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Green Architecture is a term used to describe economical, energy-saving, environmentally-friendly, sustainable development.

Green architecture is becoming increasingly mainstream with the lots of eco-friendly architectural innovations and simple of-the-shelf construction products to help ‘green’ living. Green architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.
An eco-friendly space requires planning as much as commitment towards a better future

Principles of Green Architecture

Energy Efficiency

• Design passive solar energy facilities use energy efficient appliances, solar panels and heat pump technology
• Use of computer sensor controlled energy saving devices; like automatic dimmers for lighting and occupancy sensors to adjust air-conditioning automatically
• Centralise plumbing, insulate cold/hot water piping
• Using energy saving lighting like CFL
• Install Monitor Power Management Software
• Use of low power computers

Water Conservation

• Collect rainwater for external use i.e. garden/washing car
• Use water conserving appliances including toilets, shower, taps, washing machine and dish washer  eg. Low flow faucets, water saving dual flush tanks
• Reduce irrigation and surface water run-off

Low Environmental Impact

• Include water permeable landscape features
• Enhance native bush and create edible gardens
• Establish home recycling bins and garden composting

Building Materials

• Certified Wood - Specify wood from certified sustainably managed forests.
• Select low volatile organic compounds (VOC) and toxic-free paints, finishes and adhesives
• Use materials that permit the building membrane to ‘breathe’
• Apply natural floor surfaces such as tile, timber and linoleum
• Use sustainable solid timbers rather than processed composite sheet materials
• Use inert gypsum-based wall and ceiling linings.
• Rapidly Renewable Materials such as straw, bamboo and some woods

Sustainability

• Think globally -act locally
• Reduce CO2 production, ozone and resource depletion, rainforest destruction and erosion
  encourage environmentally-friendly technologies and sustainable solutions

Waste Reduction

• Select materials using recycled components
• Design for re-use and recycling
• Control and reduce waste and packaging
• Reduce resource consumption.

Health and Wellbeing

• Meet the basic physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the occupants
• Consider healthy lighting, colour and sound, controlled temperature and humidity and good indoor air quality to enhance the living environment
• Reduce formaldehyde emissions and use pollution fighting indoor plants
• Create an asthma aware home i.e. no fitted carpets, reduced ledges, low-allergen gardens
• Apply an integrated wiring system for lighting, power, security, fire alarm and audio facilities
• Design a safe and user-friendly space

Economic Performance

• Consider maintenance of the space plus initial ‘running costs’ pay-back period
• Strive for a balance between ecological integrity and economic viability.

Community Support

• Use local resources, skills, labour, crafts and art
• Consider local facilities and utilities