Our sustainable vision is to reduce our impact on the environment we engineer. Aerius (airy-uhs) "of the air"
A sustainable building, or green building is an outcome of a design. Each building should be designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources, at the same time reducing waste and pollution. A successful sustainable building will protect the future occupant's health and improve productivity. This can be done by reducing the building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.
Green engineering is at the cutting edge of the struggle to overcome our usage of oil and fossil fuels. We all need to attempt to not only render our technologies 'carbon-neutral; meaning the building consumes no fossil fuels and produces no carbon dioxide emissions, but also to go so far as to actually reduce the amount of Co2 in the atmosphere already. In effect, reversing the climate change mankind has already induced on our planet.
The environmental impact of buildings is often underestimated, while the perceived costs of green buildings are overestimated. A recent survey by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development finds that green costs are overestimated by 300 percent, as key players in real estate and construction estimate the additional cost at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true average cost difference of about 5 percent.
Benefits of green engineering
- Buildings cost less to operate and maintain resulting in increased profit
- Lower operation costs
Green buildings cost less to operate and thus can pay for themselves up to ten times over. Benefits include reduced energy, water, waste, maintenance and operations costs. - Initial cost
The initial cost of a building is not necessarily more expensive. One factor that reduces the cost is the reuse or recycling of construction waste after being prepared properly. This simple reduction can save lots of money at a construction site.
- Lower operation costs
- Excellent return on investment
- Higher rents & asset value
- Attract tenants more quickly
- Improved indoor air quality
- Enhance occupant's health and well-being, improving their productivity
- Increased longevity for equipment
- Reduced green house gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment
- Retail sales
- Green buildings are often 40% easier to sell. Buyers find green buildings very desirable. Consumers are also willing to pay more for green homes.
