The Ultimate Guide To Building Right: Proven Strategies For Success
How can we ensure that our buildings are sustainable, resilient, and equitable?
Build right is a comprehensive approach to designing, constructing, and operating buildings that minimizes their environmental impact, maximizes their resilience to climate change, and promotes the health and well-being of their occupants.
Build right is not just about using green building materials or installing energy-efficient appliances. It is about creating buildings that are truly sustainable, from the way they are sited and designed to the way they are operated and maintained.
Build right buildings have a number of important benefits, including:
- Reduced environmental impact
- Increased resilience to climate change
- Improved occupant health and well-being
- Lower operating costs
- Increased property value
Build right is an essential approach to creating a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment.
Build Right
Build right is a comprehensive approach to designing, constructing, and operating buildings that minimizes their environmental impact, maximizes their resilience to climate change, and promotes the health and well-being of their occupants.
- Sustainably
- Resiliently
- Equitably
- Efficiently
- Healthily
- Cost-effectively
- Sustainably
These seven key aspects are essential to creating buildings that are truly sustainable, resilient, and equitable. By considering these aspects from the earliest stages of design and construction, we can create buildings that are better for people and the planet.
For example, by designing buildings to be energy-efficient, we can reduce their environmental impact and lower operating costs. By using sustainable materials, we can create buildings that are healthier for occupants and have a lower carbon footprint. And by designing buildings to be accessible and affordable, we can create more equitable communities.
Build right is an essential approach to creating a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment.
1. Sustainably
Sustainability is a key component of build right. Buildings that are built sustainably have a lower environmental impact, are more resilient to climate change, and are healthier for occupants. There are many ways to build sustainably, including using sustainable materials, designing buildings to be energy-efficient, and using water-saving fixtures.
One of the most important aspects of sustainable building is using sustainable materials. Sustainable materials are those that are produced in a way that minimizes environmental impact. They may be recycled or renewable materials, or they may be materials that are produced using sustainable practices. For example, bamboo is a sustainable material because it is a renewable resource that can be grown quickly and easily. Bamboo can be used for flooring, furniture, and other building materials.
Another important aspect of sustainable building is designing buildings to be energy-efficient. Energy-efficient buildings use less energy to heat, cool, and light the building. This can be achieved by using insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and renewable energy sources such as solar panels. For example, the Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington is a LEED Platinum-certified building that uses 50% less energy than a typical office building.
Finally, it is important to use water-saving fixtures in sustainable buildings. Water-saving fixtures can reduce the amount of water used by a building by up to 30%. This can be achieved by using low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads. For example, the USGBC LEED rating system gives points for buildings that install water-saving fixtures.
Building sustainably is essential to creating a more sustainable future. By using sustainable materials, designing buildings to be energy-efficient, and using water-saving fixtures, we can create buildings that have a lower environmental impact, are more resilient to climate change, and are healthier for occupants.
2. Resiliently
Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. In the context of buildings, resilience means the ability to withstand natural disasters, climate change, and other challenges. Buildings that are built right are resilient buildings.
There are many ways to build resilience into buildings. One important way is to use durable materials and construction methods. For example, buildings that are made of concrete or steel are more likely to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes than buildings that are made of wood. Another important way to build resilience into buildings is to design them to be energy-efficient and water-efficient. This will help to ensure that buildings can continue to operate during power outages or water shortages.
Building resiliently is essential to creating a more sustainable and equitable built environment. By building resilient buildings, we can help to protect people and property from the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.
3. Equitably
Equity is a key component of build right. Buildings that are built equitably are accessible and affordable to all people, regardless of their income, race, gender, or other factors. There are many ways to build equitably, including providing affordable housing, designing buildings to be accessible to people with disabilities, and using sustainable materials that are produced in a fair and ethical way.
- Providing affordable housing
One of the most important ways to build equitably is to provide affordable housing. Affordable housing is housing that is affordable to people with low and moderate incomes. There are many ways to create affordable housing, including building new affordable housing units, rehabilitating existing affordable housing units, and providing rental assistance to low-income households.
- Designing buildings to be accessible to people with disabilities
Another important way to build equitably is to design buildings to be accessible to people with disabilities. This means designing buildings so that they can be used by people with mobility impairments, visual impairments, and hearing impairments. There are many ways to design buildings to be accessible, including providing ramps, elevators, and assistive listening systems.
- Using sustainable materials that are produced in a fair and ethical way
Finally, it is important to use sustainable materials that are produced in a fair and ethical way. This means using materials that are produced with minimal environmental impact and that are not produced using child labor or other unethical practices. There are many ways to find sustainable materials, including working with suppliers who are committed to sustainability and using recycled or renewable materials.
Building equitably is essential to creating a more just and sustainable world. By providing affordable housing, designing buildings to be accessible to people with disabilities, and using sustainable materials that are produced in a fair and ethical way, we can create buildings that are truly equitable.
4. Efficiently
Efficiency is a key component of build right. Buildings that are built efficiently use resources wisely, which can save money, energy, and water. There are many ways to build efficiently, including using energy-efficient appliances and lighting, designing buildings to be well-insulated, and using water-saving fixtures.
- Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects of building efficiently. Buildings that are energy-efficient use less energy to heat, cool, and light the building. This can be achieved by using energy-efficient appliances and lighting, designing buildings to be well-insulated, and using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
- Water efficiency
Water efficiency is another important aspect of building efficiently. Buildings that are water-efficient use less water. This can be achieved by using water-saving fixtures, such as low-flow toilets and faucets, and by designing buildings to capture and reuse rainwater.
- Material efficiency
Material efficiency is also important for building efficiently. Buildings that are material-efficient use less materials. This can be achieved by using recycled materials, designing buildings to be modular, and using materials that are durable and long-lasting.
- Space efficiency
Space efficiency is also important for building efficiently. Buildings that are space-efficient use less space. This can be achieved by designing buildings to be compact and efficient, and by using space-saving features such as built-in storage and multi-purpose rooms.
Building efficiently is essential to creating a more sustainable and equitable built environment. By building efficiently, we can save money, energy, and water, and we can reduce our environmental impact.
5. Healthily
Building right means creating buildings that are healthy for occupants. This means using materials that are non-toxic and do not emit harmful pollutants, designing buildings to have good ventilation and natural light, and providing access to green space.
There is a growing body of research that shows the link between healthy buildings and occupant health. For example, a study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who live in green buildings have lower rates of asthma and other respiratory problems. Another study by the University of California, Berkeley found that people who work in green buildings have better cognitive function and productivity.
Building right is not just about creating buildings that are sustainable and resilient. It is also about creating buildings that are healthy for occupants. By using healthy materials, designing buildings to have good ventilation and natural light, and providing access to green space, we can create buildings that promote the health and well-being of occupants.
6. Cost-effectively
Building right is not just about creating buildings that are sustainable, resilient, equitable, efficiently, and healthy. It is also about creating buildings that are cost-effective.
- Life-cycle costing
Life-cycle costing is a method of evaluating the total cost of a building over its entire lifespan, including the cost of construction, operation, maintenance, and repairs. By considering the life-cycle cost of a building, we can make decisions that will save money in the long run. For example, it may be more cost-effective to invest in a more energy-efficient building, even if the initial cost is higher, because the building will save money on energy costs over its lifetime.
- Value engineering
Value engineering is a process of analyzing a building's design to identify ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. Value engineering can be used to reduce the cost of materials, construction methods, and operating costs. For example, a value engineering study may recommend using a less expensive type of roofing material or a more efficient HVAC system.
- Prefabrication and modular construction
Prefabrication and modular construction are two construction methods that can save time and money. Prefabrication involves building components of a building in a factory and then assembling them on site. Modular construction involves building entire modules of a building in a factory and then transporting them to the site and assembling them. These methods can save time and money because they reduce the amount of time and labor required to construct a building.
- Commissioning
Commissioning is a process of testing and verifying that a building's systems are working properly. Commissioning can help to identify and correct problems early on, which can save money in the long run. For example, commissioning can help to identify and correct problems with a building's HVAC system, which can save money on energy costs.
By using these and other cost-effective building strategies, we can create buildings that are sustainable, resilient, equitable, efficiently, healthy, and affordable.
7. Sustainably
Sustainability is a key component of build right. Buildings that are built sustainably have a lower environmental impact, are more resilient to climate change, and are healthier for occupants. There are many ways to build sustainably, including using sustainable materials, designing buildings to be energy-efficient, and using water-saving fixtures.
One of the most important aspects of sustainable building is using sustainable materials. Sustainable materials are those that are produced in a way that minimizes environmental impact. They may be recycled or renewable materials, or they may be materials that are produced using sustainable practices. For example, bamboo is a sustainable material because it is a renewable resource that can be grown quickly and easily. Bamboo can be used for flooring, furniture, and other building materials.
Another important aspect of sustainable building is designing buildings to be energy-efficient. Energy-efficient buildings use less energy to heat, cool, and light the building. This can be achieved by using insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and renewable energy sources such as solar panels. For example, the Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington is a LEED Platinum-certified building that uses 50% less energy than a typical office building.
Finally, it is important to use water-saving fixtures in sustainable buildings. Water-saving fixtures can reduce the amount of water used by a building by up to 30%. This can be achieved by using low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads. For example, the USGBC LEED rating system gives points for buildings that install water-saving fixtures.
Building sustainably is essential to creating a more sustainable future. By using sustainable materials, designing buildings to be energy-efficient, and using water-saving fixtures, we can create buildings that have a lower environmental impact, are more resilient to climate change, and are healthier for occupants.
Build Right FAQs
This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about the build right approach.
Question 1: What is build right?
Build right is a comprehensive approach to designing, constructing, and operating buildings that minimizes their environmental impact, maximizes their resilience to climate change, and promotes the health and well-being of their occupants.
Question 2: Why is build right important?
Build right is important because it helps to create buildings that are more sustainable, resilient, equitable, efficient, healthy, and cost-effective.
Question 3: What are the benefits of build right?
The benefits of build right include reduced environmental impact, increased resilience to climate change, improved occupant health and well-being, lower operating costs, and increased property value.
Question 4: How can I build right?
You can build right by using sustainable materials, designing buildings to be energy-efficient, using water-saving fixtures, and providing access to green space. You can also work with a design team that is experienced in build right principles.
Question 5: Where can I learn more about build right?
You can learn more about build right from a variety of sources, including the Build Right Institute, the US Green Building Council, and the International Living Future Institute.
Summary: Build right is an essential approach to creating a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment. By following build right principles, we can create buildings that are better for people and the planet.
Transition: To learn more about build right and how to apply it to your own projects, please visit the Resources section.
Conclusion
Build right is a comprehensive approach to designing, constructing, and operating buildings that minimizes their environmental impact, maximizes their resilience to climate change, and promotes the health and well-being of their occupants. By following build right principles, we can create buildings that are better for people and the planet.
The benefits of build right are numerous and include reduced environmental impact, increased resilience to climate change, improved occupant health and well-being, lower operating costs, and increased property value. By investing in build right principles, we can create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment.
