Green Design Essay

1773 Words8 Pages
Green Design Green design is an approach to building which has become more popular in the last 25 to 30 years. Also known as sustainable design, green design is a method of design that minimizes the impact of building on the environment. Once thought of as unconventional and nonstandard, both regulatory agencies and the public alike are quickly accepting green design as a socially responsible and logical means of construction. In some cases “going green” can be a costly endeavor. Living green is a great idea to preserve our environment and natural resources, but unless you have the financial backing you might not fully achieve green living. New construction techniques have lead to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. Successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location. Green design can generally be organized into several areas of application. These areas include sustainability, materials, energy efficiency, land use, and waste reduction. “Green buildings are not only designed for present use, but consideration is also been given to future uses as well. An adaptable structure can be "recycled" many times over the course of its useful life. If specific technical issues prevent use of the building for a new function, then the materials used in its construction are designed to facilitate ease of recycling and reprocessing of materials” (Craven). Buildings consume a variety of materials in their construction. Green design reduces the dependence on resource intensive products and materials. Today, there are an increasing number of products available made from efficient, earth-friendly, or recycled
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