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What is a Green Building?
by John Herbert, Kelcroft E&M Limited
Buildings significantly influence our daily lives and are fundamental to our way of life. Hong Kong, as the most vertical cities in the world, is famous for its spectacular high-rises and bright lights. However, the buildings which give Hong Kong its special character can have a considerable environmental impact says the HKGBC.
What is certain, our
buildings account for over a significant proportion of the energy
consumption, and GHG (Green House Gas) emissions, contributing to global
climate change, as well as local effects such as Hong Kong’s
rising temperatures, and the heat island effect in urban areas.
Hong Kong has over 70 million sqm of building accommodation comprising commercial and institutional, and residential units.
More than 63% of Hong Kong's carbon footprint is created from our buildings, and 89% of all electricity generated is used in buildings therefore we must adopt environmentally and sustainable practices to ensure long term sustainability.
We will also need to urgently and dramatically reduce our GHG (green house gas) emissions, carbon footprint and environmental degradation, to protect our environment before too late.
What
is a Green Building?
There is still no agreed definition of a green building. One definition from the HKGBC is a green building is an occupied structure that is environmentally sensitive and sustainable throughout it entire life cycle.
A Green Building would be:
- Energy efficient having a low carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions
- Low polluter, minimizing waste
- Good neighbors, with healthy and productive indoor and outdoor environments
- Sustainable, re-using and recycling materials, and conserving water
However, the Australian Green Building Council says a green building is one that incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate its negative impact on the environment and its occupants. Building green is an opportunity to use resources efficiently while creating healthier environments for people to live and work in.
A difference arises because different countries and regions have different priorities depending upon the local environment conditions. For example in areas subject to water shortage and drought, water conservation could be considered more important than energy consumption.
There
is no standard benchmark, for example, if a building development has 15%
lower energy consumption than the baseline case is that green? Or does
every aspect including waste, energy, water, etc. need to be 15% lower
to gain that label?
What are the environmental benefits of green buildings?
Buildings have been shown to produce more than 63% of carbon dioxide emissions in Hong Kong and globally the figure is approx. 40% and that is contributing to climate change.
Green buildings can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35% compared to traditional buildings. Furthermore, green buildings have lower energy use by 30- 50%, reduced waste output by 70%, and reduced water usage by 40%.
Any
other benefits of green building?
Businesses
and customers have become more socially aware, aware of the environment therefore many organisations now only take up a lease
agreement within a green building and that’s important
for speculative developments.
In addition
to lower environmental impact, owning or operating a green building
also promotes your business as environmentally sensitive, a key
opportunity to differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace.
Is there any Green Building Standard?
There
is no green building standard, comparison basis is used. To establish
if you’re building is green or not the environmentally
sensitive building is compared with an ordinary building. If it scores
better than an ordinary building in terms of less waste, less water,
less energy, etc, it can be certified green. In Hong Kong we use a
rating tool to compare base building and green building.
However,
since this is only a comparison between buildings, it changes overtime.
The goals for a green building today are different and are changing.
Every year, increasingly stricter standards and higher goals are set.
Do building funds prefer certified green buildings?
Yes, certification differentiates - and that adds value during the leasing and disposal.
Green Buildings Cost More?
Studies show that "green buildings" don't actually have to cost the earth, with an negligible increase of 1-2% above traditional methods. It is the perception of expensive green building industry that needs to overcome.
Sustainability is not an expensive proposition, best value solutions also have environmental and sustainability benefits.
Our Approach
Sustainability expertise is embedded at all levels, we don't require or support the notion that specialist Groups' work, 'sustainability' benefit from the network knowledge that operates across the firm. We approach every task understanding the road map to the goal dealing with tomorrows problems today.
Our Director John Herbert is also chairman of the Hong Kong Sustainable Development Forum (www.HKSDF.org.hk) a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable development and sustainability principles in Hong Kong.
Kelcroft's broad and experienced skill base offers you a comprehensive multi-disciplinary services, driving and supporting integrated scalable improvements in resource productivity in land, water, energy, materials, and waste.
We are at the forefront in supporting the formulation of new regulations and revisions to planning and building control which are necessary to move from research to implementation of these objectives. Kelcroft is at the forefront of developing specifications and management strategies for delivering effective sustainable development in all sectors of the built environment with a particular focus on delivery. A key element for sustainable development is vision, an enabler, to extend, to seek further improvements in the performance of existing assets, in a sustainable way.
The
sustainability goal is requires a multi-faceted approach. This
approach requires reducing the environmental impact, providing
sustainable buildings with lower embodied energy, and emitting as
little carbon as possible. Kelcroft's early involvement adds value to
the design
process, influencing building form, function and operation, and helping
to develop a holistic approach with the architect and other design team
members.