Green buildings are a relatively new concept, which refers to structures that are built with the use of specific strategies, aimed at minimizing the negative environmental impact and improving the ecological state of the surrounding area. Elements of such buildings may include energy-efficient windows, green roofs, solar panels, and water conservation technologies.

The topic of sustainability within architecture has been under discussion in Montenegro for a significant amount of time. Although the current state of the building standards in the country remains at a standard level, plans are being made to work more towards achieving an ecologically conscious city landscape. 

One initiative that has picked up its pace in terms of accelerating the rate of sustainable innovation implementation is the Green Building Council Montenegro (GBC ME). According to the organization’s website, its goal is to “lead and educate society to create a balance between the ecological objectives of Montenegro, its citizens, and the need for sustainable building and development, establishing a responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality for future generations.”

The GBC aims to promote sustainable strategies in local architecture, as well as to improve structures that have already been built. A great example of a project that this initiative supports can be seen in the LEGEND Montenegro initiative. A part of an international project, that involves Italy, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia, LEGEND Montenegro is aimed at promoting alternative energy sources within the fulfillment of the country’s heating needs. The implementation of the project involves the renovation of the cultural center building in Danilovgrad to use geothermal energy for heating. 

A different project, which has already been successfully completed, is the Lustica Bay residential project, which became the first one in Europe to receive the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certificate. The project involved the use of local materials in order to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation, energy-efficient architecture, and protection of the natural ecosystem and landscape of the area.

I believe that the actions of the Green Building Council initiative are incredibly inspiring, and I hope that more such organizations are created all over the world, to achieve meaningful international cooperation on such significant global issues.