A green building

A green building is a built architecture that has a delicate balance with its surrounding environment. It means that during the whole life circle, it is environmental-friendly and efficient in energy consumption. According to China’s Assessment Standard for Green Buildingissued and implemented since 2015, Green buildings are those which saveresources (energy, land, water and materials), protect environment, and reducepollution in an optimal way, providing health, suited and efficient spaces tohumankind, and coexist harmoniously.

According to the WorldGreen Building Council, a ‘green’ building is a building that, in its design,construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and cancreate positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment. Greenbuildings preserve precious natural resources and improve our quality of life.

Criteria for a green building – e.g. see LEED orBREEAM rating tools

LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system is the mostwidely used green building rating system in the world. LEED certification, aglobally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, rate buildings introfour levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. It assessesa green building from aspects: sustainable sites, Water Efficiency, Energy& Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality andInnovation & Design Process.   

BREEAM (Building Research EstablishmentEnvironmental Assessment Method) is a British sustainability assessment methodfor masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises andreflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environmentlifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. It includesseveral sustainability categories for the assessment, Management, Energy, Health& wellbeing, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land use and ecology, and Pollution.