Green Giants: Exploring the World’s Most Eco-Friendly Buildings and Their Sustainable Features

Sustainable buildings, also known as green buildings, are designed, constructed and operated with the goal of minimising their environmental impact. This involves using environmentally friendly materials, reducing energy consumption, and minimising waste. With the effects of climate change and the increasing global need for sustainability, the construction industry is taking notice and adopting more sustainable practices. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most famous sustainable buildings from around the world that have paved the way for green architecture.

One Angel Square, Manchester, UK

One Angel Square, located in Manchester, is a prime example of sustainable architecture in the UK. Developed by the Co-operative Group, this building uses a range of sustainable features, such as a combined heat and power plant, rainwater harvesting, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. These features have helped the building obtain an impressive BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘outstanding’ rating, being the first building in the UK to achieve it. The structure also holds the A+ Energy Performance Certificate. 

The Edge, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Edge in Amsterdam is considered one of the most sustainable buildings in the world, designed to be energy-efficient, carbon-neutral, and ‘smart’. The building has more than 28,000 sensors that monitor everything from temperature and lighting to occupancy rates and CO2 levels. These sensors help reduce energy usage, making it highly efficient. The Edge also holds an ‘outstanding’ BREEAM rating. 

The Bullitt Center, Seattle, USA

The Bullitt Center in Seattle is the world’s first commercial office building to achieve the Living Building Challenge certification, which is widely considered the most stringent environmental building standard. The building was designed to be completely self-sufficient, generating all its energy and capturing and treating all its water. It also has an impressive 80% reduction in carbon footprint compared to conventional buildings.

Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy

Bosco Verticale – or ‘Vertical Forest’ – in Milan is a pair of residential towers designed to house more than 900 trees and 20,000 plants. These plants help reduce air pollution and provide insulation, while also creating a unique aesthetic look for the building. Bosco Verticale has become a model for urban reforestation projects around the world.

The Crystal, London, UK

The Crystal in London is a green building designed to be a hub for the development of sustainable urban living. It uses features such as rainwater harvesting, solar shading, and photovoltaic (PV) panels to reduce energy consumption. It also has an impressive BREEAM score of 90.33%.

Adopting Sustainable Architecture
in the UK

The UK has made significant strides in adopting sustainable practices in construction and design, but there is still much to learn from other buildings around the world. These examples can be used to inspire and inform the design of new UK-based green buildings.

For instance, in the UK, there is increasing emphasis on retrofitting existing buildings to make them more sustainable. The retrofitting of One Angel Square serves as an excellent example of how to do this effectively. Incorporating sustainable features such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and smart monitoring systems can all go a long way in reducing the carbon footprint of existing buildings.

The Future of Sustainable Architecture in the UK

As the global focus on sustainability continues to grow, it is expected that more property developers in the UK will adopt sustainable practices. With the UK government setting ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, there is an urgent need for the construction industry to develop more sustainable buildings.

Sustainable architecture is not just a trend; it is our responsibility to incorporate sustainable features into our buildings to reduce their environmental impact. The examples mentioned above have shown that it is possible to create stunning, energy-efficient, and sustainable buildings that provide a range of benefits for both the environment and inhabitants.