Building "green"

Jazmyn Haley

January 26, 2018

Building Green

EXS 423 Organization and Administration of Sports Programs

Abstract: 

In today's world, there is massive population growth, which also means more houses, buildings, and more energy being used. With all of this energy being consumed and sources depleting, they have implemented green buildings that help us to reduce traditional energy consumption and also help to reduce pollution.

In Green Building, you build a structure that is designed to be ecological and resource efficient. To build a green building you have to consider parameters such as a sustainable site, water resources, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environment quality. They are built to be smart and sustainable buildings which will reduce our conventional energy consumption and increase renewable energy consumption. This will make our buildings eco-friendly. The building location and design is chosen in a way that minimizes site interruption. The natural surroundings of green buildings have a connection between the built and natural environment and also minimizes adverse impacts on the normal portion of the site. The site also increases the natural processes of evaporation and filtration by eliminating storm water runoff.

Some eco-friendly implementations put into green buildings are ideas such as, water reclamation systems, geo-thermal air conditioning, under-floor air distribution, solar energy, green power, renewable and low emitting materials, and storage and collection of recyclables.

As great as Green Building is, there are also some cons to it. In green building, the owners have to invest a lot of money into the project at the beginning of it, which could be very costly for them. There is also the possibility of construction being put to a halt because of insufficient funds, or not being able to find the eco-friendly materials that they need.

In traditional building there are many cons. One of these cons is impervious surfaces, such as cement pavement that prevent the water from naturally soaking into the ground and causing the water to rapidly run into the storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches. This can cause multiple problems such as downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, habitat destruction, sewer overflows, infrastructure damage, and contaminated rivers, streams, and coastal water.  

Pros of traditional building are that it's less costly because you don’t have to use the expensive eco-friendly and energy sufficient materials. It would also take less time because you wouldn’t have to look for or order the energy efficient materials needed for a green building.