BUILDING GREEN
We work and live in buildings which have a substantial impact on the natural environment, the economy
and on our own health. The construction and operation of our built environment represents a
considerable part of the total consumption of energy, raw materials and water. The built environment
is also one of the main producers of greenhouse gases, of solid waste and water contamination. We
have lost the wisdom of our ancestors, who knew how to live in unison with the natural environment.
The evidence of our contemporary estrangement with the planet Earth causes imbalances that are
becoming ever more evident with time.
Nevertheless, there is a chance for change: scientific and technological innovation provide individuals
as well as companies that are sincerely concerned with the environment numerous design and
operational options that minimize negative impacts on the environment while maximizing the economic
potential.
Building green should not imply extraordinary expenses on radically innovative technologies. The idea is
rather to look for a holistic solution that analyzes and intelligently interconnects all aspects of a
construction, including architectural design, water and energy efficiency, lighting and interior design.
By correctly integrating all these elements, one optimizes construction and operation.
Our constructed environment has a direct impact on our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. There
is substantial scientific evidence that poor interior air quality is directly related to deteriorated
concentration and general working potential of users.
The greatest challenge for our generation is finding the most intelligent way to build.