Gone are the days when natural disasters were a rare occurrence. We are living in the days where every day we hear the news of a flood, hurricane or earthquake. The damages that follows such disasters wreaks havoc in our lives. Tsunamis, tornados, hurricane, flood, earthquakes have become more frequent. Global climate change is imposing a threat to the environment and the inhabitants. The buildings being constructed in this period are using sustainable technology and eco-friendly architecture.
There are many organizations certifying eco-friendly standard ratings to a building. LEED is a voluntary certification that helps architects, designers and construction engineers to develop sustainable residential and commercial buildings. It involves the use of recycled, biodegradable and eco-friendly materials for construction. They focus on procuring the major source of energy from renewable sources like solar power, wind, and water. Rainwater harvesting is done to conserve water. Terrace gardens and green roofs are natural ways to reduce pollution, keep the building cooler and reduce the absorption of UV rays. Architects design buildings that have access to natural sunlight, which leads to less usage of artificial lighting. Planting trees and plants, installation of natural springs, bird feeders are economical ways to promote sustainability in any building complex and reduce pollution simultaneously. There are very few green buildings in India. ITC luxury chain of hotels have some LEED-certified buildings in the country. This serves as an inspiration to the F&B chains to incorporate sustainability practices in their daily business. The construction materials are carefully chosen to promote sustainability. The best cement for construction of green buildings is OPC and PSC. MP Birla is one of the best cement companies in India. It produces OPC, PPC, PSC variety of cements for all construction works.
Check out these buildings using green architecture and design: The Sun-Moon Mansion, in Dezhou, China is constructed in the shape of a sundial. It is the largest solar-powered structure in the world. The entire campus is powered by solar energy. It also features a solar-powered hot water supply, energy saving glass, and 50000 square feet of solar paneling. Talk about environmental-friendly tech giant, Apple Campus 2 in Silicon Valley, USA is one of the greenest buildings on the planet. Apple is considering powering the entire campus with 100 % renewable sources of energy. As a part of reducing carbon footprint in their campus, they have planted 7000 trees. This huge campus features office buildings, research center, conference areas, and restaurants.
Modern hotel chains are resorting to green architecture and eco-friendly construction materials. Most of the high-rise buildings are energy efficient and caters to the restoration and preservation of the surrounding environment.
