Our planet has become more prone to natural disasters over the last few decades. This has led to a considerable increase in hurricane, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes. Global climate change is imposing a threat to the environment. Eco-friendly buildings help in incorporating sustainable practices in construction. 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. MP Birla is one of the best cement manufacturers in India. It produces OPC, PPC, PSC variety of cements for all construction works.
Ordinary Portland Cement is a high-quality cement made of gypsum and pozzolanic materials like fly ash and silica-rich earth. It is generally used for plaster, waterproofing, marine, and other mass concrete work.
Consider the features and insights of the most spectacular green buildings around the world. The Sun-Moon Mansion, in 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.
There is a major shift happening in the construction industry to use eco-friendly materials and energy efficient techniques. The focus is on the restoration and preservation of our environment. The aim of eco-friendly buildings is to preserve bio-diversity, reduce carbon blueprint and ensure sustainability.
