THE term ‘Green’ building does not refer to painting your house a certain colour; rather, it is a concept that seeks to promote efficient use of energy and water and reduction of pollution when constructing buildings. In Guyana, we experience a tropical climate; therefore, we need to construct our homes to suit this type of climate. Firstly, we need to construct our homes in such a way to regulate the temperature and keep it as cool and fresh as possible to reduce our reliance on air conditioning units. To do this, homes can be constructed with an extended shade roof which will block the sun from heating up the house. These extended roofs also create outdoor living spaces. Planting trees close to your home is also another way to keep a house cool and beautiful.
Emphasis should also be placed on ventilation. To maximize airflow throughout the house, windows should be placed on as many walls as possible. Vents can be placed above these windows, as another way of ensuring the house is cooled in a natural way. To prevent bugs from entering the home, mesh can be placed in windows and vents. To reduce the temperature within the house, the outdoor walls and roof can be painted a light colour which will reflect heat. An additional option for cooling and air circulation is ceiling fans.
Another factor to be considered is making use of natural lighting. Having a lot of windows will ensure that the house is properly illuminated during the day. And by installing curtains in windows, you are able to control how much light enters the home. Just like the outdoor walls, indoor walls and ceilings should also be painted a light colour to help keep rooms illuminated using less energy.

Saving Water
The average volume of drinking water flushed down an old-style toilet with every push of the handle is equal to the entire daily water use of a family in some countries in Africa. By simply adding low-flow showerheads and taps, water consumption is cut in half. Another great innovation is to design your bathroom so that water from your shower or sink is recycled to use a second time for flushing your toilet. It’s also a great idea to build your house to include a system to collect rainwater.

Using Solar Power
Solar power is rapidly improving and becoming more cost effective. Since we are blessed with a lot of sunshine in the tropics, we can consider harnessing solar power to provide electricity for our homes. It is basically free and offers an alternative to the polluting sources of energy that are commonly used.

Find the following words that relate to Green Buildings.
conserve, efficient, green, low flow, natural light, shade, solar, trees, tropical, ventilation, vents, windows

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.