement has grown steadily. The history of green building, however, dates back even further than the 1970s. It was during the middle of the industrial revolution that Henri Becquerel observed how solar energy could be transformed into electrical energy — a process now known as photovoltaic power. During the 1800s and early 1900s, a number of solar plants were built to harness energy from the sun for steam power. In the 1950s, solar energy was used on a small scale, paving the way for solar panel solutions to emerge twenty years later. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, the initial concept of green building moved from theoretical research into practical reality. Designers and builders began searching for ways to reduce buildings' and homes' reliance on fossil fuels. Solar panels were used to make homes more environmentally friendly, though in small numbers due to their high initial costs (Patsalides, 2011).
From that point forward, developers constructed solar panels that were less expensive and more efficient, making solar energy a mainstream reality. During this transition period, both designers and consumers were asking whether solar panels could make buildings more efficient, reduce negative environmental impact, and lower energy bills — and what further steps could be taken to build even greener homes. Today, green building involves much more than the use of solar panels. Beyond harnessing the sun as an energy source, green builders and designers have examined a wide range of issues to ensure that construction is ecofriendly. The environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s also played a significant role in spurring experiments with contemporary green building (Patsalides, 2011).
Green building is not only about costs; it also offers economic, environmental, and societal benefits. Green building practices are aimed at reducing the environmental impact of construction. The first rule is that the greenest building is one that does not get built at all. The second rule is that each building should be as small as possible. The third rule is to avoid contributing to urban sprawl, even when the most environmentally sound and energy-efficient methods are used in design and construction. Green building brings together an array of practices, skills, and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impact of buildings on the environment. Its emphasis is largely on taking advantage of renewable resources — such as sunlight through active solar, passive solar, and photovoltaic equipment — and on the use of plants and trees through rain gardens, green roofs, and measures to reduce rainwater runoff.
Green or planted roofs offer significant economic benefits by lowering roof temperatures, thereby reducing the cooling tonnage required and lowering costs for neighboring buildings. The environmental benefit of planted roofs includes a reduction in stormwater runoff. The societal benefits of green building include physical and aesthetically pleasing effects for both occupants and their neighbors. The careful use of materials helps reduce energy consumption during the manufacturing process and protects the health of building occupants. Careful construction techniques also help reduce the amount of construction waste reaching landfills by as much as 95%. Reusing existing structures reduces resource consumption while preserving architectural heritage. Careful siting can make buildings perform better from both a human and environmental perspective: proximity to public transportation helps reduce pollution and improves the quality of life for occupants (GSA, 2009).
Green building is among the most important trends in construction for underwriters and claims managers. Construction costs are being affected by turmoil in financial markets as well as active storm seasons. It was projected that by 2015, 40–48% of new nonresidential construction would be green, meaning that a substantial share of new building activity would meet green standards. In 2012, 41% of all residential building starts were green, compared to just 2% in 2005. The U.S. construction market accounts for approximately 5.5% of GDP, including commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructure construction. Energy efficiency investment has the potential to grow from $20 billion to $150 billion, meaning that close to one million jobs could be created (Loveland, 2013).
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