The built environment leaves a vast carbon footprint, accounting for a significant portion of global energy use, water consumption, and CO2 emissions. As environmental awareness and future consciousness gain traction in society, green architecture may hold the key to a sustainable tomorrow for buildings and people alike.
What is green architecture?
Green or sustainable architecture simply refers to buildings designed to create healthy living environments while mitigating adverse environmental impacts. This approach to design and construction prioritises environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, and the wellbeing of occupants. It aims to reduce the negative impact of buildings on the natural environment while promoting eco-friendly practices and healthy energy consumption through technology, for instance, real-time rendering solutions.
Visualising as you design with Enscape
Unpacking the benefits of green architecture
The concept of green architecture challenges architects to leverage technology solutions to produce innovative structures with minimal harmful effects on the ecosystem. This approach presents a number of benefits, especially with regard to sustainable living.
1. Environmental advantages
Existing residential and commercial buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of carbon emissions in the United States. New construction relies heavily on natural resources, such as wood, stone, metal, and water, further impacting the environment.
Green buildings use less energy, are made with sustainable materials, and minimise waste. These structures can even provide a net-positive environmental impact by generating their own power and enriching water reserves. LEED-certified buildings generate 50% less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional buildings.
2. Cost efficiency
Green buildings can reduce maintenance costs by 20% compared to traditional structures. Investing in green building retrofits can also cut down everyday operating expenses by up to 10% annually. These expenditure savings come from less waste, higher energy efficiency, and enhanced durability.
3. Increased asset value
Due to the increasing demand for sustainable living, green buildings have a 16% higher resale value than conventional structures. They also have higher occupancy rates, which translate to increased rental income for owners, thereby, offsetting the higher initial costs of incorporating environment-friendly features in construction projects.
4. Improved occupant wellbeing
Adopting sustainable building practices means improved indoor air and water quality, which can enhance inhabitants' health and general happiness. A good indoor environment in green commercial properties can also strengthen employee productivity, leading to better concentration and focus capabilities.
5. Visual appeal
Green architecture typically features lush, full appearances, offering a welcome contrast to the grey, dull tones of most modern city buildings. Some sustainable properties can even include natural greenery accents, such as walls made of plants and vines hanging over the edges to provide a fresher aesthetic appeal.
More plants in and around a building can also facilitate faster recoveries. Research has shown hospitals with green infrastructure can speed up recovery time by 15% and reduce the rate of secondary infections by 11%.
Greenery accents with vegetation assets
The role of real-time rendering in green architecture
Real-time rendering solutions have become a game-changer in architecture, enabling architects to create, visualise, and present their designs with vivid realism and interactivity. With these photorealistic visualisations, stakeholders can gain invaluable insights into the sustainability features and benefits of a project before construction even begins.
Here are four prominent ways real-time 3D rendering can facilitate green architecture:
Energy analysis
Architects can leverage real-time rendering to gain visibility into a building’s energy performance to identify opportunities for improved efficiency. A 'light view' rendering style, for instance, displays how much light will hit a surface through the representation of a heat map.
They can also simulate the integration of renewable energy systems, such as solar panels or wind turbines into a building’s design to measure their performance in reducing the structure’s carbon footprint.
Material selection
With real-time 3D rendering, architects can explore different building material options to evaluate their environmental impact. This helps them make informed decisions about selecting resources and insulation options that align with sustainable design goals.
Explore material options with the Enscape Material Library
Daylighting studies
Real-time rendering enables architects to visualise how the sun's angle impacts the building’s natural light, allowing them to make adjustments to maximise the benefits of daylighting. For example, they can analyse building orientation, shading, and window placements to get as much natural light as possible while minimising energy use for artificial lighting.
Virtual walkthroughs
Architectural visualisations make it easier for designers to communicate the green features of a building to the client and the public. These virtual walkthroughs allow stakeholders to see and understand how various design iterations impact a building’s sustainability and energy efficiency. 3D visualisations can also help educate the public about the importance of sustainable design and raise awareness about green practices in architecture.
Technologies used in green building and sustainable construction
Green architecture incorporates a number of eco-friendly elements and technologies, including:
Renewable energy sources: Solar panels and geothermal systems help ensure a clean energy supply for buildings. These renewables can also save households up to $2,500 yearly.
Green roofs: These roofing systems are wholly or partially covered with vegetation, providing enhanced insulation, noise reduction, and improved air quality. Green roofs also help reduce stormwater runoff, preventing erosion and overflowing sewers.
Biomass stoves and boilers: These heating systems rely on bio-based, sustainable fuel sources such as wood pellets and organic matter. In addition to lowering carbon emissions, using biomass stoves can also provide up to 22% tax credit rebates for the year.
Electrochromic smart glass: Using smart glass in windows, doors, and skylights can reduce a building's energy needs by 20%, making it a leading innovation for green architecture.
Water efficiency technologies: These encompass systems and methods for conserving water and minimising waste. Examples include rainwater harvesting systems, dual plumbing fixtures, and greywater reuse techniques.
With the global green building market projected to hit over $1.3 trillion by 2032, it’s only a matter of time until these sustainable technologies and techniques become the industry standards for new construction.
Examples of green buildings
Green constructions have become increasingly popular across the globe. One of the biggest examples is China’s tallest building — the Shanghai Tower. The building features a 33% green cover, earning the prestigious LEED Platinum certification as a result.
There’s 30 St Mary Axe, commonly known as The Gherkin, London’s first eco-friendly skyscraper. The building’s futuristic design lessens wind impact while maximising natural ventilation and consuming half the energy similar towers require.
ChildSafe's Harvey E. Najim Children and Family Center courtesy of Overland Partners
ChildSafe’s Salado Creek Campus was designed to incorporate nature to enhance healing. The design includes green roofs, healing gardens, and natural bioswales to resemble a park-life setting for children.
Sustainable design also plays a vital role in the emergence of intelligent cities. These structures utilise real-time rendering services to simulate the use of eco-friendly materials such as mass timber to mitigate environmental impact. As of 2023, 64 cities across 17 EU countries are in line for intelligent living upgrades.
Building green for a sustainable future
Green architecture helps buildings negate environmental impacts and create a cleaner, healthier environment for residents. However, collaboration is essential to making buildings truly environment-friendly. Architects, developers, engineers, and occupants must work together to enforce sustainable building practices for a better tomorrow.
