The potential for energy diversification to optimise buildings' energy performance beyond green ratings

In the broader context of increasing demands for energy associated with expanding population and urbanisation, green building measures are an effective approach to relief the conflict between lowering ecological footprints of buildings and their rapidly growing energy demand. This paper assesses the green building rating tools and the fraction of Energy criterion as contributor to green star rating. The options that can be applied to improve building’s energy consumption profile and, with that, contribute to greater green star rating of the building are further reviewed. Outdoor energy sources such as solar energy, as well as indoor energy sources, e.g. piezoelectric energy, are presented. The conclusion of this study is that it may be possible to achieve low carbon building footprint through the application of renewable energy sources, although some of the technologies remain as components of a concept that is yet to be fully and successfully demonstrated in practice.