Genuinely renewable materials are limited to those that will grow back, but there are plenty of material and fixture options that can improve a design's bid for green credentials Materials aren't the most important part of a green building.
Efficient use of power and water and having a sustainable site are. Materials, products and fixtures that help achieve these aims are the best way to get the specification of these details to make a difference.
To use Leed as an example, the categories of 'energy and atmosphere', 'water efficiency' and 'sustainable sites' add up to 64% of the accreditation weighting. 'Materials and resources' accounts for just 12%.
While the components are important, the whole package needs to be considered if measures are to be effective.
"There's a lot of talk about water and energy efficiency in buildings but there's a lot more to green buildings," said Samuel Keehn, Leed AP and environmental and sustainability manager at Energy Management Services (EMS). "Water and energy are important components but they're certainly not the whole package."
"Regardless of whether you're talking about Breeam, Leed, Green Star or whatever, there are five main components: First, is the site, which is about connecting people and creating density; water efficiency; energy efficiency; materials, which means using things that are locally sourced and/or recycled; and indoor air quality."
According to Keehn the easiest way to achieve sustainability in a building is to get everyone involved as early as possible.
"That is absolutely key," he said. " 'Stovepipe design' simply won't work for the industry. Stovepipe design is when you've got the architect doing his design, the MEP doing his design and the consultant doing a third one. Those guys need to be talking. They cannot have a vertical focus. They need to be having the same conversation; the earlier the better."
Keehn advises people to watch out for products making false claims.
"There are a lot of products that claim to be able to add green points but actually just add cost," he said. "The way we deal with it is to ask for documentation. If you don't have documentation that proves specific benefits, it's not green as far as we're concerned. If more consultants continue raising these questions, maybe the market will change."
David Guilabert Ortuno, planning director, Cemex explains it from a suppliers point of view.
"There is no Leed certification for suppliers; it is a building rating system not a company rating system," he said. "However, a company can position itself to be a supplier of materials that will help a project earn a host of different Leed credits."
But Tarana Daroogar, technical services manager for building materials provider Mapei, feels that the correct term is not Leed certified but 'Leed compliant'.
"There is often a misconception on this point. Products are often referred to as 'Leed compliant,' which means that they can contribute to the points required for the Leed rating or other green building certifications."
But with such pressure mounting in the region to become environmentally friendly and sustainable, are building materials manufacturers beginning to really go green and is the same pressure also driving some manufactures to simply 'green wash' their products?
"Absolutely," says Daroogar in response. "Many manufactures are responding to the requirements of the market in the introduction of 'green' products, however, we find that some manufactures are taking advantage of this opportunity and trying to label their products as green products, while it requires more detailed analysis of the actual application and conditions of use and also the manufacturing process involved."
But with more and more manufactures becoming responsible, coupled with a more educated market, there is very little space left for green washed products to survive. The economic downturn has had a catastrophic impact on the industry but along with the bad there is good and fake green products are set to be washed away.
Development of local standards is under way and regulations will eventually follow, but it is a process that takes time. The Saudi Green Building Council is a case in point. According to one of its founders, architect Sultan Faden, the group expects to finish its own version of Leed within a couple of years and will be specifically targeting the materials sector.
"Meanwhile we are establishing strategic partnerships with government and semi-government organisations in order to implement the green initiatives in their regulations," he said. "Saudi Arabia works in zones and each authority has control on certain districts and cities, so it is easier for us to implement our green initiatives through broader government bodies, rather than dealing with all the municipalities and sub municipalities.
Source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/585807-renewable-reusable-and-sustainable?start=2
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