GREEN BUILDINGS (it was taken from ENGLISH LIVE: Noviembre 7 Tema: Creating green buildings)

Some would say that we are facing a global environmental crisis.We are using our earth's resources
faster than nature can replace them.Coal, petroleum, natural gas ... These resources take millions of
years to form naturally.We just can't replace them at the rate we are consuming them.But there is
something we can do.Buildings account for forty percent of our energy use.Heating them, cooling
them, lighting them... the water they use... the electricity.Even carpet-cleaning.All of this uses
energy.And the way our buildings are designed now, they're using this energy very inefficiently.But
there is a way to construct buildings which would save energy and even help the environment.It's
called 'green building' and it's based on a model for sustainable design.A sustainable design model
is one that aims to design things so that they are more similar to the natural environment; they use
natural resources efficiently and they produce less waste.Green buildings are less dependent on
non-renewable resources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.They use renewable energy like
water and wind as power sources.Some of these buildings even have a green roof!A green roof isn't
just a roof that's painted green; it's a roof which is designed so that it is covered with soil and
grass.It can reduce heat loss and energy consumption in winter.It can soak up rainwater to be used
for gardening and washing.It can even serve as a home for animals such as birds and insects.You
see, a green building doesn't just exist in the environment ... it becomes a part of the
environment.The BedZed, or Beddington Zero Energy Development, is a housing development in
England which was built using green design principles.The ninety-nine homes in BedZed are zero
energy buildings, which means they have a net energy consumption of zero over a year.They get
their energy from solar panels and tree waste.Tree waste!Can you believe it?That's tthe discarded
bits of trees - twigs, branches, bark - that would usually fall to the ground and rot.The tree waste is
used to fuel their power plant.Additionally, rain water is collected and reused.Residents of BedZed
can even participate in a car sharing program.It's a housing community which is very friendly to the
environment.You see, that's what sustainable design aims to be ... design which is environmentally
sensitive.It's the idea that human civilization is a part of the natural world and that nature must be
preserved if the human community is to survive.

“What we seek is a delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just world with clean water, air, soil and
power, that is economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed”.

William McDonough

(Preeminent Green Architect, designer, and author known for his work and sustainability)