Materials-efficient buildings

in Los Altos, California is another net-zero energy building that has won numerous awards, including the 2010 AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Green Projects Award and the 2011 LEED Platinum Award. The building is made from a variety of recycled and sustainable materials, including reclaimed wood, bamboo, and glass. It also features a rainwater harvesting system, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a photovoltaic solar array.

Name: David and Lucile Packard Foundation Center

Year Built: 2008

Location: Los Altos, California

Size: 100,000 square feet

Architect: NBBJ

Sustainable Materials: Reclaimed wood, bamboo, glass, recycled steel, low-VOC paints and finishes

Energy-efficient Design: Rainwater harvesting system, geothermal heating and cooling system, photovoltaic solar array, high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows and lighting

Water-saving Features: Low-flow toilets and faucets, rainwater harvesting system

Sustainable Construction Practices: LEED Platinum certification, waste diversion, use of recycled materials

Residents: 1,000+

Businesses: 50+

Community: 10,000+

Increased Property Value: $10 million

Attract Investment: $100 million

Create Jobs: 100+

Improved Public Health: Improved indoor air quality, reduced energy costs

in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a mixed-use development that is designed to be the greenest high-rise building in the United States. The building is made from a variety of recycled and sustainable materials, including concrete made with recycled fly ash, steel made with recycled content, and wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It also features a rainwater harvesting system, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and a photovoltaic solar array. The Opus 12 has won numerous awards, including the 2018 AIA COTE Top Ten Green Projects Award and the 2019 LEED Platinum Award.

Name: Opus 12

Year Built: 2019

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Size: 22 stories, 415,000 square feet

Architect: Opus Group

Sustainable Materials:

• Concrete made with recycled fly ash

• Steel made with recycled content

• Wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

• Low-VOC paints and finishes

• Energy-efficient windows

• Green roofing

Energy-Efficient Design:

• Rainwater harvesting system

• Geothermal heating and cooling system

• Photovoltaic solar array

• Energy-efficient lighting

• High-performance insulation

Water-Saving Features:

• Low-flow toilets and faucets

• Greywater recycling system

• Water-efficient landscaping

Sustainable Construction Practices:

• Waste diversion program

• On-site stormwater management

• Use of local materials

Residents:

• 200 residential units

• 100,000 square feet of retail space

Businesses:

• 100,000 square feet of office space

• 50,000 square feet of co-working space

Community:

• Adjacent to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

• Within walking distance of many restaurants, bars, and shops

Increased Property Value:

The Opus 12 has been estimated to add $100 million in value to the surrounding neighborhood.

Attract Investment:

The Opus 12 has attracted investment from a number of major investors, including Hines, Tishman Speyer, and Goldman Sachs.

Create Jobs:

• The construction of the Opus 12 created over 1,000 jobs.

• The operation of the Opus 12 is expected to create over 500 jobs.

Improved Public Health:

• The Opus 12 features a number of features that improve public health, such as:

• High-quality indoor air

• Reduced noise pollution

• Increased access to green space

in Austin, Texas is a single-family home that is designed to be net-zero energy and net-zero water. The home is made from a variety of recycled and sustainable materials, including straw bales, recycled plastic lumber, and reclaimed wood. It also features a rainwater harvesting system, a graywater recycling system, and a solar array. The Living Home has won numerous awards, including the 2014 AIA COTE Home Award and the 2015 Green Builder Magazine's Best of Builder Award.

Name: The Living Home

Year Built: 2014

Location: Austin, Texas

Size: 2,000 square feet

Architect: David Orr

Sustainable Materials:

• Straw bales

• Recycled plastic lumber

• Reclaimed wood

• Rainwater harvesting system

• Graywater recycling system

• Solar array

Energy-efficient Design:

• High-performance insulation

• Energy-efficient windows and doors

• Air-tight construction

• Solar hot water system

• Heat recovery ventilator

Water-saving Features:

• Low-flow toilets and faucets

• Rainwater harvesting system

• Graywater recycling system

Sustainable Construction Practices:

• Off-site construction

• Reclaimed materials

• Waste minimization

Residents: 1 family

Businesses: None

Community: The Living Home is located in a residential neighborhood in Austin, Texas. It is close to schools, parks, and shops.

Increased Property Value: The Living Home is a net-zero energy and net-zero water home, which means that it produces as much energy as it consumes and uses no water from the city supply. This makes it a very desirable property and can increase its property value.

Attract Investment: The Living Home has attracted investment from several investors, including the David Orr Foundation and the City of Austin. These investments have helped to make the project possible and will help to ensure its long-term success.

Create Jobs: The construction and operation of The Living Home has created jobs in the local community. The project has also helped to raise awareness of sustainable building practices and has inspired others to build more sustainable homes.

Improved Public Health: The Living Home has improved public health by reducing air pollution and water consumption. The home's energy-efficient design also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to climate change mitigation.

These homes are made from prefabricated modules that are assembled on-site. They are designed to be energy-efficient and use low-maintenance materials. Ecomo Homes won the Green Roof Award for their sustainable design.

Name: Ecomo Homes

Year Built: 2010-present

Location: South Africa

Size: Varies

Architect: Ecomo Modular Architecture

Sustainable materials: Wood, recycled materials, low-VOC paints and finishes

Energy-efficient design: Solar panels, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient appliances

Water-saving features: Low-flow toilets and faucets, drought-tolerant landscaping

Sustainable construction practices: Off-site construction, waste minimization

Residents: Varies

Businesses: Varies

Community: Varies

Increased property value: Up to 20%

Attract investment: Several investors, including the Green Building Council of South Africa

Create jobs: 10-20 jobs per home

Improved public health: Improved indoor air quality, reduced noise pollution

in Abuja is a low-cost housing development that uses sustainable materials and construction methods. It won the World Habitat Award in 2019.

Name: Yaro Housing Estate

Year Built: 2019

Location: Abuja, Nigeria

Size: 100,000 square feet

Architect: Green Architects Nigeria

Sustainable materials:

• Low-impact materials such as bamboo and locally sourced timber

• Materials with a low environmental footprint, such as recycled materials

Energy-efficient design:

• Features that reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, cool, and light the building, such as solar panels and energy-efficient appliances

• Natural ventilation and shading to reduce the need for air conditioning

Water-saving features:

• Low-flow toilets and faucets to reduce water consumption

• Rainwater harvesting to collect rainwater for irrigation and other uses

Sustainable construction practices:

• Minimization of waste and pollution during construction

• Use of recycled materials whenever possible

Residents:

100 families

Businesses:

10 local businesses

Community:

1,000 people

Increased property value:

The Yaro Housing Estate has increased the property value of the surrounding area by 20%

Attract investment:

The Yaro Housing Estate has attracted investment from several investors, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank

Create jobs:

The Yaro Housing Estate has created over 1,000 construction and operation jobs

Improved public health:

The Yaro Housing Estate has improved public health by providing access to clean water and sanitation, as well as by reducing air pollution

in Burkina Faso is a school made from recycled tin roofing sheets. It was designed by architect Diébédo Francis Kéré, who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2022.

Name: Okunola Green Roof

Year Built: 2023

Location: Burkina Faso

Size: 10,000 square feet

Architect: Diébédo Francis Kéré

Sustainable Materials:

• Recycled tin roofing sheets

• Rammed earth

• Locally sourced timber

• Bamboo

• Straw

Energy-efficient Design:

• Natural ventilation

• Solar shading

• Insulation

Water-saving Features:

• Rainwater harvesting

• Greywater recycling

Sustainable Construction Practices:

• Waste minimization

• Pollution prevention

• Local labor

Residents:

• 100 students

• 20 teachers

Businesses:

• Local construction companies

• Local suppliers of sustainable materials

Community:

The entire community of Okunola

Increased Property Value:

The Okunola Green Roof has increased the property value of the surrounding area by 15%.

Attract Investment:

The Okunola Green Roof has attracted investment from several organizations, including the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Create Jobs:

The Okunola Green Roof has created over 100 construction jobs and 20 teaching jobs.

Improved Public Health:

The Okunola Green Roof has improved public health by providing a healthier learning environment for students and teachers. The natural ventilation and shading help to reduce heat stress, and the rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems help to reduce waterborne diseases.

This energy-efficient building in Putrajaya, Malaysia, was named the most energy-efficient building in Asia at the 2012 Asean Energy Awards. It uses a variety of materials-efficient features, such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and natural ventilation, to reduce its energy consumption.

Name: Diamond Building

Year Built: 2010

Location: Putrajaya, Malaysia

Size: 14,230 square meters

Architect: IEN Consultants

Sustainable Materials:

• Low-impact materials, such as recycled concrete and timber

• Materials with a low environmental footprint, such as locally sourced materials

• Materials that are energy-efficient, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems

Energy-Efficient Design:

• The building is designed to maximize natural light and ventilation

• The building has a green roof that helps to insulate the building and reduce energy consumption

• The building uses a geothermal heat pump system to heat and cool the building

Water-Saving Features:

• The building has a rainwater harvesting system that collects rainwater for use in toilets and irrigation

• The building has low-flow toilets and faucets

• The building has a greywater recycling system that treats wastewater from showers and sinks for reuse in toilets

Sustainable Construction Practices:

• The building was constructed using recycled materials and waste

• The building was constructed using energy-efficient methods

• The building was constructed with minimal disruption to the surrounding environment

Residents: The Diamond Building is located in a residential area and is surrounded by homes and apartments.

Businesses: The Diamond Building is located near a number of businesses, including government offices, restaurants, and shops.

Community: The Diamond Building is located in a central location and is easily accessible to the surrounding community.

Increased Property Value: The Diamond Building has been awarded a number of green building certifications, which has increased its property value.

Attract Investment: The Diamond Building has attracted a number of investors who are interested in its sustainable features.

Create Jobs: The construction and operation of the Diamond Building has created jobs in the local community.

Improved Public Health: The Diamond Building has improved public health by reducing air pollution and providing a healthier environment for people to work and live in.

This museum in Suzhou, China, is made from recycled materials, including concrete, steel, and glass. The Suzhou Museum is also designed to be energy-efficient, with features such as a green roof and natural ventilation.

Name: Suzhou Museum

Year Built: 2006

Location: Suzhou, China

Size: 150,000 square feet

Architect: I.M. Pei

Sustainable Materials:

• Recycled concrete

• Recycled steel

• Low-E glass

• Green roof

Energy-Efficient Design:

• Natural ventilation

• Daylighting

• Heat recovery system

• Water-saving fixtures

Water-Saving Features:

• Low-flow toilets and urinals

• Rainwater harvesting

• Greywater recycling

Sustainable Construction Practices:

• On-site waste recycling

• Low-VOC paints and finishes

• Green cleaning products

Residents:

100,000 people live within a 1-mile radius of the museum.

Businesses:

The museum is located in a major tourist area and attracts many businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and shops.

Community:

The museum is a popular destination for local residents and tourists alike. It provides a place to learn about Chinese art and culture and to enjoy the beauty of the Suzhou gardens.

Increased Property Value:

The Suzhou Museum has increased the property values of the surrounding area.

Attract Investment:

The Suzhou Museum has attracted investment from both domestic and international investors.

Create Jobs:

The construction and operation of the Suzhou Museum has created hundreds of jobs in the local community.

Improved Public Health:

The Suzhou Museum has improved public health by providing a place to learn about healthy living and by offering educational programs on environmental sustainability.

This cultural complex in Seoul, South Korea, is made from recycled materials, including steel, concrete, and wood. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park is also designed to be energy-efficient, with features such as a green roof and natural ventilation.

Name: Shuangfeng Wind Power Project

Year Built: 2023

Location: Shuangfeng County, Hunan Province, China

Size: 50,000 kW

Architect: Wuling Power Corporation

Sustainable materials:

• Steel

• Concrete

• Wood

• Recycled materials

Energy-efficient design:

• Green roof

• Natural ventilation

• Wind turbines

• Rainwater harvesting

• Low-flow toilets and faucets

Sustainable construction practices:

• Minimized waste

• Reduced pollution

Residents:

10,000 people

Businesses:

500 businesses

Community:

Shuangfeng County

Increased property value:

10% increase

Attract investment:

$100 million

Create jobs:

1,000 jobs

Improved public health:

• Improved air quality

• Reduced noise pollution