Last December, the World Green Building Council published a guide outlining strategies to make homes healthier for people and for the planet. Here’s why these actions are important and what you can do to improve your home:
What is the World Green Building Council?
The World Green Building Council is an association that advocates for green buildings. Its mission is to drive the construction of green buildings for everyone by promoting sustainable practices and a healthy lifestyle.
Present in over 70 countries around the world, the World Green Building Council has a few goals:
- Limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
- Reduce the building and construction sector’s CO2 emissions by 84 gigatonnes.
- Ensure all buildings are net zero emissions.
If you want to learn more about their initiatives, we encourage you to check out their website.
The Importance of Green Buildings
So, what is this green building thing and why does it matter?
While the construction industry is necessary for the development of our cities, it has a history of harming the environment. For example, energy use in buildings accounts for almost 40% of our carbon footprint. Buildings are also a major contributor to natural resource depletion, which is dangerous for both humans and other species.
Green buildings employ construction techniques that can reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the environment without slowing down economic growth. In this link, you can learn more about the benefits of green buildings.
How to Make Your Home Healthier
The World Green Building Council’s guide focuses on three key features to make your home healthier: Air quality, thermal and acoustic comfort, and light.
Did you know that more than half of the air you breathe is inhaled inside your home? The problem is that cooking and heating can cause indoor air pollution, which is harmful to your health. Installing solar panels, improving your home’s ventilation, and reducing pollutants are all good strategies for fighting indoor air pollution.
Homes that are excessively noisy and too hot or too cold can have a negative impact on the health of its occupants. Poor thermal control is associated with respiratory illnesses, asthma, and mental health issues. You can avoid it by planting trees around your house, using shades to block unwanted sunlight, and painting your roof white.
Finally, install roof windows, choose more efficient LED light bulbs, and use dimming sensors to reduce energy waste. Living in a dark home contributes to headaches, insomnia, and seasonal affective disorder, which is why lighting is very important.
CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard-working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA online or at (877) 810-7473.