The Unsustainable Direction of Green Building Codes: A Critical Look at the Future of Green Architecture

Buildings are a major contributor to global energy consumption and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. In light of the climate crisis, changes in way we design, construct use buildings needed reduce their environmental impact. Green Building Codes (GBCs) rating systems have been developed around world as basis for green building practices. However, several studies raised doubts about actual performance certified buildings. Moreover, they per unit area approach assess resources rather than capita, penalizing small or those with high occupancy, ignoring concepts equity shared common effort which central sustainable design. this paper propose adjustments GBCs encourage new ways designing evaluating We introduce Occupancy Correction Factor (OCF) prioritizes smaller more densely occupied reducing land use, total operational embodied energy. Results show ratings one three levels both up down, compared original ratings. addition, prioritization high-efficiency Low-Energy Nearly Zero-Energy over Net Zero Energy buildings, encouraging innovative urban design enhance solar access electricity production potential on-site nearby.