Why sustainable architecture

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To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSpruce. I really hope that all architecture students are taking sustainability into account now. Sustainability is to be taken into account by every architect when he is thinking about design. It is a part of design process which has to be accomplished by every designer…. It is being done here and there, but there needs to be a big push to take this mainstream so that more people and businesses are sustainable.

Thank you for sharing this! James Reyes : I wonder how strong architecture program departments for sustainable development are? You must be logged in to post a comment. Architecture is not a business, not a career, but a crusade and a consecration to a joy that justifies the existence of the earth — Henry Cameron.

Share this Post: Facebook Twitter Pinterest. Comments 11 Related Posts 1 by James Reyes on June 23, - am I wonder how strong architecture program departments for sustainable development are? In , under 5 percent of all businesses were certified, but by the end of that had risen to almost 40 percent. Sustainable architecture is at the front and center of new green building and renovation projects around the world.

It has the potential to significantly benefit both the humans who occupy urban spaces and the surrounding environment. UNEP says that if the industry is to get on track for its goal of net-zero — the balancing of emissions with their removal or elimination — by , the entire value chain of the construction industry including design, construction itself, and operations must increase its efforts to decarbonize by at least percent, a monumental undertaking.

Building materials are just one of the key areas that require improvement. Some companies, such as Woodpecker in Bogota, Columbia, are combining recycled waste such as plastic and coffee husks to create new, sustainable building materials. More surprisingly, wood — one of the oldest building materials in existence — could be a key part of modern sustainable construction.

Buildings that incorporate wood produce fewer overall emissions throughout their lifecycle and help to store carbon within city environments. In contrast to the sustainable options listed above, many traditional post-industrial building materials are harmful.

These include the obvious asbestos as well as the not-so-obvious, such as traditional concrete. Creating concrete involves the blending of cement with water and aggregates such as sand, crushed stone, or gravel. Even though it is the most widely used substance on the planet after water, it is also one of the most destructive.

Approximately 90 million tons of concrete are produced in the U. If the cement industry were a nation, it would be the third largest carbon dioxide emitter after China and the U. When used in cities, it exacerbates inner-city heating and is one of the key contributors to Urban Heat Island Effect.

This in turn compounds the effects of global warming, causing even more intense heat waves in built-up areas, and worsening cumulative warming significantly.

Because of its huge footprint, trading concrete for sustainable alternatives — or recycling existing materials and structures — will significantly reduce the negative impact of the construction sector. Sustainable architecture represents a key opportunity to revolutionize zero carbon building by standardizing highly energy efficient structures, renewable energy, and even carbon offsetting, where required.

But it also supports housing, employment, and various other benefits. Sustainable design and construction will typically include some combination of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient lighting and heating, good use of natural light, waste reduction, water efficiency, and effective insulation.

Construction and design will also typically include a full lifecycle assessment to ensure the building retains optimal sustainability for as long as possible, not just during construction itself. In addition to its potential as a mitigator of climate change, the industry also represents an opportunity to support green economic growth through employment opportunities, as well as creating more sustainable and high-quality housing.

Both of which are in high demand and low supply, particularly in the U. The buildings and construction sector currently provides up to 10 percent of national employment in the U.