According to Reuters, "North America’s buildings release more than 2,200 mega tonnes, or about 35% of the continent’s total…greenhouse gas carbon dioxide [emissions]. If the construction market quickly adopted current and emerging energy-saving technologies, that number could be cut by 1,700 mega tonnes by 2030.”
In addition to being environmentally friendly, green buildings are economical in the long run and are also healthier for inhabitants, according to the Reuters report.
Going green in the world of architecture has its own share of obstacles. R.K. Stewart, an architect, in an online interview highlighted some impediments to building green. According to him, the most common problem is the "cost” factor. Often, people shy away from the costs initially, but they have to be convinced that this one-time cost can save money for a lifetime. With ever-increasing energy costs, green buildings often work out as a cheaper option.
The other major obstacle is convincing people to change their choices and opt for green architecture. It is human nature to stick with something that is familiar to us. If you were to renovate your own house or are planning to get a new house, and the architect insists on going for a green building, your first reaction might be "Oh, it’s going to cost more” or "I don’t know how effective this technology is.”
Changing people’s perception can be one of the hardest things for any professional. One way of overcoming this challenge is by educating people of all ages about climate change and how green architecture can help in saving the planet. To this end, clear and thought-provoking information should be made accessible to the general public. The public must be convinced that this is the way forward. Even though at present green architecture is still in its developmental stage, it is a better choice than the traditional one.
It should not come as a surprise if the government in the future passes laws that require all new construction to be "green” and eco-friendly. In fact, this is the case in Los Angeles. According to an article in the Environment News Agency online, LA has recently passed green-building laws on new construction projects. According to the article, "new commercial and residential structures of more than 50,000 square feet will have to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The law also applies to major renovations.”
It is important that people understand how crucial climate change is and that it is a global problem that can be resolved only when everyone takes it seriously and does their bit to improve the situation. By opting for green building, we can reduce building-related emissions to a large extent. People need to take control of the situation now and respond to the crisis.
The biggest conclusion to draw from this is that "green architecture” is a positive attempt to handle the crisis generated by climatic change. People need to be sensitive towards the issue and should encourage such attempts to control the situation. So go green!
