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Sustainable architecture, green architecture, sustainable building design, all mean one and the same thing — a concept or method of design that reduce the effects of a construction on the environment. This approach of building has been in existence and became more widespread in the past 25-30 years. The concept and the green revolution of today can actually trace its roots back to the 60’s social awareness and the ancient European designs of that time that were mostly found in Scandinavia.

Once thought to be nonstandard and unconventional, sustainable building design is rapidly becoming accepted by the public as well as the regulatory agencies as a social logical and responsible means of construction. New building techniques have evolved therefore with time which has lead to the development of ground breaking design concepts and use of materials. Certainly, a successfully designed green project encompasses a wide array of factors, ranging from careful consideration of location, climate, and function to the resourceful and responsible use of building materials.

As it stands, the ideas about sustainable architecture can be categorized into 5 major areas of application which include sustainability, materials used, efficient use of energy, efficient use of land, and waste reduction.

Sustainability

Building green does not only involve designing a structure for its present use but also for its future uses. A flexible building can be ‘renovated and recycled’ severally over its lifetime. If for whatever reason some technical issues of a construction prevent the main building to be used for a new function, the materials used in the building therefore should be designed in such a way that they will facilitate ease of reprocessing and recycling of the materials.

Materials

Typically, a building uses up various materials in the process of building. Green architecture minimizes the reliance on resource intensive materials and products and use earth-friendly, efficient, and recyclable materials.

Energy Efficiency

An equally crucial aspect of sustainable architecture is the incorporation of energy efficient conservation ways and mechanical systems. Sustainable buildings are designed in such a way that they will get rid of, or minimize the reliance on fossil fuels. Further, green designs help reduce waste by implementing viable solutions and sustainable energy strategies.

Land Use

The building orientation as well as the selection of a site equally has a crucial role to play in sustainable building design. Typically, a sustainable building will be located to utilize the environment and the climate. Such conditions have an impact on the efficiency of the society in general and of course the building.

Waste Reduction

A great amount of waste is produced by the mere process of building. Green architecture sees to it that modular systems of building, efficient material usage, as well as use of recycled products help reduce the amount of waste created. A truly green building would create very negligible amounts of waste during the building process and ultimately while in use. Therefore, the effect on the environment and on the resources is significantly reduced.