Expound on the significance of constructing eco-friendly houses in improving life for the end users
Background
Eco-friendly housing refers to a low-emissions construction method or a self-built home that consumes very little energy once it is occupied. It also relates to environmentally friendly materials or the reduction of negative effects on the environment (Pullen, 2021). Constructing eco-friendly houses either eliminate negative impacts or create positive impacts on the natural environment (Sharma & Jha 2021). It signals the construction of structures using approaches that are non-harmful or beneficial to the natural environment and, at the same time, improves resource efficiency. As a scale to establish whether or not construction can be rated eco-friendly, the United States Green Building Council developed a system known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It contains rating systems that are used as metrics for eco-friendly architectural designs, construction, operation, and maintenance (Parvez & Parvez 2021). Going by the provisions of this rating system, a building is categorised as eco-friendly or not based on various metric elements. The most common of these include its level of efficiency in the use of water, energy and other freely given environmental resources, the extent to which it protects and enhances the physical and mental health of the occupants and strategies put in place to facilitate waste reduction and minimise pollution (air, noise and water) and environmental degradation. However, over the years and with the increasing need to address environmental challenges, additional metrics have been established.
In the 20th century, there were not as many regulatory authorities monitoring the environmental impacts of Eco-Friendly housing as there are today. The need to be environmentally conscious was not embraced as much, part of the reason being the lack of tangible adverse impacts of climate change. Today, regulatory authorities across the world have developed an interest in eco-friendly construction concepts and practices (Smith 2021). In the United Kingdom the local government establish local regulations to help local operators reduce the environmental impact during the construction of buildings. The eco-friendly construction grading system in the United Kingdom is referred to as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), in Germany, it is known as German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), Japan has the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE)While India has the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) (Orova & Reith 2019). All these rating systems have nearly the same standards for buildings to be certified as eco-friendly.
Essentially, the goals and objectives of eco-friendly housing are focused on the three main aspects – environmental, economic and social. The need to accrue benefits and the aforementioned areas motivates organisations to consider eco-friendly Tactics in their construction. Notably, the positive sides of the aforementioned aspects impact positively in improving the quality of life for the end users and general population. Eco-friendly construction is targeted at buildings because they are responsible for a significant percentage of the consumption of Environmental resources such as water and energy. If there are any efforts to cut emissions with a view to addressing climate change and undesirable global warming, responsible parties should focus their attention on the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings. Lamb et al. (2021) record that as of December 2018, buildings alone accounted for a massive 28% of the total global emissions. The processes of their constructions, maintenance and demolition, are included in this figure. Chiefly, buildings emit CO2. The global CO2 emissions emanating from the construction processes are approximated to be 39% (Huang et al. 2018). This figure is likely to double by 2050 if new technologies that reduce the rate of emission are not adopted. Eco-friendly construction is geared towards reducing the environmental impact of construction processes for buildings.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The proposed study, ‘ Eco-friendly housing,’ seeks to determine and provide clarity on whether or not constructing eco-friendly houses have a positive impact on the occupants and general population. The study will conduct an extensive exploration of the various methods to achieving eco-friendly constructions around the world. The idea is to find out whether or not these efforts facilitate the improvement of life for end users and general population.
1.3 Aims
This research proposal assumes that constructing eco-friendly housing have a significant impact on improving the life of the occupants and general population. As such, the primary aim is to establish whether or not eco-friendly housing have an impact on the end users, environment and the general population. To achieve this, the study will seek to meet each of the following secondary research aims:
Determine the benefits of using eco materials alternatives.
Expound on the significance of constructing eco-friendly houses in improving life for the end users
Determine the essence of using renewable energy in achieving high-quality life for the end users and the general population
Establish the role of increasing eco-friendly houses to lower the carbon footprint.
