USGBC and the University of Michigan release report promoting the effects of sustainability in the face of natural disasters

A report issued as part of the National Leadership Speaker Series has drawn significant links between sustainable architectural design and the resiliency of communities in the face of natural disasters. Green Building and Climate Resilience: Understanding Impacts and Preparing for Changing Conditions considers how LEED credits support regional adaptation needs including enhanced water conversation in arid climates, and the ways in which climate resilience in certain structures may increase the potential of achieving performance goals. View the full report here.

Last year, a number of global communities were affected by natural disasters including the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan, widespread floods across Thailand and Tropical Storm Washi in the Philippines, making 2011 the costliest year in terms of properties damaged or destroyed by natural disasters.

With climate change developing at a rapid pace, these problems are only going to be magnified in years to come and this groundbreaking report looks to promote the importance of sustainable design in reducing these often devastating results.

Issued by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the University of Michigan, Green Building and Climate Resilience encourages global leaders to support the sustainability movement in order to address pre- and post-emergency management situations.

Vice President of Research at USGBC, Dr. Chris Pyke, explains: “Every building is designed for a specific range of conditions, such as peak temperature, storm surge and average precipitation. Climate change has the potential to undermine some of these assumptions and potentially increase risks to people and property. Fortunately, there are practical steps we can take to understand and prepare for the consequences of changing environmental conditions and reduce potential impacts.”