The makings of healthy buildings

Cities generate more than 80% of all economic growth globally. As cities make up an integral part of society, how they are built has a significant effect on the natural environment.

Estimates of the United Nations suggest that cities are responsible for 75% of global CO₂ emissions, with transport and buildings in the city being among the largest contributors.

It is no secret that climate change is one of the many implications of the constant development of urban areas. Hence, today, numerous people, both in large-scale companies and individual consumers, are making conscious lifestyle choices and are co-creating a future built on sustainability.

In designing a sustainable community within a city, a number of factors contribute to the eco-friendliness of the infrastructure — enough for it to earn the title of a ‘green building’.

From planning, construction and operation, green buildings can also adapt to the environment as it changes and are developed using strategies that preserve precious natural resources, reduce negative impacts to the environment, and improve the overall quality of life of the inhabitants.

While many think that the job is done once a building is constructed, developers point out that buildings may stand for years but, at some point, buildings will be updated or replaced, and it is their job too to know what materials can be reused or recycled in the process.

In creating green buildings, some of the best practices of premier green-infra developers are their utilization of environmentally preferable construction materials, crafting of products that are or can be made with recovered materials, and selecting brownfield sites that have the potential for redevelopment.

Aside from the vigorous attempt to repurpose construction materials, green buildings also display top-of-the-line technology to curb energy consumption. Some of these are through installation of cool roofs (also known as energy-saving roofs with proper insulation), maximizing the use of natural lighting, and establishing energy-efficient rules and regulations for tenants to follow.

In a recent UN report, more than half of the world already lives in urban areas today, and by 2050, more than two-thirds of the global population of around nine billion is expected to live in cities, particularly in developing countries like the Philippines.

As water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself, built environment must be capacitated with an efficient use and maintenance of water resources.

Developers of green building projects consider how much water they will use during and after construction, utilize techniques that detoxify wastewater for re-consumption, and create a masterplan that can minimize the risk of flooding. Some green infrastructures also restore the natural waterflow by reconnecting their drainage systems to rivers and coasts.

As COVID-19 emphasized the importance of health now more than ever, the public looks for safer spaces within dense cities. While green buildings are good for the environment, developers also characterize them as healthy buildings that can positively impact the well-being and overall lifestyle of the occupants.

According to a Harvard study, healthy buildings must strive to meet the foundational criteria which cover everything from ventilation and air quality to lighting, views and physical security.

At present, with the use of integrated technologies, green buildings display some of the specified foundations — starting from minimizing the risk of harmful ground gases such as radon that may enter through building cracks, considering fire safe materials with flame retardants, establishing and maintaining good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), following biophilic and active designs, up to providing vegetated roofs.

However, it is worth noting that not all green buildings are or need to be the same as different countries and regions have distinctive climatic conditions, unique cultures and traditions, diverse building types and ages, and wide-ranging environmental, economic and social priorities.

The World Green Building Council, a non-profit organization made up of businesses working in the building and construction industry that aims to transform the built environment to make it healthier and more sustainable, underscored that any building can be a green building, whether it’s a home, an office, a school, a hospital, a community center, or any other type of structure, provided it includes the necessary features.

While green buildings may incur additional expenses to design and construct, as per experts, the energy savings alone will bring a return on the investment in about six years.

Architects, engineers and project managers know that sustainability is vital in any commercial or residential projects. They are aware that to deliver environmentally- and people-friendly designs is a task leaning towards a shared responsibility, yet, having buildings certified is also about gaining a competitive advantage in the current widening market.

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, there will be at least 40 megacities. And in 2030, the second-largest city in the world behind Tokyo is expected not to be in China, but in the Philippines’ capital — Manila.

With the country’s young population, demand for these green buildings is on the rise. More sustainable urban developments and structures are expected to be seen in the next few years that will vastly improve the living environment and restore the overall atmosphere of the city. — Allyana A. Almonte