Green building (also known as green construction or sustainable building) refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. In other words, green building design involves finding the balance between homebuilding and the sustainable environment. This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort Sustainable building design The sustainable design and construction of new homes and buildings in general aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote higher standards of sustainable design above the current minimum standards set out by the building regulations. It aims to provide 9 measures of sustainable design: • energy/CO2 • water • materials • surface water runoff (flooding and flood prevention) • waste • pollution • health and well-being • management • ecology It uses a 1 to 6 star system to rate the overall sustainability performance of a new home against these 9 categories. The code is voluntary, and the government do not intend to make it mandatory. It is not a set of regulations and should not be confused with zero carbon policy or the 2016 zero carbon target. The only circumstances where the code can be enforced are where: • Local councils require developers to comply with the code by including a requirement in their planning policy. • Affordable housing is funded by the Homes and Community Agency that requires homes to be built to code level 3 • The level 3 energy standard is now incorporated in the building regulations

Green / sustainable building