Final answer:
Alternative rating systems for green buildings include an Alternative Energy Matrix that compares energy sources' attributes using a color-coded system. Criteria like domestic usability and efficiency help assess each energy source's environmental impact. Custom weightings can provide individualized insights into the comparative advantages of different energy sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alternative Rating Systems for Green Buildings
Explaining alternative rating systems for assessing green buildings involves understanding various metrics that can guide future energy implementation. An Alternative Energy Matrix is utilized to compare the attributes of each energy source based on different criteria marked with a color code, where blue indicates positive attributes, yellow neutral, and red negative. These criteria include factors like whether the source can be used domestically (backyard), and the system's efficiency, where over 50% earns a positive score. Moreover, the matrix allows for the application of individual valuing of criteria through a customized weighting scheme to re-score and re-order the alternatives.
Sustainable architecture, or green architecture, has been a significant movement since the 1980s, emphasizing the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems. The matrix presented for comparing various energy sources aids in discerning their relative advantages and disadvantages. Attributes such as the potential for domestic usage or the efficiency of the energy source are evaluated, which are essential for sustainable design, contributing to reducing environmental impacts and promoting conservation of energy.
When applying custom weightings to the matrix, significant findings may include surprises in the ordering of energy sources or shifts in the perceived viability of fossil fuels compared to more sustainable options. Such evaluation tools are vital for architects and developers invested in reducing the environmental footprint of their projects and ensuring resource conservation for the future.