What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Buildings?

Jim Graham
July 15, 2022


It has been a common standard to hear people talking about going green these days. Either you have decided to go vegetarian, or you want to take it to the next level by reusing old items before recycling them. If this term is new to you, you probably wonder what it means. Going green means that you have to be more environmentally friendly. But how is going green associated with green buildings? Here, we will explore what green building is and its advantages and disadvantages to make you understand it better.

What are Green Buildings?

Green buildings refer to those structures built without any negative impacts on the environment. With green buildings, we can preserve our natural resources. At the same time, we can help reduce and work towards eradicating negative impacts on our environment and climates.

Numerous terms have been used to describe green buildings, including high-performance and sustainable buildings. Sustainable buildings are more than just the walls of the buildings. It expands to design, land use, site planning, and maintenance. However, its major responsibility is to minimize the impact of building pollution on people’s health and the environment. The following are some of the important pointers that you have to consider:

  • Its plans should include the use of renewable energy such as solar panels.
  • It should use heat, water, power, and other resources efficiently.
  • The quality of indoor air should be above the general standard.
  • It must practice the principles of recycling, reusing and other practices to help in minimizing pollution and waste generation.
  • Its plans must incorporate the maintenance and improvement of the sanctity of the environment when it comes to its construction, design, and operation.
  • The structure must utilize proper, non-toxic, and sustainable materials.
  • It should have a versatile design to ensure that it can adapt to the changing environment.

It is worthy to note that not all green buildings all over the world have the same requirements. The method of creating green buildings varies depending on various factors such as the types and ages of the buildings, the specific traditions and cultures, and economic, environmental, and social preferences. Another important factor to consider is the climate conditions.

Why Choose Green Buildings

You will be in denial if you refuse to accept that the way the world is evolving, the earth will no longer be sustainable at some point. In the long run, we will lose our natural resources, and the economy will likely get imbalanced. This is the main reason why green buildings are essential. Conserving our natural resources is the most important objective of an ideal green building.

Research in the United States shows that 38% of carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings. One of the greatest benefits of green buildings is improving and minimizing these air emissions. Aside from this, green buildings also have other benefits such as conservation of resources, reduction of operating costs, and improvement of water and air quality. Below are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of green buildings.

Advantages of Green Buildings

Evidence shows that green buildings’ social, economic, and environmental benefits are unrivaled.  Although it is considered costly, this idea is dismissed because of its enormous advantages, which have helped achieve global results, including climatic change and many more. The following are the reasons why choosing green buildings is a must.

  • Improved Health

Green buildings can greatly help in improving the environment including providing fresh air to the residents of the building. As a result, these residents can enjoy better health since there is less water and air pollution risk.

  • Cost-effective

Studies show that investing in green buildings can lead to more savings in the future. One of the most important features of green buildings is to guarantee the efficient use of resources, which in turn allows consumers to save more by minimizing their maintenance and operational expenses on water, energy, etc.

  • Improved Efficiency

One of the greatest advantages of green buildings is water and energy efficiency. Energy efficiency can result in the reduction of the use of coal, which is an essential source of power. Instead, solar panels can be installed to use the sun’s energy.

  • Higher Market Value

Since they have lower maintenance costs, green buildings have a higher market value and an excellent return on investment. While its rent is quite high, its sale value is much higher.

  • Better Environment

According to statistics, approximately 4.2 million deaths per year are caused by air pollution, and environmental problems cause more than 3 million children. The good news is green buildings can effectively help in reducing pollution by efficiently using natural resources.

  • Conservation of Water

One of the most crucial wastages of natural resources in traditional buildings is the waste of natural rainwater. However, green buildings are designed in such a way that it can promote the harvesting of rainwater.

  • Preservation of Natural Environment

Green buildings can help preserve their natural habitat, which can promote healthy habits such as exercise, walking, and other physical activities.

Disadvantages of Green Buildings

It is a fact that green buildings are highly efficient. However, it also has some shortcomings.

  • Acquiring the Right Material

Sometimes it is hard to acquire the materials that are needed in constructing green buildings. Perhaps they are available in other parts of the world, and it will take some time and cost to ship.

  • High Initial Investment

Although you can gain great returns over time, you will need a high initial investment for your green building. There are a lot of people who desire to have a healthy life; however, they cannot afford the initial cost of green buildings.

  • Takes Time to Build

The construction of green buildings could take some time. A lot of time will be needed in the planning and design. Constructing a green building could likely take three years and even more since the surroundings must be considered.

  • Location

Another disadvantage of green buildings is determining the precise location. This is due to the climatic changes. As much as possible, sunlight will be needed in green buildings. Hence, choosing a location with fewer sunny days might be wrong since you will most likely run out of energy.

  • Uncontrollable Air Temperature

Sometimes the air temperature in green buildings is not easy to control. Green buildings use sunlight to generate power. Hence they are operated on heat, and the air can be controlled at a certain point.

  • Workers With Expertise are Hard to Find

Finding workers that are experts in constructing and repairing green buildings can be challenging. Since the industry is quite new, it would be hard for you to look for experienced workers that can help you with your problems in your green building.

Conclusion

Nowadays, green buildings are preferred by more contractors and would-be occupants. This approach is embraced by several cities all around the world. Studies have shown that occupants can enjoy healthy living in green buildings.

If you are located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and you are planning to construct a green building, then you can get in touch with Sun & Earth LLC at (575) 521-3537.

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It has been a common standard to hear people talking about going green these days. Either you have decided to go vegetarian, or you want to take it to the next level by reusing old items before recycling them. If this term is new to you, you probably wonder what it means. Going green means that you have to be more environmentally friendly. But how is going green associated with green buildings? Here, we will explore what green building is and its advantages and disadvantages to make you understand it better.

What are Green Buildings?

Green buildings refer to those structures built without any negative impacts on the environment. With green buildings, we can preserve our natural resources. At the same time, we can help reduce and work towards eradicating negative impacts on our environment and climates.

Numerous terms have been used to describe green buildings, including high-performance and sustainable buildings. Sustainable buildings are more than just the walls of the buildings. It expands to design, land use, site planning, and maintenance. However, its major responsibility is to minimize the impact of building pollution on people’s health and the environment. The following are some of the important pointers that you have to consider:

  • Its plans should include the use of renewable energy such as solar panels.
  • It should use heat, water, power, and other resources efficiently.
  • The quality of indoor air should be above the general standard.
  • It must practice the principles of recycling, reusing and other practices to help in minimizing pollution and waste generation.
  • Its plans must incorporate the maintenance and improvement of the sanctity of the environment when it comes to its construction, design, and operation.
  • The structure must utilize proper, non-toxic, and sustainable materials.
  • It should have a versatile design to ensure that it can adapt to the changing environment.

It is worthy to note that not all green buildings all over the world have the same requirements. The method of creating green buildings varies depending on various factors such as the types and ages of the buildings, the specific traditions and cultures, and economic, environmental, and social preferences. Another important factor to consider is the climate conditions.

Why Choose Green Buildings

You will be in denial if you refuse to accept that the way the world is evolving, the earth will no longer be sustainable at some point. In the long run, we will lose our natural resources, and the economy will likely get imbalanced. This is the main reason why green buildings are essential. Conserving our natural resources is the most important objective of an ideal green building.

Research in the United States shows that 38% of carbon dioxide emissions come from buildings. One of the greatest benefits of green buildings is improving and minimizing these air emissions. Aside from this, green buildings also have other benefits such as conservation of resources, reduction of operating costs, and improvement of water and air quality. Below are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of green buildings.

Advantages of Green Buildings

Evidence shows that green buildings’ social, economic, and environmental benefits are unrivaled.  Although it is considered costly, this idea is dismissed because of its enormous advantages, which have helped achieve global results, including climatic change and many more. The following are the reasons why choosing green buildings is a must.

  • Improved Health

Green buildings can greatly help in improving the environment including providing fresh air to the residents of the building. As a result, these residents can enjoy better health since there is less water and air pollution risk.

  • Cost-effective

Studies show that investing in green buildings can lead to more savings in the future. One of the most important features of green buildings is to guarantee the efficient use of resources, which in turn allows consumers to save more by minimizing their maintenance and operational expenses on water, energy, etc.

  • Improved Efficiency

One of the greatest advantages of green buildings is water and energy efficiency. Energy efficiency can result in the reduction of the use of coal, which is an essential source of power. Instead, solar panels can be installed to use the sun’s energy.

  • Higher Market Value

Since they have lower maintenance costs, green buildings have a higher market value and an excellent return on investment. While its rent is quite high, its sale value is much higher.

  • Better Environment

According to statistics, approximately 4.2 million deaths per year are caused by air pollution, and environmental problems cause more than 3 million children. The good news is green buildings can effectively help in reducing pollution by efficiently using natural resources.

  • Conservation of Water

One of the most crucial wastages of natural resources in traditional buildings is the waste of natural rainwater. However, green buildings are designed in such a way that it can promote the harvesting of rainwater.

  • Preservation of Natural Environment

Green buildings can help preserve their natural habitat, which can promote healthy habits such as exercise, walking, and other physical activities.

Disadvantages of Green Buildings

It is a fact that green buildings are highly efficient. However, it also has some shortcomings.

  • Acquiring the Right Material

Sometimes it is hard to acquire the materials that are needed in constructing green buildings. Perhaps they are available in other parts of the world, and it will take some time and cost to ship.

  • High Initial Investment

Although you can gain great returns over time, you will need a high initial investment for your green building. There are a lot of people who desire to have a healthy life; however, they cannot afford the initial cost of green buildings.

  • Takes Time to Build

The construction of green buildings could take some time. A lot of time will be needed in the planning and design. Constructing a green building could likely take three years and even more since the surroundings must be considered.

  • Location

Another disadvantage of green buildings is determining the precise location. This is due to the climatic changes. As much as possible, sunlight will be needed in green buildings. Hence, choosing a location with fewer sunny days might be wrong since you will most likely run out of energy.

  • Uncontrollable Air Temperature

Sometimes the air temperature in green buildings is not easy to control. Green buildings use sunlight to generate power. Hence they are operated on heat, and the air can be controlled at a certain point.

  • Workers With Expertise are Hard to Find

Finding workers that are experts in constructing and repairing green buildings can be challenging. Since the industry is quite new, it would be hard for you to look for experienced workers that can help you with your problems in your green building.

Conclusion

Nowadays, green buildings are preferred by more contractors and would-be occupants. This approach is embraced by several cities all around the world. Studies have shown that occupants can enjoy healthy living in green buildings.

If you are located in Las Cruces, New Mexico and you are planning to construct a green building, then you can get in touch with Sun & Earth LLC at (575) 521-3537.