CT Logo

Green construction technology has become one of the hottest trends in construction. Green construction technology makes buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable, so they have a lower carbon footprint and a reduced impact on the environment.

The primary way that green technology benefits are achieved is through greater energy efficiency. In new buildings, green building construction plays a role in every phase of development. Every aspect of the structure, including siting, design, construction materials, and the systems used to run and maintain operations are chosen to be as sustainable and energy-efficient as possible.

Green Building is generally defined as a building, which utilizes less external energy and is capable of producing an ample amount of energy for its intended use itself without causing harm to the environment.

A Green Building depletes the natural resources to the minimum during its construction and operation.  The aim of a Green Building design is to minimize the demand for non-renewable resources, maximize the utilization efficiency of these resources, when in use, and maximize the reuse, recycling, and utilization of renewable resources. It maximizes the use of efficient building materials and construction practices; optimizes the use of on-site sources and sinks by bio-climatic architectural practices; uses minimum energy to power itself; uses efficient equipment to meet its lighting, air-conditioning, and other needs; maximizes the use of renewable sources of energy; uses efficient waste and water management practices; and provides comfortable and hygienic indoor working conditions.

Zero energy buildings, or net-zero energy buildings, are constructed to successfully operate independently of the normal electric grid. In other words, they provide their own power through renewable energy. The "zero" refers to both energy consumption and carbon emissions -- a zero energy building consumes zero net energy yearly and produces no carbon emissions since it relies on renewable energy supplies like solar or wind power.

Building a zero energy home is obviously no easy task. It's not cheap, either, but some governments are slowly moving to support zero energy construction with subsidies to incentivize the green environmental benefits. Zero energy is still a niche form of construction with high up-front costs, but the reward is a perfect blend of technology that barely affects the environment compared to today's average construction project.

Solar power has been increasingly exploited as sustainable construction technology. In green construction, it can be utilized in two ways, one pertains to active solar energy and another is passive solar power.

Active Solar Power – This system is the use of functional solar systems which absorb the sun's radiation to provide for heating and electricity provision. It helps in reducing the need for gas or electricity. While the upfront installation costs are higher in such systems, in the long run, it saves on energy bills and also aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels.

Passive Solar Power – This design uses the sun's rays to warm homes through the strategic placement of windows and the use of heat-absorbing surfaces. The windows allow energy in and the heat absorbed reduces the need for warming the house during cold winter months.

The use of biodegradable materials is an eco-friendly means of making construction sustainable. Most traditional construction materials lead to the accumulation of waste products and toxic chemicals, the majority of which take hundreds of years to break down. And even after they degrade, they contaminate and harm the environment.

Readily biodegradable materials such as sustainably sourced bamboo, timber, mycelium (a kind of fungus), classic linoleum, and organic paints don't have to end up in a landfill. They limit the negative impacts on the environment as they easily breakdown without releasing toxins. The biodegradable materials used for building foundations, walls, and insulators are also forming part of sustainable construction technologies.

The use of green insulation has proved out to be a sustainable construction technology as it helps in eliminating the need for high-end finishes made from non-renewable materials. Green insulation utilizes recycled material that is cheap, readily available, and still represents the latest in insulation technology. Cellulose (mostly from shredded newspaper), recycled denim, and even some plant and waste materials are now used for insulation. The use of Porotherm Bricks is one great option as these bricks contain natural insulation properties. Having a properly insulated building will reduce energy costs.

Biomimicry is the concept of copying designs and innovations found in nature. The concept of biomimicry is all about the ideas inspired by nature and it has been offered as an optimal solution for the conflicts between nature and human activities. As it said, nature is an excellent and final response to the problem of sustainability. Therefore, architects have employed a biomimicry approach in their designs to minimize buildings' negative impacts on the environment and reach overall architectural sustainability.

Biomimicry provides a wide range of solutions for structural efficiency, water efficiency, zero-waste systems, thermal environment, and energy supply, which are essential for any sustainable building design. Biomimicry in construction helps reduce the direct impact a structure has on the environment. It also improves the quality of life for the people and animals surrounding these buildings.

Smart Appliances

Homes and commercial buildings consume the world's most energy. This is why it has necessitated the use of smart appliances as part of sustainable construction technologies. The durable construction technologies emphasize the installation of energy-saving and efficient appliances. 

Appliances like a micro oven, Smart Grid refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines are examples of such sustainable technologies. The technology is aimed at establishing zero-energy homes as well as commercial buildings.

Cool roofs are one of the sustainable green design technologies that aim at reflecting heat and sunlight away. It helps in keeping homes and buildings at the standard room temperatures by lowering heat absorption and thermal emittance.

The typical design of cool roofs makes use of special tiles and reflective paints which absorb less heat and also reflect most of the solar radiation away. Cool roofs help in minimizing the dependence on air conditioning systems, which in turn helps in reducing the energy use and lowering greenhouse gas emissions that result from power for heating and cooling.

Electrochromic smart glass constitutes one of the techniques used in sustainable construction. It uses a tiny burst of electricity to charge ions on a window layer and change the amount of light it reflects.

Electrochromic glass (a.k.a. smart glass or dynamic glass) is an electronically tintable glass used for windows, skylights, facades, and curtain walls. Electrochromic glass, which can be directly controlled by building occupants, is popular for its ability to improve occupant comfort, maximize access to daylight and outdoor views, and reduce energy costs.

The tint of electrochromic glass is controlled by the amount of voltage applied to the glass. Applying a low voltage of electricity darkens the coating as lithium ions and electrons transfer from one electrochromic layer to another. Removing voltage, and reversing its polarity, causes the ions and electrons to return to their original layers, causing the glass to lighten and return to its clear state.

Conservation of water is one of the basic principles of green building. The large quantity of water is consumed in daily need and for other activities. Utilizing water-efficient plumbing fixtures like ultra-low flow toilets and urinals, waterless urinals, low-flow sinks, low-flow showerheads, and water-efficient dishwashers and washing machines reduces water consumption.

There are several water-efficient technologies used, which are all part of sustainable construction technologies. Essentially, the technologies encompass the re-use and application of efficient water supply systems, including the use of processes like dual plumbing, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and water conservation fixtures. 

Dual plumbing, for instance, lowers sewer traffic and enhances the potential of reusing water on-site. On the other hand, rainwater harvesting provides water for multi-purpose usage, and it can also be stored for future use. These methods ensure that water is adequately managed, recycled, and used for non-potable purposes like washing cars and flushing toilets.  

In general, water-efficient sustainable construction technologies lower water usage and help in water conservation.