Building green is a subject that’s on a lot of people’s minds, but few of us know how to go about it. Just what makes a building green, and what are today’s architects and engineers doing to improve the environmental friendliness of the structures they build. Here’s a look at some of the most important elements in green building design, and how they’re accomplished.

The most important criteria when evaluating a green structure is energy efficiency. Use of environmentally friendly and recycled materials is certainly important, but the majority of a structure’s environmental impact will arise not during its construction, but rather during its years of use. Just what constitutes energy efficiency is a subject of great debate, so individual research is required to decide what is most important to you.

One helpful scale for measuring energy efficiency is an established hundred-point scale by whose ratings similar structures can be compared. Furthermore, if structures rate at above 75 on this scale, they can qualify for the EPA’s Energy Star rating more commonly associated with appliances. One helpful tool in this process is the Target Finder, an EPA guideline for both constructing energy efficiently as well as improving efficiency later.

By entering an estimated energy consumption, a performance rating on the system’s construction is generated. Excellent examples of green design are eligible for special recognition by the EPA.

One key tool for success at green building is sound policy with simple, standardized metrics for all aspects of the design and construction process. Such metrics make it possible to not simply meet code, but also to aim for more aggressive and greener outcomes by attaining stricter energy standards.

Be sure to evaluate your progress toward the target during the process, a step which many organizations forget. This feedback loop will result in a greener outcome that, in general, conserves water and energy while employing environmentally sound materials and construction methods.

Green building is a complex area of study. To do so well and efficiently, it is essential to learn as much about the subject area as you can in order to make effective decisions with the greenest outcome.

Author: Jerry Dyess has been in the Commercial Energy business Texas Electric news for many years.

categories: green energy,home building,design,engineering