Development of a Tool for Analyzing the Sustainability of Residential Buildings in Ohio

摘要

The building industry is one of the biggest consumers in terms of natural resources and one of the biggest producers of pollution thereafter, which has always been a cause for concern. Various constituents of the building industry together use one third of all the energy and two thirds of all electricity consumed in the United States (U.S.). According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), buildings in the U.S. account for 36% of total energy use and 65% of electricity consumption; 30% of raw materials use; 30% of waste output, which is 136 million tons annually; and 12% of potable water consumption, Furthermore, buildings are a major source of the pollution that causes urban air quality problems, and the pollutants that contribute to climate change. Buildings account for 49% of sulfur dioxide emissions, 25% of nitrous oxide emissions, and 10% of the particulate emissions, all of which damage urban air quality. Buildings also produce 35% of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, the main green house gas. Unhealthy indoor air is found in 30% of the new and renovated buildings worldwide. Typical buildings consume more of our resources than necessary, negatively impact the environment, and generate a large amount of waste. The growing population and technological advancements have added additional burdens on the resources and a point has come when the available resources need to be preserved and conserved for future generations. With the growing demand and construction, it becomes imperative to have methods to analyze both the performance and the influence of buildings and to provide accurate assessments to improve the living quality.