2.6 Sustainable Buildings

2.5.3 Sustainable Building Materials

Sustainable architecture often includes the use of recycled or non-virgin materials, such as reclaimed wood and recycled metals. The reduction in use of virgin materials creates a corresponding reduction in energy used in the production of materials. Often sustainable architects attempt to substitute old structures to satisfy new needs in order to avoid unwanted development. Reclaimed materials and architectural salvage are used when appropriate. Whenever older buildings are demolished, frequently good woods are reclaimed, renewed, and sold as flooring materials. Any stone of good dimension is reclaimed similarly. Many other parts are reused as well, such as windows, doors, hardware and mantels thus reducing the consumption of new products. Green products are usually considered to contain less VOCs and be better for human health and environmental health.

2.5.3 Waste Management

Waste takes the shape of spent or useless materials produced from households and commercial buildings, building construction and demolition processes, and manufacturing and agricultural industries. These materials are carelessly categorized as municipal solid waste, agricultural or industrial by-products and demolition or construction wastes. Sustainable architecture focuses on the onsite management of wastes, incorporating waste such as grey water for use on garden and landscapes, and reducing sewage by composting. These methods, when merged with off-site recycling and on-site food waste composting, can reduce waste from a house to a small amount of packaging waste.

2.6 SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

A sustainable building design is one that achieves high performance over the full life cycle, in the following areas:

• Minimizing natural resource consumption through more efficient utilization of nonrenewable natural resources, land, water and construction materials apart from utilization of renewable energy resources to achieve net zero energy consumption. • Minimizing emissions that negatively impact the indoor environment and outdoor environment, especially those related to indoor air quality, greenhouse gases, global warming, particulates and acid rain. • Minimizing discharge of solid waste and liquid effluents, including demolition and occupant waste, sewer and storm water apart from creating the required infrastructure to accommodate removal of wastes. • Minimal negative impact on site ecosystem. • Maximum quality of indoor environment, including air quality, illumination, thermal regime, acoustics and visual aspects so as to provide comfortable and satisfactory psychological and physiological perceptions.