Previously Published in FuturArc - New Architecture, 3rd Quarter 2007

Green building has been promoted in the past few years as the only logical way to design and build. It offers a host of strategies that enable the building to harmoniously coexist with the natural environment. It emphasizes the need to take advantage of renewable resources, the reduction of raw material use and energy used and other techniques that assists in the conservation and preservation of the natural environment.

Public acceptance of green building has increased over the years due to its obvious benefits. Green building leads to improved health of occupants; it reduces environmental impact, projects a positive image for the project’s stakeholders, and reduces operating costs due to lower utility bills.

However, at present most building designers and constructors are preoccupied at looking for strategies that utilize state of the art technologies, giving the impression that green building is expensive. Furthermore, if this process neglects traditional design and building techniques, there is the possibility of existing cultural contexts becoming endangered. The significance of a place should be respected and preserved. Heritage conservation is green building. It should not be treated as two separate issues.