Green building refers to the practice of designing and constructing buildings in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient manner. This includes minimizing a building's impact on the environment, improving occupant health and well-being, and reducing operating costs. Green buildings are defined as ones that either have green walls, green roofs, green interior décor or are surrounded by green infrastructure. The interiors and exteriors of such structures often include herbs, grass, algae, vegetables, and other leafy green or micro-green plants. This article highlights how green buildings can help with climate change, as there is no doubt that green infrastructure will help the environment.

Reduced energy consumption and urban temperatures

• Coating the roof of an enclosed structure with greenery can save heating costs by as much as 5% in the winter and cooling costs by as much as 33% in the summer.
• Without air conditioning, environmentally conscious designs help keep rooms at a more consistent temperature throughout the day.
• The dark surfaces of cities soak up and emit the sun's heat, resulting in greater air temperatures than the rural regions around them. The impact of urban heat islands can be mitigated with the use of green buildings.
• If only 7% of a city's rooftop is covered with plants, according to simulations, urban temperatures can be lowered by 2° C during the summer. Covering just half the roof with greenery has been shown to lower summertime temperatures by roughly 1° C, even in places with milder temperatures.

Reduced emissions

• Adding greenery to an indoor environment, such as in the form of a green wall, vertical garden or even just a few potted plants, can help cut down on background noise and improve concentration. Rock wool, soil, and vermiculite, as well as plants on yards and roofs, all work to dampen echoes outdoors.
• The Green Building Council of Australia conducted a study showing that a green-certified building produces 62% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the average Australian building. This is accomplished by installing green walls, roofs and other low-energy interventions such as using LED lights, installing more windows to increase the amount of daylight, and reconfiguring ventilation systems to restore heat.

Enhanced air quality

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental threats to human health. Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less, and airborne microorganisms can all result in considerable respiratory sickness at high enough concentrations. However, greenery can help reduce the concentration of all of these pollutants.
• Moreover, researchers have found that compared to a room without houseplants, one in which plants occupied one-third of the floor space had fewer mold spores and bacteria. Humidity produced by houseplants decreases the chance of scratchy or itchy throat, dry eyes and chapped lips in arid regions.

Improved energy efficiency and water conservation

• Green buildings often incorporate energy-efficient technologies and use renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. These features not only reduce operating costs but also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
• Eco-friendly construction also focuses on water efficiency. The materials and systems employed should contribute to a decrease in building and outdoor landscaping water use. For example, some green buildings utilize rainwater harvesting systems to conserve water resources and reduce the strain on municipal water supplies.

Promoting green cities

• There is a correlation between green buildings and green communities. Sustainability and the development of greener, healthier urban environments are high on the agendas of smart cities across the world. In order to decrease their overall influence on the natural world, members of green communities consider and address several aspects of the built environment. Reduced water use, more green space, and thoughtful city and community design are all ways to lessen human impact on the environment.
• Green buildings have the most influence and help move society in the direction of a healthy tomorrow when they are located in green communities. These communities encourage sustainable practices and provide a supportive environment for residents to adopt green lifestyles, leading to a more cohesive and environmentally conscious society.

Conclusion

Green buildings help combat climate change by reducing emissions, urban temperatures, and energy consumption and increasing efficiency and water conservation, which in turn reduces the overall carbon footprint of the building and its occupants. This is important because buildings are responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing accessibility of internet of things technology, there are several options for "greening" both existing and newly constructed structures. Sometimes these modifications are substantial and need extensive alterations. On the other hand, sometimes you need to take more sophisticated measures to improve processes, people and things. Greening a building is good for everyone involved, including tenants, the planet and the bottom line of the building's owners and operators.