Green building is a special approach to the construction and operation of buildings that reduces their impact on the environment through the thoughtful use of materials and resource efficiency.

In a broader sense, it is a philosophy of a comfortable and safe urban environment where not only physical but also psycho-emotional human health will improve. This can be achieved through the modernization of infrastructure, greening of territories, clearing and restoring water bodies, air purification, and other similar measures.

By the way, the topic of a comfortable urban environment is becoming increasingly important in connection with the global trend of urbanization. If in the 1950s, about 751 million people lived in cities, today it is 4.2 billion people. According to forecasts, another 2.5 billion will be added in 30 years. In particular, by this time, 83.3% of the country's population will live in cities in Russia.

The founder of the humanistic approach to the design of megacities, the Danish architect Jan Gehl, defined the principles of a favorable urban environment, including, in particular, the accessibility of public green spaces for citizens and the desire to move around as much as possible on foot, by bicycle, or public transport.

Experts identify several key parameters of green building:

* the use of building materials made with minimal harm to the environment;

* a responsible approach to the choice of a land plot for construction, taking into account the density of development, as well as the availability of public transport and the service of electric cars;

* energy efficiency of buildings, the use of modern engineering solutions;

* protection from harmful effects, proper organization of waste storage and disposal;

* greening, the presence of parks, water bodies, bike paths;

* water and air quality control.

According to experts, about half of Russia's total CO2 emissions are due to heat and light, and this is not only the needs of industry, but also the heating and lighting of residential buildings. But thanks to modern technologies, it is possible to significantly reduce resource consumption.

Today, special signs with Latin letters A++, A+, A, B, C, D, E, F, G are increasingly appearing on the facades of new buildings. These are designations of how well the house consumes heat and electricity. It is considered that A is very good (up to 40-50% savings), and G is very bad (losses are 50%).

Since 2016, according to the order of the Ministry of Construction, each house upon commissioning is required to be assigned an energy efficiency class. And after five years, it should be reviewed taking into account the data of the management company on the actual consumption.

What is the essence of energy efficiency? The main task is to spend less resources and at the same time maintain a comfortable temperature in the apartments. That is, not to heat more in the cold, but to insulate the house in such a way that this does not have to be done. The structural features of the house, the building materials used, and the engineering equipment play an important role here.

In most old houses, heat escapes through freezing corners, walls, roofs, windows, basements, elevator shafts, and ventilation, when cold air blows in from the street. A study conducted in 2022 in Moscow showed: the worst heat retention is provided by multi-storey 13-storey buildings of the II-57 series with narrow windows and an uninhabited first floor, and not at all by five-story Khrushchevs, as one might have thought. The smallest 14-storey houses of the late 1990s - early 2000s with trapezoidal balconies turned out to be the warmest.

Now in Russia, it is prohibited to design buildings with an energy efficiency class below C.

What increases the energy efficiency of a house:

* installed water meters;

* valves on batteries that allow you to regulate the temperature;

* double-glazed windows with strong seals;

* insulation of the facade;

* energy-saving lamps and motion sensors;

* toilets with variable flush force and mixers with a motion sensor in bathrooms and kitchens;

* an individual heat point that delivers heat energy from the boiler to the internal communications.

In Germany in the mid-1990s, the Passivhaus (Passive House) technology appeared, which combines various energy saving methods. In essence, it is a comprehensive building concept, the compliance of which is confirmed by a certificate.

A passive house is designed in such a way as to minimize heat loss due to the structural features of the building, effective insulation, as well as the use of renewable energy sources

In the mid-1990s, Germany developed the Passive House technology, which combines various energy-saving methods. This comprehensive building concept is confirmed by a certificate.

Passive houses are designed to minimize heat loss through the structural features of the building, effective insulation, and the use of renewable energy sources. Even in cold weather, these homes generate enough heat from people and appliances to maintain a comfortable temperature.

To receive a Passive House certificate, a building must meet strict standards at all stages of construction, from the preliminary design to the commissioning. These standards take into account the order of work and the materials used.

In Russia, Passive House technology is still in its early stages of development. However, there are a few examples of Passive House buildings in the country. For example, a Passive House apartment complex in St. Petersburg can withstand temperatures as low as −20°C.

Energy efficiency is not only good for the environment, but it can also save money on utility bills. In Russia, the average difference in utility costs between an A++ and C energy-efficient building is 40%. According to the financial development institute Dom.RF, only 3% of apartment buildings in Russia are energy-efficient in 2023. However, experts believe that the new "green" GOST(Russian State Standard) standard could help to improve this situation.

On November 1, 2022, Russia adopted a national green building standard for residential apartment buildings, GOST R, developed by the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Utilities together with Dom.RF. The document sets out 81 evaluation criteria, of which the main ones are:

* Site planning

* Environmental safety of the territory

* Construction organization

* Energy efficiency

* Operational safety of the building

* Production waste control

* Sustainable development innovations

To obtain a certificate, a built-in house must meet at least 16 points - this is the lower limit. In 2024, it is planned to approve a similar GOST for the overhaul of old buildings and structures.

Prior to this, most developers who adhered to the principles of sustainable development were guided by foreign green building standards such as LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and DGNB. All of them are similar in many ways, but each has its own focus: somewhere the focus is on the energy efficiency of the building, somewhere on environmental protection or human health.

According to data as of April 2022, 243 buildings were certified in Russia under the LEED system, and 186 under the BREEAM system. Moreover, most of the objects are commercial real estate (offices and retail spaces). Foreign investors who entered the Russian market thus supported their image and reduced operating costs.

Business Center Eightedges, Lakhta Center, Triumph Park residential complex, Pulkovo Sky project in St. Petersburg, Sok smart office network in Moscow, Neva Towers, Vivaldi Plaza, White Square business center, Hypercube in Skolkovo are examples of buildings in Russia built according to international green building standards. Most of the Olympic facilities in Sochi were also built according to international standards - this was a requirement of the IOC.

Since 2022, the LEED, BREEAM, and WELL certification systems have ceased to cooperate with Russian customers. But almost immediately, a domestic certification system for non-residential real estate was launched in the country - "Clover". This is a project of the National PPP Center and the Center for Sustainable Development in the field of construction and operation of real estate. It is planned that by the end of 2023, about 80 objects will be assessed. In March, "Clover" was included in the taxonomy of green projects in Russia.

Sources:

https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3630399

https://sber.pro/publication/zelenaia-taksonomiia-chto-eto-takoe-i-kakovy-novye-kriterii-dlia-zelionykh-proektov/

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