What Is Green Architecture?

Sustainable, green and ecological are all words associated with emerging architecture in the 21st century. But what exactly is it? More businesses and home owners are constructing green buildings, but why? Read on to learn about what green architecture is and what its functions and potential are.

Importance

Shelter is a necessary component for survival in this world. But like many other things created by humans, it has an impact on the earth. According to Daniel D. Chiras, in his book "The New Ecological Home," 85 percent of all new homes in the United States are framed with wood. If all the dimensional lumber used to build the 1.2 million new homes each year in the United States was laid end to end, Chiras says "it would extend 3 million miles -- to the moon and back six and a half times."
The United States is not the only country to use so many natural resources in architecture, not just in the construction of buildings and homes but burning fossil fuels to run them, which causes a frightening amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Many scientists believe this contributes to global warming. By implementing green architectural design that meets human needs while minimally impacting the environment, it is not only safer for the earth and its wildlife but for the human race's current and future health and longevity.

Features of Green Architecture

Truly green buildings are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a program developed and administered by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council. Buildings are LEED rated based on six categories: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency and the atmosphere, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. Buildings can be rated silver, gold or platinum. Buildings such as the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin, have incorporated north-facing clerestory windows to provide natural daylight in the center. It was built from local pines that had been planted by Leopold 60 years ago, which needed thinning. A recycled stone aqueduct captures rain water and feeds it to a courtyard garden. This was the first building certified by LEED as carbon neutral in operation and has a platinum rating.

Effects

In most cases, when a new building or home is constructed, the land is detracted from in some way and impacted harmfully. Green architecture strives to impact the surrounding land as minimally as possible and in some cases improve the land if possible. Architectural firms have developed over the last few years that are dedicated to green design, such as Jones & Jones of Seattle.

Considerations

Using local resources, local craftsmanship and utilizing what the geographical location has to offer is important in green design. Positioning a building to receive maximum sunlight to heat and illuminate is something to consider. Others are using post consumer or recyclable materials such as bamboo or stone for things like walkways, low-flush toilets, low-flow faucets and water-free urinals, low-emitting sealants, paints and other construction materials and using hydroelectric and solar sources for power. Proper recycling and waste management are mandatory for a green building.

Misconceptions

Green architecture is not just building a structure that is considerate of the environment. As Tracey M. Lewis-Giggetts comments in volume 19, number 6 of "Legacy" magazine, "To be a 'green' architect, you must have a sense of awareness that extends beyond human comfort to the protection and consideration of the environment without sacrificing human comfort altogether."

Expert Insight

Architect Allen Washatko, who worked on the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, says in an interview with "Legacy" magazine, volume 19, number 6, "The idea of sustainability is a natural extension of wholeness-based thinking and is integrated into every project [...] a building, to be truly continuous with its surroundings, needs to organically unfold from its biotic and social context." In this way, superbly designed green architecture echos its natural surroundings, such as the Squamish Lil'Wat Cultural Center in Whistler, British Columbia, which incorporates curved cedar planks resembling canoes of the native territory, large glass-paned walls supported by local Douglas fir and rocks to view the mountainous surroundings.

Resources

• Aldo Leopold Legacy Center
• Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center
• LEED