CategoryArchitecture

Sustainable Architecture Explained

Architecture, Sustainability

Today, most of the countries you can see a focus on building sustainable architectures and implementation of sustainable architecture strategies. The majority of public buildings are based on sustainable architecture today. Among all the cost of the development is given utmost consideration for all kinds of civil building planners. Even though its sustainable architectures demand a little more, it is very useful in the long run. When you think about the future, it actually saves a lot compared to other architectures. Sustainable architectures can lead to regenerative future, well-being, and it also has impacts on air quality.

Strategies Explained for Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable Architecture can be understood as the utilization of design strategies that help in reducing negative environmental impact from an environment built or architecture developed. This architecture considers energy management, site landscape, and storm water management as well. These aspects are taken into consideration when designing and planning the architecture and it uses environment-friendly systems and building materials for construction.

When public buildings are designed keeping in mind aspects of sustainability, it follows certain sustainable architecture strategies. There are majorly five very important sustainable architecture strategies.

Passive Sustainable Design

There is a set of passive strategies. Some of them are like taking into consideration climate, sun orientation when it comes to placing windows and all other operations. This is nothing but, managing the daylight in the right way and taking care of natural ventilation. Considering all these, it is possible to reduce energy consumption in a building. For some types of climate, it is also possible to use thermal mass techniques and through which you can reap solar energy. There are some types of walls that can be built in a way so that they absorb sunlight. The same wall gives it out at night and reduces energy consumption.

Active Sustainable Design

The architects should consult electrical and mechanical engineers for reducing energy consumption and other issues. By doing this, they can easily implement high-efficiency plumbing, electrical, and HAVC systems along with other energy-efficient systems. By doing this, you can implement devices and systems which leave small environmental footprints.

Renewable Energy Systems

Always think about using renewable energy systems. Implement systems that make use of wind and solar energy. Through this, it is possible to save a lot of energy and make use of natural resources. Along with this, it is also possible to make use of passive design strategies for the highest effects.

Green Building Finishes and Materials

Architects should also think about the usage of steel, concrete, lumber, and finishing materials like furnishings and carpet from companies that are responsible for the environment. These products should come from companies that are making use of environmentally responsible techniques in manufacturing goods. They utilize recycled materials and give out environment-friendly goods.

Native Landscaping

When it comes to water consumption, landscaping can make a big impact especially for civic buildings. Irrigation needs can be reduced by planting trees, plants, and grasses that are native to the area. Landscaping is one of the passive energy strategies which is very helpful in saving the resources. Tress must be planted so that they shade the window and roof. This will keep the building cool and that way it reduces energy consumption. A lot of tech companies with recently established brick and mortar headquarters have adopted this in their design. FF Networks, an operator of free online meet and fuck sites , utilized native landscaping among other sustainable architecture principles to create a campus that is fully sustainable.

Stormwater Management

Natural water can be maintained by making the stormwater to get absorbed by the ground. Always make the right arrangements so that rather getting evaporated the rainwater gets absorbed by the ground. It is very important to build a separate, well-planned stormwater management system. You can just allow the water to get absorbed wherever possible. There needs a defined system that takes care of natural absorption.

Make it easy

For achieving sustainable buildings there are many things that need to be taken care of. First of all, you need an experienced architect who has expertise in building sustainable architecture. Without an experienced architect, sustainable architecture can be really daunting. The main reason behind this is, when you decide to be a sustainable architecture, there are many things you should consider and it can be really hard.

Management of stormwater, reducing energy consumption, taking care of water resources, and utilizing energy-efficient systems can be really challenging. But, once you achieve this architecture, you will understand the benefits of it for the environment and for people living in the building.

Final Thoughts

It is possible to achieve sustainable architecture for a building by considering sustainable architecture strategies. These strategies are very helpful in saving the environment and they should be used for all new buildings. Even though the cost of implementing these strategies seems a little costly, they save you a lot of money in the long run by saving on energy resources. More than saving money, this architecture is meant to utilize natural resources and reduce energy consumption. It is designed to save the mother earth and help the future of mankind.

What is Environmental Design?

Architecture, Environmental Design

The human population of the world has been increasing by leaps and bounds. Doomsayers are envisioning that the planet Earth will soon reach its maximum capacity for bearing life on its surface and self destruct. Provided of course, environmental conditions do not take a nose dive, before that, due to climate warming, and end it all anyway. In the middle of all the naysayer’s pessimistic views, groups of positive thinkers have emerged who have turned to a new discipline in science, which aims to adapt and create new environmental conditions so as to reverse the trend of environmental destruction. Instead positive steps are envisaged, such that, the total impact on human health and the environment of a Product, Process or Service is considered and designed to be safeguarded. The question to be answered, therefore, is: What is Environmental Design?

Environment defined

Environment simply means our surroundings. This can be Biotic / Living Surroundings or Abiotic / Non-living Surroundings. Abiotic things or events are governed by physical, chemical or other laws and forces. Biotic/Living organisms operate under separate laws of the living, which constantly seek to self-improve according to the laws of Nature. Amongst all living beings, only Man is considered to have the gift of consciousness, independent thinking and freedom of decision making. Only Man can actually improve his environment and only Man can destroy it. Environment is therefore both an external and internal fabric that envelops us, and which we need to improve our chances of better living and ultimate survival.

Environmental Design

All living organisms try to adapt themselves to their environment, and die out if they fail to adapt. Only Man tries to control his environment and completely redesign it so as to be the master of his own destiny. So, What is Environmental Design? Environmental Design is the science of attempting to gain a better understanding of the surrounding environment, and then to apply that knowledge to design the environment to suit the ultimate goal of improved living and physical surroundings.

Environmental Design of Projects

Any project operates in an environment with which the project interacts. These project environments maybe: Operational, Physical, Ecological, Social, Cultural, Financial, Economic, Organizational and even Psychological.

Major Environmental Design Problems

Some problems have been gradually creeping up on us, as we march towards greater conditioning of our environment to suit our progress. Desertification, Deforestation and loss of Biodiversity have been with us for some time now. Disposal of wastes is becoming a chronic headache. But three physical phenomena which are inter-related and may yet cause the Earth itself severe damage and which are all mostly man-made are Greenhouse Effect, Ozone Depletion and Global Warming. All these problems are now being tackled on a war footing.

Design Action Plan

The EAP (Environmental Action Plan) was launched by the UNO and GGLO, in 2007, to not just to measure but actually decrease any project impact on the environment by the environmental design in key areas, such as, Consumables, Energy and Water use, Transportation, Renovations, Indoor environmental quality and Greenhouse gas emissions.