Sustainable Construction: The Era of Green Building Sites Has Arrived

Everyone will benefit from green construction, as the popular clickbait terminology goes! Those who choose it can expect a return on investment right from the start or at least in a very short time, in the form of lower energy costs and cheaper maintenance, as well as better financing conditions. Advocates for the future of our planet will emphasize that sustainable buildings can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and waste, and employers, if they decide to place their offices in such a building, can expect significantly fewer sick leaves from their employees.

Resource Wasters

Behind the term 'green construction' lies a comprehensive process of design, planning, use, and maintenance based on the principle of sustainability, and their performance is evaluated through a system of international certifications based on several criteria such as well-utilized building space, waste disposal, or water consumption. The origins of sustainable development date back to the 1960s, specifically during the fossil fuel crisis, and recently it has become one of the most important elements in the fight against climate change.

– It is estimated that buildings in the European Union consume about 45 percent of energy and produce about 40 percent of greenhouse gases. Buildings are also responsible for 35 percent of construction material consumption and 35 percent of waste production in the construction sector. Therefore, construction and building hold the greatest potential for saving natural resources, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and transitioning to a decarbonized economy. We strive to educate all citizens that the best solution is to invest in buildings that are completely dekarbonized over their entire lifecycle and resilient to natural disasters caused by climate change – explains Dean Smolar, Executive Director of the Croatian Green Building Council.

Development of the Croatian Certificate

The Croatian Green Building Council (Green Building Council – GBC) is the largest organization in Croatia dealing with sustainable construction, infrastructure, and green energy, and it operates as a business network of the best companies in this field. Today, in Europe, green construction is one of the most important opportunities for sustainable growth at both national and global levels. The design of the built environment affects all of us, our economies, and the natural environment, and the role of the Green Building Council across Europe and the world is to lead the transformation of the built environment towards sustainability. It has recently initiated the development of the Croatian green building certificate, which is the Croatian version of the global DGNB certificate.

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Dean Smolar

—– The DGNB certification system is a tool that helps investors ensure that the project is truly sustainable environmentally, economically, and socially. It is the most advanced global certificate for green construction. It was developed by the German Council for Sustainable Building, after which the system was named. DGNB is the only global certificate compliant with EU regulations and standards, which means it does not require additional documentation alignment for the European market. Buildings certified under the DGNB system will guarantee a high degree of sustainability and safety, including all elements important for productivity and the preservation of human health and well-being, such as energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, reduced CO₂ emissions, selection of non-toxic materials in construction, high indoor air quality, and more. This system is aligned with EU regulations and the ‘LIFE Level(s)’ project, which is implemented by the Croatian Green Building Council in collaboration with a total of eight EU countries, defining the levels of sustainability of buildings. In the trial phase of adapting the DGNB system to the Croatian market, the first such certificate will be awarded to the Matrix C office building in Zagreb – Smolar briefly highlighted, listing the main advantages of green construction compared to traditional construction.

A Series of Advantages

Green construction reduces the amount of materials needed for construction, which lowers operational costs. It also supports the use of indigenous building materials, technologies, and services, thereby improving the economic picture of individual countries, and it reduces CO₂ emissions (e.g., in transportation). Sustainable buildings can also significantly reduce waste through responsible waste management and material selection. Energy production in buildings from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and biomass helps avoid air and water pollution. When it comes to data, green buildings are economically more viable, 16 percent higher than the selling price, and have 13 percent lower maintenance costs. Finally, the number of sick leaves in such buildings is 25 percent lower than in those where employees work in standard offices.

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Green materials include straw or bamboo, specifically fast-growing plant species, which means there is no danger of depleting their forests. There are also recycled stone and metal, hemp or sheep wool, which are ideal for thermal insulation, as well as all other materials that can be reused. The American Environmental Protection Agency has gone a step further by suggesting the use of industrial waste such as various rubble or sand as building materials.

Return on Investment

However, most will be most interested in how much return on investment in green construction (and how quickly) can be expected.

– The majority of green construction is profitable already in the initial investment, and this has been proven in several comparative studies at the global level. There are few of the ‘most advanced and greenest’ buildings of the highest standard that are initially more expensive, and only by a few percentage points. However, they quickly return that difference through lower energy costs and cheaper maintenance. Of course, buildings certified according to the global DGNB standard and aligned with EU taxonomy also have much better financing conditions in banks and financial institutions – said Dean Smolar, revealing the biggest problems of green construction in Croatia.

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Among other things, these include a lack of education and insufficient awareness among investors, professionals, and the public sector about the economic, social, and environmental benefits that green construction brings. There is a general debate in the market that green construction is expensive and inaccessible, which is why it is not the first choice. However, in recent years, the market situation has changed significantly. Additionally, major challenges include a lack of quality labor and a shortage of materials and equipment in the market.

Guidelines for Renewal

Some of these problems could be solved by two documents from the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction, and State Property, the details of which can be found on its official website. These are the Draft Proposal for the Development of Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas from 2021 to 2030, which describes the developmental needs and potentials based on the existing state of green infrastructure in urban areas, identifies challenges, defines a vision for development, and elaborates goals, priorities, and measures for the development of green infrastructure in urban areas, as well as the Program for the Development of Circular Spatial and Building Management from 2021 to 2030, developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Zagreb. The priorities of this program include the renovation of unused spaces and buildings and guidelines for planning new buildings according to the circular economy model. The measures are aimed at increasing the durability and lifespan of buildings in space, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing the generation of construction waste for sustainable development.