Any environmental enthusiast will most likely have heard of the term green development. But if you’re a property developer and are wondering how construction can co-exist with environmentally friendly practices, then it pays to learn more about what sustainable development is.
What Is Green Residential Development?
Green development is a property concept that makes a conscious effort to consider the social and environmental impacts of property construction.
It essentially looks at all of the impacts a property development could have on an area by assessing it against different sub-categories: environmental responsiveness, resource efficiency, and community and cultural sensitivity. This strategy makes sure that any development plans take into account their potential effects on the planet and allow for ‘greener’ precautions to be put in place.
What Are The Benefits Of Green Development?
When it comes to green buildings and development, there are many benefits. These can vary from environmental to economic to social, including:
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Reduced energy use
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Reduced carbon emissions
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Improved air quality
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Reduced waste
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Conservation of water
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Prioritisation of safer materials
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Lower exposure to toxins
In terms of the development itself, some other key benefits include:
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Lower maintenance requirements
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Greater water and energy efficiency
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Lower carbon footprints
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Higher property value – ‘greener’ homes are much more desirable on the property market right now, so a more sustainably built and functioning home could increase a property’s value.
How To Incorporate Sustainability Into Residential Development
It’s becoming much easier to incorporate sustainable construction plans into residential developments today, but there are environmental legislation and policies that must be followed. Before you make any plans, it’s important to do your research and check out the guidelines on GOV.UK and Natural England.
Natural England, for example, has recently released its Green Infrastructure Framework - Principles and Standards for England - which provides guidance for planners, designers and developers to help them create greener infrastructure. This includes principles, standards, maps, planning guides, process journeys, calculators and more.
It’s important your architect keeps this information in mind throughout the planning stages, so if they have any questions or concerns regarding compliance, they should get in touch with Natural England for advice.
How GeoGrow Can Help
As outlined by the resources available, there are a number of ways you can incorporate features into your building project that are sustainable and improve biodiversity. A great example of this is vegetated wall systems like those from GeoGrow.
For more information on greener living and any enquiries, call GeoGrow at 01543 224 800.
Image Source: Pexels
