How can you design a green building that is resilient to changing environmental conditions?

1 Site selection and analysis

The first step in designing a green building is to choose a suitable site and conduct a thorough analysis of its characteristics, such as topography, soil, hydrology, vegetation, climate, and exposure. The site selection and analysis can help you identify the opportunities and constraints of the location, and inform your design decisions. For example, you can orient your building to maximize natural light and ventilation, avoid flood-prone areas, preserve existing ecosystems, and integrate with the surrounding context.

2 Passive design strategies

Passive design strategies are techniques that use natural elements and processes to regulate the indoor environment, without relying on mechanical systems. They can help you reduce the energy demand and carbon footprint of your building, while enhancing the comfort and health of the occupants. Some examples of passive design strategies are insulation, thermal mass, shading, natural ventilation, daylighting, and solar heating. By applying these strategies, you can create a green building that can respond to the variations of temperature, humidity, and light throughout the year.

3 Active systems and technologies

Active systems and technologies are devices and equipment that provide essential services and functions to your building, such as heating, cooling, lighting, water supply, and waste management. They can complement the passive design strategies and improve the performance and efficiency of your building. However, they also consume energy and resources, and generate emissions and waste. Therefore, you should choose active systems and technologies that are renewable, low-carbon, low-maintenance, and durable. For example, you can use solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal pumps, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and composting toilets.

4 Material selection and use

The materials you use for your building have a significant impact on its environmental and social sustainability. They affect the embodied energy, life cycle assessment, recyclability, and biodegradability of your building. They also influence the indoor air quality, fire safety, and acoustic comfort of your building. Therefore, you should select and use materials that are locally sourced, recycled, reused, renewable, non-toxic, and low-emission. For example, you can use timber, bamboo, straw, hemp, cork, stone, brick, concrete, steel, glass, and plastics.

5 Structural design and resilience

The structural design of your building determines its strength, stability, and durability. It also affects its resilience to external forces and hazards, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and landslides. Therefore, you should design your structure to withstand the expected loads and stresses, and to resist the potential impacts and damages. You should also consider the redundancy, ductility, robustness, and adaptability of your structure. For example, you can use frames, trusses, arches, domes, shells, cables, and membranes.

6 Operation and maintenance

The operation and maintenance of your building are the ongoing processes that ensure its functionality, efficiency, and quality. They also influence its environmental and social sustainability, as they involve the consumption and management of energy, water, and materials, and the provision and improvement of services and amenities. Therefore, you should operate and maintain your building in a way that minimizes its environmental impact and maximizes its occupant satisfaction. You should also monitor and evaluate its performance and feedback, and implement changes and improvements as needed. For example, you can use smart meters, sensors, controls, audits, surveys, and ratings.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?