From the course: Green Building Concepts Foundations

Increasing demand for sustainability

From the course: Green Building Concepts Foundations

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Increasing demand for sustainability

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- Did you know that buildings consume three billion tons of road materials every single year? That's 40% of road materials globally. As the impact of buildings increases and the benefits are proven, green building design, construction operations are no longer a nice-to-have, but an expectation by many stakeholders. In the United States, buildings are responsible for 40% of primary energy use, 72% of electricity consumption, 39% of carbon emissions, and over 13% of drinkable water use. A study by the New Buildings Institute found that in green buildings average energy use intensities, that is, energy consumes per unit of floor space, are 24% less than in conventional buildings. It comes surprising to most that buildings are the number one cause of global carbon emissions. By understanding how to design, build, and operate green buildings, you can help reduce the negative impact of buildings on the environment significantly.

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