Green buildings in an urban jungle
Is it possible to live green in a concrete jungle like Bangkok? Does Thailand have policies to stimulate sustainable development? The UN World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Developed nations such as the US, Canada, Japan and Singapore have formulated policies that promote sustainable development. Energy-efficient construction — so-called “green buildings” — are integral to these policies. A green building is often defined as a facility that is designed, built and operated using ecological principles for the purpose of promoting occupant health and resource efficiency while minimizing the building’s impact on the natural environment.
Lessons learned from other countries show that effective green construction practices are dependent on three interlinked factors, being the development of effective national green building codes, the existence of reputable certification systems and authorities to confirm compliance with those codes and the development of effective incentives or penalties.