Green Construction
Green construction is a method that favors avoidance of damage to the environment (as much as possible) while utilizing perishable and recycled natural resources, resulting in maximum energy savings. Among other purposes, it strives to create a comfortable, healthy and pleasant living / working environment while saving on energy, water and raw materials.
As expected, the green trend has been gaining momentum over the last several years. However, in Israel it is advancing slowly compared to other countries. Standard # 5281 is Israel’s standard of green construction and is currently being promoted in Israel. This standard can be applied to both new buildings and existing buildings that are being renovated. Buildings that fulfill the standard’s requirements will be defined as sustainable green buildings.
The process of granting the standard is done in two steps:
- The first step relates to the planning phase, and includes the plans’ approval by the authorities. The planning is rated according to a chart of certain standards and obligations.
- The second step is done be evaluating the completed building and ensuring that the actual implementation matches the planning. The results of these steps constitute the building’s final rating. The minimal rating is 55 points and the maximal rating is over 90 points. The rating is determined by a lab that has been certified for this purpose.
As of the end of 2016, 329 buildings have been certified as fulfilling the standard, and 650 additional buildings were in the process of being tested. Some 50 buildings have been erected according to foreign standards such as Leed Breeam and others. Most green buildings in Israel are residential condominiums, and a few are office buildings or public and educational buildings. The ministry responsible for the standard is the Ministry of Environmental Protection in collaboration with the Standards Institution, and this is the entity that authorizes the marking of a building with Israeli Standard Mark 5281.
Quality of life and ecological contribution:
The important benefits of green construction as far as quality of life and ecological contribution are slowly making their way to the general society’s conscience. More and more people choose to build their homes using this method. Some of the green construction’s top benefits include year-round climatic control thanks to optimal thermal insulation, considerable reduction of on-site construction waste, improved natural lighting, minimal maintenance needs after construction has been completed and more.
At Austec Shamir we have been building green right from the beginning (1991). As time progressed, we improved the green qualities of our houses to even higher levels. For us, green construction is not a slogan, but a practical principle that we actually implement in the buildings we construct.
We do it out of ideology and out of the understanding that the consumer is smart and wants to live in a high quality home that utilizes green principles. A home that provides comfort must save on energy and preserve the environment for future generations. Austec Shamir is one of the leading green construction companies in Israel.