What are common green building mistakes and how can you avoid them?

In the design of building enclosures, a very common mistake is to ignore the vapor permeance of insulating materials. In our drive to improve a building's thermal performance, we often sacrifice the building's moisture performance by selecting vapor-retarding insulation in a location that prevents an assembly from being able to dry out. Wet insulation does not perform well, so this mistake not only causes mold and rot concerns, it also defeats the original purpose of the added insulation (thermal performance). Without expert consultation and hygrothermal analysis, many well-intended designs end up causing premature material degradation, IAQ problems, and reduced energy efficiency.

Besides the sustainability of materials, some materials are less energy efficient. For example, for a building with lots of glass panels, the solar irradiance may causre the building heat load to increase. If the glass selection is incorrect, one might face a huge challenge in green building design.

Comes to the classic case when a person may question the existence of EV vehicles that if the charging happens with GHG emissions, are we truly going the low emissions way. In addition to the lifecycle and materiality assessment of the building, the assessment of the building material shall also be done.

Selecting the right materials is crucial in green building. Bamboo might seem like a sustainable choice, but be cautious – it can come with environmental drawbacks. Always research the life cycle and certifications of materials to ensure they align with sustainability goals. Look for hidden drawbacks and trade-offs to make informed choices.

Integrating a building into its environment starts with a deep understanding of the site and climate, essential for ensuring energy efficiency and sustainability. The most innovative green buildings are those that embrace their surroundings, using location-specific advantages to reduce their footprint. A successful green building feels like it was designed precisely for its patch of earth, contributing to its ecosystem rather than disrupting it

Overlooking the site and climate conditions can hamper a green building's performance. Factors like location, orientation, and vegetation can affect energy efficiency and water conservation. A building designed for one climate may not work well in another. Analyze the site thoroughly and choose design strategies suitable for its unique conditions to ensure maximum sustainability.

A frequent oversight in sustainable design is the assumption that all tenants will be equally committed to environmental stewardship and share the same sustainability goals. Regrettably, the projections made during the design phase are often overly optimistic, or it doesn't fully account for the diversity of businesses and their operational realities, and hence the actual energy consumption during the building's operation can differ significantly from initial expectations.

In the quest for green building, one might overlook the comfort of the occupants. Limiting fresh air intake and turning up the thermostat are quick ways to reduce building energy consumption. However, these might have indoor air quality (IAQ) as well as comfort issues. There were earlier phases of green building where occupants are unable to work at night due to lack of lighting (most lighting using skylights) as well as company limiting the occupancy of the building so as to save on building energy requirements. All these defeats the purpose of a green building.

Occupant behavior is the single biggest variable in building performance, whether it is as simple as leaving doors and windows open, not being given clear briefings on HVAC and lighting controls or even how the building was intended to be operated. Start with the occupants and the maintenance team, include simple, intuitive controls, embrace feedback on performance and expect to have to adjust how the building works in the first year.

Building on (pun intended) to Ivan's point, a way to address the common mistake of overlooking the users and occupants is to go beyond involvement in the design; you need to adopt programming/ engagement into the on-going use of of the building. In my experience, this has been a partnership between the maintenance/ops and key team leaders (business ops, chief of staff, etc). Here, the feedback loop can be brought back to users continuously, as well as create a space of additional sustainability initiatives to be incubated.

The sustainability of the green building depends on its M&E maintenance. If maintenance is not done, the state of the equipment would worsen overtime. One example would be Chiller Plant room. If maintenance is not done regularly, there might be refrigerant leaks and this will increase global warming. The lack of refrigerant will also cause the chiller to be inefficient. Similarly, the lack of operational control over green building will cause the initially designed green building to be much less green,

Don't forget that green building sustainability relies on proper maintenance and operation. Poorly maintained buildings lose efficiency, functionality, and durability, increasing costs and environmental impact. Develop a maintenance and operation program to ensure optimal building performance and longevity.

This is a common mistake that can be compounded by poorly executed green building rating strategies. It is essential that the Owner and Design team have a written set of sustainability goals at the outset and that these are measurable. Very often, an established green building rating system (LEED, BREEAM, Built Green, LBC etc) can support these goals by providing clear guidance or they may be a funding requirement. Unfortunately, they are sometimes seen as a list of measures that must be implemented without understanding the intent of each checklist item. These rating systems are fantastic resources but need to be used intelligently.

A frequent misconception is the belief that a 'green' building is entirely benign to the environment. In reality, many such buildings are better described as 'doing less harm.' Only a handful of green building rating systems, such as CASBEE, also evaluate the environmental "loading" of a green building. Presently, there's a growing shift among professionals toward the concept of 'regenerative buildings'—structures that not only minimize environmental harm but actively contribute to regeneration, going beyond the traditional scope of simply being green.

I think, it's imperative to recognize that this field is complex and multifaceted, where one-size-fits-all solutions often fall short. Certain practices, though popular, can inadvertently deviate from true sustainability, sometimes exacerbating the issues they intend to solve. We will provide a deeper exploration into how these pitfalls can be strategically avoided, ensuring that your green building initiatives not only comply with sustainability standards but also contribute meaningfully to the broader environmental objectives.