7.2.1 Vegetation around the building

Maximizing the amount of vegetation inside and outside buildings affects positively the thermal performance of buildings. This could result in shading of the external surfaces of the building, shading the opened spaces, reducing and filtering the dust in the air, and elevating the humidity level [70]. However, vegetation in such climatic conditions could be expensive because of the limitation in the water supply for irrigation and by turn could be against the green architecture principles (Figure 6). Specific types of trees and irrigation technology should be selected to best suit the climatic context.

Figure 6. Vegetation around the building (done by the author after Autodesk Ecotect).

Green Building Rating Systems as Sustainability Assessment Tools: Case Study Analysis DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87135

Grass area has been avoided since it needs potable water for sprinkler irrigation system. According to the WHO guidelines for the use of treated wastewater for irrigation, gray water could not be used for adjacent area for man activity [71, 72], also because gray water can affect negatively the sprinkler heads. Moreover, highefficiency drip irrigation systems can be 95% efficient, compared with 60–70% for sprinkler or spray irrigation systems [73]. Also, the use of native or adapted vegetation on the project site can assist project teams with earning more credits regarding sustainable sits.
