Sustainable Architecture For A Sustained Future

Sustainable Architecture For A Sustained Future

Sustainable architecture is simply means that environmentally friendly design techniques in the field of architecture, Sustainable Architecture shows systems approach to design and construction in which the various components such as alternative power recourses (passive solar techniques, wind power, geothermal energy etc), proper use of site, proper use of materials, earth air conditioning, vapor-permeable ceilings, and cellulose insulation, health and safety, aesthetic appearance, contextual responsiveness etc, operate wisely to achieve environmental goals

Why Need Of Sustainable Architecture

Different countries have different cultures and way of designing buildings are in relevance with their cultures, in early days constructions were link with nature and most of the time materials, that used for constructions, were selections of the nature, at that time there were not any environmental problem or any material problem owing to those buildings (domestic houses ) were tally with the environment and the material also was renewable however with the time this has been changed and in present situation cultural oriented and environmentally friendly houses, buildings are being disappearing.

In the present day early situation has been drastically changed and terms like cost management, resources management, safety, optimum use of energy, environmental impact etc, are arising and it has create a negative impact on the survival of people and the industry.

Sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, resources and development space

It is our responsibility

We need to live more lightly on the earth, because the degeneration of our environment is affecting not only our survival, but the survival of other living beings on the planet. We can not ignore the impact we have on the earth's ecosystems. The way of people are living, the choices of them providing for their needs, will have an enormous influence on the quality of life of every living being. Now is the time to take responsibility for the consequences of our life styles, we are the people who are representing the construction industry, therefore it is our responsibility to show the correct path to people

Areas where it is possible to use Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable architecture is a profound subject and use of this subject in the field is also cover very large area, therefore it is difficult to discuss all the subject matters and there practice in the field, using a report like this. However this is most sought after topic to discuss, therefore it has been selected few major areas where sustainable architecture is necessary to use.

1. Sustainable Architecture with Site , Climate and Size and Shape of the building

1.1. Respect for site

In earlier days when it is being needed to prepare a site for a house or any kind of building it was doing with the help of the labors and they didn't do a considerable change to the site and they just construct their buildings in respect to the site that means they construct their building according to the site conditions there for the stability, aesthetic and contextual response was great for those buildings, however today this site preparation procedure is doing with heavy machinery and  drilling , blasting also can be taken a place when it is necessary, today what the people doing is they are preparing the site according to their need, this procedure may loose the stability, aesthetic and contextual response of the building

Respect for site means to respect for the nature therefore it is need to concentrate on following factors before constrictions is taking a place

• Will any natural spaces or wilderness be developed?
• Will buildings be expanded into protected natural areas?
• Is an Environmental Impact Assessment needed and has it been prepared?
• What steps have been taken to protect natural spaces, habitats or species?
• What restorative or rehabilitative measures will be taken?
• Will any habitat or species be harmed or eliminated so that it cannot be remedied?
• Will any significant cultural site be affected?
• What steps have been taken to protect such cultural site(s)?
• Have energy and water conservation technologies, waste management measures and energy-efficient principles and building technology guided the design process in a meaningful way?

2. Energy conservation and use of renewable energy resources

Under the sustainable architecture it is being discussed a need of constructing a house which need least possible power specially through (fossil fuels) to heat or cool the interior. When designing energy conserving house the following fact must be considered

• The use and cost of energy in buildings on a long-term basis,
• The climatic characteristics in terms of solar radiation, temperature, humidity and wind
• Thermal comfort of the occupants
• Architectural guidelines for effective solar design
• The building envelope: Mass, glazing, day lighting, insulation, ventilation and systems.
• User control mechanisms
• The incorporation of renewable fuels into building design

Good design can greatly reduce our energy problems. Use correct building orientation, appropriate amount of glass, window placement, size of roof overhang, etc, insulated homes: insulated walls, ceilings, floors and foundations, energy-efficient windows, insulated window coverings, window shades, insulated doors, insulated hot water lines, weather sealing

Energy-efficient appliances and fixtures such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, proper hot water heaters, energy-efficient heating systems, fans, including whole-house fans, air-to-air exchangers, And proper use of these things is the way of energy conservation

2.1. Alternative energy and their use

Some techniques of using alternative energy are very simple and those are well-proven solutions, most of which are totally simple to implement, but it is a fact to be really surprised because no country has been given a substantial consideration about this

2.1.1.      Solar Heating

Solar heating is a good and reliable way of providing sustainable electricity for any use. Sun is being a place where it generates power without diminutive and most of the places in the world having direct sun light which is enough to generate power by using photovoltaic panels this must be the best way of generating power.  Roofs are often angled toward the sun to allow photovoltaic panels to collect at maximum efficiency, electricity gain through the photovoltaic panels can be used for any usage, water heating is one of the major power consume procedure in the house, this solar heating can be used to water heating for zero cost therefore it will be a good practice if people can use solar heating to at least to heat water

2.1.2.      Wind Power

Wind is another kind of power generating source we can use free of charge, if the building site situated in a area where it is normally having good wind conditions we can use this system, under the sustainable architecture here it will be discussed how this is been operate cheaply, because actually if a domestic user select this system sometimes this may not cheep system to gain electricity for him, advantages and disadvantages are common to  this system  also and under any circumstances the user cant operate a system like this

This report is providing the information about what are the eligible places to operate a system like this and, it will be discussed the advantages and disadvantages

2.1.3.      Geothermal energy

This is also another way of having power specially this systems can be used to water heating, normally temperature of  in side of the earth is high, under this procedure that temperature will be collect and used

3. Sustainable Architecture and Construction

Here it will be discussed about creating a healthy built environment using resource efficient

3.1. Minimize resource consumption - conserve and reduce use of resources.

Conservation supports the principles of sustainability; it is minimize the resource consumption, resent past years it has been used materials without any conservation usually for reasons of short-term economic advantage and to day it has led to a panic situation of shortage of material in the world and some countries have to import necessary materials from other countries for constructions hence under this ground the cost of the materials is sky rocketing therefore it is need to manage the resource consumption

3.2. Maximize resource reuse - avoid and reduce waste.

Another side of sustainability is avoid and reduce wastage whenever it is possible to reuse a building it should be considered and if the building can not be reused then it should go to refurbishment, like wise as much as possible building should be maintain and used, if the refurbishment doesn't safe and it is not eligible to reuse then only it should go to demolition, there are building elements like windows, tile, wooden material etc, which is potential for reuse therefore it should be careful to remove those elements safely before being demolished

3.3. Use local material

In any where of this world we can find natural resources that can be used for our purposes, it is need a very little processing effort to convert them into materials that we want, most commonly found resources are, rock, sand, trees, clay, limestone are some of them actually if someone need to build a house these things are enough for it, and a house which is being made with local materials, will give a good natural and interesting look, hence before going to artificial or imported material it is wise to consider about local material which is cheap economically.

3.4. Use Natural material

A building, which is being made with naturally made materials, is better to live with. as an example a floor which is being made by using wood is very comfortable compared with cement or tile floor and just because of the resilient characteristic of the wood it would not give hurt when someone fall down on it. Also choosing natural materials will reduce the pollution often associated with their manufacture process for every ton of portland cement that is manufactured, an equal amount of carbon dioxide is released into the air. And then there is the matter of health, natural materials are much less likely to adversely affect your health

3.5. Use renewable or recyclable resources.

Using renewable material or recyclable material will reduced the necessity of reproducing and also keeping them out of the landfill, not only that producing a material means not a simple process which sometimes use heavy machinery, labor, fuel etc, reusing a product means we reserve those things to future.

3.6. Protect the natural environment.

Population is increasing day by day, and increasing population means that the increasing of the need of the people, they need food, transport, buildings, etc.  Increasing these needs means that it is increasing the people's involvement with the nature therefore we should follow a sustainable procedure to protect the natural environment.

Sustainable architecture which describe environmentally friendly design techniques and systems approach to design and construction, will be help for a sustained future, in this report it has been discussed problems which have taken a place, and related remedies that we can follow under sustainable architecture