Healthy Living through Green Building Technology: Integrating Sustainability and Well-Being

Abstract

The building sector is one of the largest contributors to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 36% of final energy use and 39% of energy-related CO₂ emissions. Green building technology (GBT) has emerged as a transformative approach to address these challenges by integrating renewable energy, sustainable materials, smart systems, and life-cycle perspectives into construction practices. This paper explores the evolution, principles, and applications of GBT, emphasizing its environmental, economic, and social benefits, while also identifying persistent barriers such as high initial costs, policy gaps, and technological limitations. Special attention is given to flood-resilient, natural, and affordable housing models in rural India, where traditional bamboo, thatch, and mud houses—often elevated on stilts—demonstrate inherent climate adaptability. By incorporating hybrid enhancements such as reinforced bases, solar rooftops, and rainwater harvesting systems, these vernacular structures exemplify how indigenous wisdom can be aligned with modern green building technologies to create affordable, sustainable, and disaster-resilient housing. Global case studies, including net-zero and positive energy buildings, further highlight the feasibility of scalable solutions across diverse contexts. The study concludes that advancing GBT through carbon-neutral materials, AI-driven systems, and circular economy models is essential for achieving net-zero goals and ensuring climate-resilient, inclusive development worldwide.