Green Buildings Have The Potentials Of Increasing Productivity And Improving Health Workers Wellbeing.
It has been recognized that, numerous benefits abound in the green building project. Such benefits include the presence of natural resources, less water and energy consumption. Others benefits attached to green buildings is the reduction of urban heat, self-energy production as well as increase biodiversity.
Findings from previous studies have shown that, the productivity level and healthy wellbeing of inhabitants of greenhouse buildings is greatly improved and that spending of time in a natural environment is very beneficial to those living even in cold atmospheres.
The cost of Green buildings ranges from 5 to 10 percent more than conservative buildings. As planners express worry over the cost of putting on such structures and their designs, findings has shown that the cost of building have impacted on the wellbeing of those residing in those buildings.
Ability to Save Energy
Green buildings describe those with lime attributes such as roofs, green interior decorations, green walls and generally green infrastructures that combine to make it serene. A resounding feature of these buildings is their contents such as grass, herbs, vegetables, algae as well as micro-green plants in both the interior and external parts of the buildings.
It has been observed that, uninsulated buildings with covered roofs with plants around its premises reduces by five percent the energy consumed in heating during the winter period and over 33 percent in summer and works effectively in saving money cost and the capability of reducing temperature fluctuations in daytime even in the absence of air conditioning system.
It is established that, cities have warmer temperatures than the conditions in rural areas based on the fact that, dark surfaces absorb sun rays when the heat is radiated while green buildings helps greatly in urban island heat reduction.
Modelling on computers have shown that, temperatures in summer periods can be condensed by 2C especially if seven percent of urban rooftops are green. In cities like Toronto and New York, buildings with over 50 percent of green covered roofs enjoys reduced temperature locally by 1C during summer.
Numerous benefits come with this dip temperature as attested by findings which revealed that, people living and working in high proportionate areas with green roofs are equipped with richer mental health, recover quickly from illnesses and injuries and are more active in work productivity.
Air Quality Improvement
Among top five identified risks to public health, indoor air pollution occupies a central position as presented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report also states that, high levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less) and airborne microbes can contribute to serious respiratory illness.
It is said that, there will be an increase in the surface area of green roofs and walls in downtown Toronto by 20 per cent and this could meaningfully reduce the air levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, PM10 and generate a savings of US$190,000 annually in terms of pollution removal.
Another study study showed that there were fewer mold spores and microbes in a room where houseplants covered one-third of the floor space compared to a room with no house plants. With this evidence, it is clear that plants also increase indoor humidity levels in dry climates, reducing the likelihood of dry eyes, itchy or scratchy throat or chapped lips.
Ability to recover fast
A recent study has revealed that, plants have the potentials of triggering faster recoveries by hospitalized patients. Evidently, a report by the Green Building Council of Australia found that hospitals with green infrastructure, such as an ornamental green wall, plants on every balcony and large trees around the building, reduced average hospital stays by 8.5 per cent, sped up recovery time by 15 per cent, reduced the rate of secondary infections by 11 per cent and lowered the need of pain medication by 22 per cent.
Also, buildings with plants help patients heal faster and also energize the doctors, nurses and other staff who work there and provide esthetic, acoustic and air quality benefits.
Lesser Emissions
Findings have shown that interior spaces with green walls, vertical gardens or potted plants can reduce noise levels, accordingly, they help occupants concentrate on their work while outdoor permeable surfaces, such as soil, rock wool and plants on buildings’ roofs and courtyards reduce echoes.
It is clear from the forgoing that; Green infrastructure has varied climatic benefits. A study by the Green Building Council of Australia found that by adding green walls, roofs and other low-energy interventions, such as using LED lights, adding more windows to increase the amount of daylight and modifying ventilation systems to recover heat rather than expelling it outside, a green certified building produces 62 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than an average Australian building.
To this end, time is ripe to advocate for green buildings to take Centre stage in improving well-being, air quality and carbon emissions.
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