In recent years, sustainability concept has become the common interest of numerous disciplines. The reason for this popularity is to perform the
sustainable development. The Concept of Green Architecture, also known as "sustainable architecture" or "green building," is the theory,
science and style of buildings designed and constructed in accordance with environmentally friendly principles. Green architecture strives to
minimize the number of resources consumed in the building's construction, use and operation, as well as curtailing the harm done to the
environment through the emission, pollution and waste of its components.
To design, construct, operate and maintain buildings energy, water and new materials are utilized as well as amounts of waste causing negative
effects to health and environment is generated. In order to limit these effects and design environmentally sound and resource efficient
buildings; "green building systems" must be introduced, clarified, understood and practiced.
This paper aims at highlighting these difficult and complex issues of sustainability which encompass the scope of almost every aspect of human
life.
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of IEREK, International experts for Research Enrichment and Knowledge Exchange.
Keywords: Green-building systems; sustainable buildings; natural buildings; living architecture; renewable resources; eco-design; eco-friendly architecture;
earth-friendly architecture; environmental architecture; natural architecture.
1. Introduction
Sustainability is comprehensive therefore a complex subject. It is of vital importance to all because it deals with the survival of
human species and almost every living creature on the planet. Sustainable and eco-friendly architecture is one of the main aims that
humans for creating a better life have made as the ultimate model for all their activities. For this reason, moving towards a greener architecture
is well-thought-out the main goal of the present architecture of our time (Mahdavinejad, 2014)
At the rate the development needs of this world is using the scarce and limited resources found on the earth, it is becoming
obvious that unless there are major changes to Man's thinking and behavior, the future of civilization as known today is dubious.
This complex subject has no straight forward solution, especially considering that sustainability is a goal for all to reach as they
continually strive to reach towards it.Green architecture produces environmental, social and economic benefits. Environmentally,
green architecture helps reduce pollution, conserve natural resources and prevent environmental degradation. Economically, it
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +0-100-520-6790; fax: +2-03-3877423.
E-mail address: ghada.ragheb@pua.edu.eg
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access a