Plenary talk on the future of green buildings

Focusing on the key IEQ categories of indoor air quality, thermal comfort, lighting and acoustics, his talk attempted to synthesize emerging knowledge related to IEQ and health; and to identify research and practical challenges that may impede the performance of green-rated buildings. This talk also attempted to set the foundations for researchers and green rating system developers to capture immediate and long-term opportunities that can help to form an integrated vision for future directions in green buildings with particular emphasis on human health and well-being. While attention was centered on green rating schemes, the proposed recommendations could find application in any building development, with or without certification.

Prof. Licina concluded his talk by depicting an envisioned future of green buildings what is based on integrated management of human (subjective and objective IEQ, health and human experience) and environmental objectives (circularity, resources and energy use). He concluded: “The envisioned future of green buildings will need to be based on a thorough knowledge of the building and its users, their inter- and intra-individual variability, their spatiotemporal localization, their activities, their history of exposures, together with a capacity of anticipation of the likelihood of future events and preparedness for them.”