What is “green” construction?

08/ 10/ 2026

Listen to online Stop   Can a building be comfortable for people to live in and, at the same time, safe for the environment? Today, the answer to this question is increasingly being sought not only by architects and engineers, but also by developers, manufacturers of building materials, and residents themselves. After all, a building affects the environment not only during construction but also throughout its operational life. Electricity consumption, water usage, and other factors all leave a significant environmental footprint. Some of the trending areas in modern construction include energy efficiency, energy independence, process digitization, and “green” construction. We’d like to discuss the latter in more detail. “Green” construction is the practice of building and subsequently using a structure in a way that does not negatively impact the environment. It involves the rational use of resources while creating a comfortable and safe environment for people. When applying this method, it is important to consider the entire life cycle: from extraction, production of materials, and transportation to the actual construction and subsequent use of the building. Among the key principles of “green” construction, the following components can be highlighted: energy efficiency; balanced resource management; reducing harmful impacts on the environment and, where possible, creating a positive impact on it; improving comfort and quality of life for users. It is worth noting the point about effective waste management and increasing opportunities for reuse. In other words, this refers to the approach where materials are viewed not merely as a resource that eventually becomes waste, but as a material that can be reused, repaired, or recycled. Why is this important for the environment?  The construction sector is one of the main drivers of the global environmental crisis. According to reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), this sector leads in both raw material consumption and waste generation. According to UNEP studies, 34–37% of global CO2 emissions are associated with the construction and operation of buildings. The Role of a Heat Recovery Unit in “Green” Construction One of the main goals of green construction is maximum energy efficiency. High-quality thermal insulation, airtight windows and doors… But there is another aspect worth mentioning in this context—a ventilation system with heat recovery. The PRANA heat recovery unit is an energy-efficient supply and exhaust ventilation system that simultaneously removes stale air from the room and brings in fresh air from outside. The unit’s operation is based on heat exchange. As it enters the heat exchanger, the warm exhaust air from the room transfers its energy to the cool supply air from outside. Thus, the fresh air enters the room already preheated.  Thanks to the use of a copper heat exchanger, PRANA heat recovery units retain up to 98% of the heat. This significantly reduces the load on the heating system and allows for more efficient use of the heat that has already been generated. The less energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature, the smaller the building’s carbon footprint associated with heat production can be. For example, according to calculations, a single PRANA heat recovery unit helps reduce potential CO2 emissions from a room associated with the building’s energy consumption by approximately 1,034 kg per year. To better visualize the scale of this figure, it can be compared to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees. According to calculations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single urban tree that has been growing for ten years absorbs an average of about 60 kg of CO2 per year. Therefore, 1,034 kg is roughly the amount that 17 such trees can absorb in a year. Of course, this comparison is approximate, since trees’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide depends on their species, age, growing conditions, and other factors. And that’s just one heat recovery unit. If we take a broader view, the potential impact becomes much more significant: hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of PRANA heat recovery units both in Ukraine and around the world. Furthermore, PRANA heat recovery units are made from recyclable materials. Green Construction in Ukraine The transition to “green” construction is becoming increasingly relevant for urban environments. According to the UN, more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and by 2050, this share could approach 70%. The more people live in cities, the more important issues such as energy-efficient housing, air quality, rational use of resources, waste management, and the sustainability of urban infrastructure become. For Ukraine, this area also holds potential for development. The principle of “green” construction could become a strategic foundation for the country’s post-war reconstruction. Certain steps toward aligning with European construction standards have already been adopted and are in effect in Ukraine. In particular, the Law “On Energy Efficiency of Buildings” (2017), DBN V.2.6-31:2016 “Thermal Insulation of Buildings,” and others. The principles of energy efficiency, rational use of resources, high-quality ventilation, and responsible use of materials are gradually becoming part of design and construction practices in Ukraine. For more information, visit the manufacturer’s official website: prana.ua

Can a building be comfortable for people to live in and, at the same time, safe for the environment? Today, the answer to this question is increasingly being sought not only by architects and engineers, but also by developers, manufacturers of building materials, and residents themselves. After all, a building affects the environment not only during construction but also throughout its operational life. Electricity consumption, water usage, and other factors all leave a significant environmental footprint.

Some of the trending areas in modern construction include energy efficiency, energy independence, process digitization, and “green” construction. We’d like to discuss the latter in more detail.

“Green” construction is the practice of building and subsequently using a structure in a way that does not negatively impact the environment. It involves the rational use of resources while creating a comfortable and safe environment for people. When applying this method, it is important to consider the entire life cycle: from extraction, production of materials, and transportation to the actual construction and subsequent use of the building.

Among the key principles of “green” construction, the following components can be highlighted:

• energy efficiency;
• balanced resource management;
• reducing harmful impacts on the environment and, where possible, creating a positive impact on it;
• improving comfort and quality of life for users.

It is worth noting the point about effective waste management and increasing opportunities for reuse. In other words, this refers to the approach where materials are viewed not merely as a resource that eventually becomes waste, but as a material that can be reused, repaired, or recycled.

Why is this important for the environment? 

The construction sector is one of the main drivers of the global environmental crisis. According to reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), this sector leads in both raw material consumption and waste generation. According to UNEP studies, 34–37% of global CO2 emissions are associated with the construction and operation of buildings.

The Role of a Heat Recovery Unit in “Green” Construction

One of the main goals of green construction is maximum energy efficiency. High-quality thermal insulation, airtight windows and doors… But there is another aspect worth mentioning in this context—a ventilation system with heat recovery.

The PRANA heat recovery unit is an energy-efficient supply and exhaust ventilation system that simultaneously removes stale air from the room and brings in fresh air from outside. The unit’s operation is based on heat exchange. As it enters the heat exchanger, the warm exhaust air from the room transfers its energy to the cool supply air from outside. Thus, the fresh air enters the room already preheated.  Thanks to the use of a copper heat exchanger, PRANA heat recovery units retain up to 98% of the heat. This significantly reduces the load on the heating system and allows for more efficient use of the heat that has already been generated. The less energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature, the smaller the building’s carbon footprint associated with heat production can be.

For example, according to calculations, a single PRANA heat recovery unit helps reduce potential CO2 emissions from a room associated with the building’s energy consumption by approximately 1,034 kg per year. To better visualize the scale of this figure, it can be compared to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees. According to calculations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single urban tree that has been growing for ten years absorbs an average of about 60 kg of CO2 per year. Therefore, 1,034 kg is roughly the amount that 17 such trees can absorb in a year. Of course, this comparison is approximate, since trees’ ability to absorb carbon dioxide depends on their species, age, growing conditions, and other factors.

And that’s just one heat recovery unit. If we take a broader view, the potential impact becomes much more significant: hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of PRANA heat recovery units both in Ukraine and around the world.

Furthermore, PRANA heat recovery units are made from recyclable materials.

Green Construction in Ukraine

The transition to “green” construction is becoming increasingly relevant for urban environments. According to the UN, more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and by 2050, this share could approach 70%.

The more people live in cities, the more important issues such as energy-efficient housing, air quality, rational use of resources, waste management, and the sustainability of urban infrastructure become.

For Ukraine, this area also holds potential for development. The principle of “green” construction could become a strategic foundation for the country’s post-war reconstruction. Certain steps toward aligning with European construction standards have already been adopted and are in effect in Ukraine. In particular, the Law “On Energy Efficiency of Buildings” (2017), DBN V.2.6-31:2016 “Thermal Insulation of Buildings,” and others. The principles of energy efficiency, rational use of resources, high-quality ventilation, and responsible use of materials are gradually becoming part of design and construction practices in Ukraine.

For more information, visit the manufacturer’s official website: prana.ua