Green Buildings in Pursuit of Healthy and Safe Human Living Environment

Abstract Emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere resulting from the combustion of fuels in the energy production process and road traffic intensity are a key determinants of poor air quality in cities and the creation of an unfriendly environment for people to live in, which has a significant impact on their safety and health. The first step to reducing emissions is to reduce energy consumption. The ecological effect resulting from the thermal modernization of existing residential building stock was estimated. Nature-based solutions were proposed to compensate for the lost green areas in favor of gray infrastructure in the form of green roofs and walls. The possibility of improving environmental conditions by introducing this type of solutions into the urban tissue was assessed. Depending on the type of vegetation, one m2 of green cover is able to absorb an average of 2.3 kg of CO2 and 0.2 kg of particulate matter from the air per year. Renewable energy sources are an important element of green buildings. Heat pump may be the most advantageous solution in minimizing emissions combined with low operating costs. Obtaining energy from geothermal sources would be equally beneficial in terms of reducing emissions, but there are risks changes in groundwater levels or soil damage. Solar energy is one of the leading renewable energy sources, especially in hot water installations, where it is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.