Green design is one of the solutions to improving the way we live in dense urban areas. It minimises the harmful effects of construction projects while improving the health and safety of occupants, the community and the environment. Sustainable design and green building practices can make a building more attractive inside and out, improving the comfort and quality of the indoor environment, improving community and global citizenship, enhancing biodiversity and increasing occupancy health.
Benefits of Green Design
Reduced environmental impact
The primary driver for green design is to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of human living on the environment. By choosing to build on sustainable sites or reusing existing buildings, the development of new land is minimised. The use of recycled, renewable, or sustainably harvested materials promotes more efficient use of our natural resources. In addition, green buildings have significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions and utilise relatively less potable water. Building initiatives such as green roofs are not only aesthetically pleasing but reduce energy costs by absorbing heat and providing insulation for buildings. Gardens and plants on green roofs remove air particles, produce oxygen and increase biodiversity.
Enhanced well-being of residents
Research shows that people who live and work in green buildings feel happier and healthier. The improved air quality and reduced exposure to toxins improve the physical and mental health of residents. They sleep better, are stressed less, and become more productive.
Moreover, residents of green buildings have a greater sense of community and better social relationships with their neighbours. This is likely due to their shared passion for advocating for sustainable living and caring for the environment.
Reduced operating and utility costs
The energy-conserving design of green buildings significantly reduces operating and utility costs. The World Green Building Council reports that green buildings around the globe can even conserve up to 50% in energy and 30% in water. This is due to the increased efficiency of the heating and cooling systems of green buildings. For residents, this translates to substantial savings on utility bills.
Iconic Green Design Buildings
One Central Park Sydney, Australia
This green column stands out among a sea of high-rise buildings and warehouses in the central business district of Sydney. But more than providing a beautiful visual respite, One Central Park contributes to minimizing the environmental impact of urban living in the city. The entire complex runs on a central tri-generation plant that provides low carbon electricity. Each apartment is also equipped with a smart metering screen for real-time monitoring of electrical, gas, and water consumption. Vertical gardens stretch up to 42-meters high covering a total of 1,100 sqm.
The public park at the heart of the precinct climbs the side of the floor-to-ceiling glass towers to form a lush 21st-century canopy.
Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy
Built in 2014, the Bosco Verticale has become an inspiration for the green building movement. It covers a 3,000-sqm urban space with 30,000 sqm of woodland and undergrowth spread around 44 storeys across two towers. Hundreds of trees and thousands of plants and shrubs have created a biodiverse habitat with numerous animal species.