The G.R.E.E.N experience — Grand. Radiant. Empathetic. Energetic. Nourishing Experience
For a building to be considered GREEN it should be designed so that it saves energy and water. But by far the most important aspect to be considered is human life. And this is where the challenge lies.
It is undeniable that every single human being is entitled to a safer, cleaner, healthier place to live, work, and enjoy their activities.
Today, to create good, if not great architecture means that AEC professionals put a lot of thought and effort in their work through ambitious goals in:
- Efficient use of energy, water, and other resources
- Use of renewable energy
- Pollution and waste reduction measures, and the enabling of re-use and recycling
- Good indoor environment
- Use of materials that are non-toxic, ethical, and sustainable
- Consideration of the environment in design, construction, and operation
- Consideration of the quality of life of occupants in design, construction, and operation
- A design that enables adaptation to a changing environment
They must design a nature-driven, sustainable structural art. A building (core and shell) that goes well together with its inhabitants, as well does not create conflicts with nature.
So, for example, a LEED Building certification can be for all building types, from new construction to renovations or operations and maintenance. The rating is given as various green building strategies across several categories are achieved. A project can earn one of four LEED rating levels: Certified (40–49 points), Silver (50–59 points), Gold (60–79 points) or Platinum (80+ points).
Many countries across the world are experimenting with the Green Building Movement, creating a better place to live in. Ever since the Green Building Movement started, many buildings were considered GREEN in some way or another, but there are two buildings that deserve some attention:
- The David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, the first convention centre to attain Platinum-LEED certification. Considered the largest “green” building in the world, the Lawrence Convention Center effectively blends space, functionality, and flexibility.
- Another GREEN structure is the new One Bryant Park Tower Bank of America in Midtown Manhattan. The 55-story glass tower, designed by Cook + Fox Architects, has all the features that make it the first Platinum-LEED certification skyscraper in the world. The tower has a curtain wall made of low-E glass ( a glass that minimizes the amount of infrared and ultraviolet lights that come through it without compromising the amount of light inside the room) and heat-reflecting ceramic grit (a ceramic coating that increases insulation). It also has a thermal ice-storage tank in the building’s cellar that makes ice overnight, reducing demand on the city’s electricity grid.
The LEED building certification was created in 1993 but there are some divergences when the Green Building Movement has actually started. Some say it started on the First Earth Day, celebrated in April 1970, others say it was conceived right after the first big oil crisis, in 1973.
The actual day does not matter.
What really matters is that it has risen out of the need and desire for more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings.
