CSR & Sustainability

Green buildings: Bioclimatic design against the climate crisis

LAMDA
03/02/2025•︎
4 minutes
A complex of buildings with green rooftop gardens featuring trees and grass.

The climate crisis ranks among the top global threats, causing severe natural disasters on the planet and degrading the quality of life, particularly in major urban centres. This is due to high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from human activity. It has been proven that the construction sector is one of the main contributors to these increasing emissions. Indeed, within the European Union alone, buildings account for 36% of total greenhouse gas emissions. 

In recent years, the response to this problem has been the construction of so-called green buildings. These are buildings that meet specific construction standards, ensuring their sustainability. Green buildings are the latest trend in the construction industry, especially in large-scale urban regeneration projects. 

What are green buildings 

Green buildings are environmentally sustainable structures, meaning they have a minimal environmental footprint throughout their life cycle: from location and design to construction and operation. There are two key factors that define a green building:

  • Green construction – Relies on the use of low-carbon building materials, such as recycled steel, as well as on reducing waste generated during the construction process. 
  • Bioclimatic design – Makes the most of the climate conditions of each region, e.g. sun, air, wind, to meet a building's heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting needs, with the minimum possible energy consumption. For instance, the proper orientation of a building can reduce its heating needs, while the use of solar panels can power household appliances.
     
A building with vertical gardens, solar panels and wind turbines, surrounded by skyscrapers.

Environmental benefits and value for society

The trend towards the construction of green buildings is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, as sustainability has become a major priority for society. Measurements and simulations in Greece have shown that green buildings lead to 30% energy saving compared to conventional buildings, and up to 80% compared to old buildings without insulation. At the same time, green construction and bioclimatic design improve water management and air quality. 

In addition to the environmental benefit, green buildings enhance the quality of life for residents, as they have lower operating and maintenance costs. They also feature more functional and comfortable spaces, positively affecting mood and well-being. 

The scientific community is working hard towards developing new technologies that will enhance bioclimatic design and elevate building sustainability to new levels. Research has focused on creating buildings that, in addition to being green, exhibit high adaptability to climate phenomena or social changes that affect their use. With technologies such as digital twins, we are now able to create digital replicas of buildings and monitor their sustainability under various possible scenarios.

LEED and BREEAM sustainability certifications

How can we be sure that a building meets sustainability standards? The answer lies in international certifications awarded to buildings that meet specific environmental assessment criteria:

  • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) – Focuses on energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water conservation, building materials and design innovation. There are 4 levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum, depending on the points the inspected building scores in each criterion. LEED-certified buildings have been shown to consume on average 25% less energy and 11% less water than non-certified buildings.
  • BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – Assesses building management, occupant health and well-being, energy, transportation, water conservation, building materials, waste, land use, pollution and adaptation to the climate crisis. Buildings receive between 1 to 5 stars based on their performance. BREEAM certification increases the value of buildings, making them more attractive to environmentally conscious tenants and investors.
A multi-storey tower in front of the sea. Behind it, trees; to the right, a section of the marina with boats.

The 1st green residential skyscraper in Greece by LAMDA Development 

The Riviera Tower is being developed in the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, The Ellinikon. It is the tallest seaside skyscraper in the Mediterranean, standing at 200 metres, and will host over 170 residences with views of the Athens Riviera. It has already been pre-certified with LEED at the Gold level.

The building follows the sustainability model that we apply to all our activities. Its special features include:

  • Biophilic design – With green zones on the façade that connect residents to the natural environment. 
  • Reduced energy consumption – With 15% higher energy efficiency compared to standard new buildings, thanks to modern air conditioning systems, high-performance building envelopes, and the use of photovoltaic systems.
  • Reduced water consumption – With plants that have low irrigation needs and smart irrigation systems that reduce water consumption by 50%.
  • Low carbon footprint – With building materials that generated reduced CO2 emissions during their production.
  • Rich vegetation and biodiversity – With over 22,000 plants and 470 trees in the surrounding area

 

DISCOVER ΤΗΕ ELLINIKON