Monday, May 5, 2008

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE















Sustainable Architecture simply means buildings and constructions that are made in contrast to the land and its surroundings. Sustainable architecture or green architecture is not a trend; it should not be treated as a trend or some new fashion. Sustainable architecture is all about being natural & following the human instinct being impressed by nature and its every day phenomenon. Natural landscapes all over the planet offer every thing required to create an inhabit, may it middle of a desert or top of a frosty mountain. While practicing Sustainable architecture elements nature has to offer on site or maybe all over the landscape but local are picked and worked with. Sustainable architecture Respects it ambiance, and the instead of standing out tries to become the part of the larger scenery, thus insuring sustainability as long as the landscape is sustainable.
Sustainable architecture is nothing new; in fact mankind was practicing sustainable architecture instinctively until the great industrial revolution and globalization over shadowed every aspect of our subsist.
Sustainable architecture resources, consumption & economical insecurity:
Sustainable architecture, available resources and consumption have a strong correlation. Sustainability can’t be achieved until consumption is based on passive use of the resources available. In modern economy with the increase in income consumption also increases, which leads to resource wastage.
Sustainable architecture tries to manage this resource wastage, through clever use of materials, and energy. Most modern architectures use standard building materials and designs; this leads to a lot of energy consumption. Ultimately increase in income is spend on managing such designs, this leads to economical insecurity. Sustainable architecture is a long-term investment that starts repaying with in couple of years.
Sustainable architecture & environment:
Sustainable architecture is another name of environment friendly architecture. Sustainable architecture is a serious approach towards decreasing our daily energy needs at work on roads and at home. In sustainable architecture aspects such as sustainable building materials, energy efficiency, use of renewable energy sources, waste management and building placement are considered carefully to make the most out of the structure. All these aspects of sustainable architecture decrease the negative impacts of any building on the environment.
Sustainable architecture & energy efficiency:
The most important function of sustainable architecture is energy efficiency, until the building stands. In sustainable deigns architects use different methods of constructions along with different materials to reduce the need of energy as much as possible. Sustainable architecture also uses techniques and methods through which buildings produce or capture there own energy using renewable energy sources actively and passively. Insulation is considered to be the most cost effective method of saving on heating, air conditioning. Well-insulated structures need less heat generating and air dissipating power. Ventilation comes next in sustainable architecture any design with poor ventilation consumes a lot of energy on air conditioning, properly designed ventilation in accordance to the local environment and weather reduced the need of air conditioning to less then half. In modern standard skyscrapers and houses, we relay on artificial or grid based energy so much so that 40% of world’s energy is consumed in these standard convenient designs.
Passive use of solar energy is one of the most effective features of sustainable architecture, use of high thermal mass products along with high quality insulations retain heat energy. Sustainable architecture also works with mobile solar shading such as shutters and blinds. Passive solar energy used in sustainable architecture also involves skylights that bring in sunlight thus reducing the need of electric lights during the day.
Active use of solar energy in sustainable architecture involves, generating electricity through, photovoltaic solar cells and solar water heaters. Energy efficient homes and building using solar water heaters, skylights and thermal insulation require very small amount of electricity to run machinery such as kitchen appliances other electronics, thus in sustainable architecture less electricity is consumed for heating, lighting and cooling the buildings.
Sustainable architecture & renewable energy sources:
Sustainable architecture not only creates energy efficient or low energy buildings but also formulate these buildings to produce their own energy. Many sustainable architecture designs have integrated photovoltaic solar cell on rooftops, along with solar water heaters for electricity and warm water. Another type or alternative energy source is also being infused with sustainable architecture and that is wind. Small wind turbines, and aero turbines are being installed on roofs and on poles in front of houses and skyscrapers. The most recent example of such sustainable architecture is BAHRAIN WORLD TRADE CENETER with three colossal 29 meters wind turbines installed in the middle of the two triangular towers.
Sustainable architecture & building placement:
No design falls into sustainable architecture unless the often-ignored aspect of appropriate building placement is brought under consideration. An energy efficient building in the middle of woods or far from residential urban areas is in reality an environmental deserter. Creating light urban mixed up residential commercial and industrial localities is sustainable. As a result of such light urban developments energy consumption of traveling reduces, thus carbon emissions decrease.
Sustainable architecture & sustainable materials:
Sustainable architecture uses materials such as fiberglass insulation, refractive glass, recycled wood, bamboos and non-toxic VOC paints and binding products. These days houses are being constructed with highly sustainable and energy efficient products such as straw bale and sand tubes.
Houses built out of straw bales are great for capturing thermal energy and sustaining them.
Sustainable architecture & waste management:
Sustainable architecture tends to recycle and reuse on site-produced waste such as gray water management, composting toilets in order to reduce sewage. Similarly sustainability includes composting and reducing kitchen waste.
Sustainable architecture and social sustainability:
Sustainable architecture leads to a sustainable living in a community. Sustainable buildings are equipped with features that promote sharing and communication among the inhabitants. Most common is power saving and sharing. Sustainable architecture also promotes community based micro agriculture. Rural studio in Hale county Alabama and Hundertwasser building and Dancing Rabbit Eco Village are some successful sustainable communities, where sustainable architecture is promoting social sustainability.
Sustainable architecture mankind and environment:
Sustainable architecture is no industry or a specific style of construction. About two centuries back mad brick and lime binding made two feet thick walls perfect shelters all over subcontinent, there was no concept of air conditioning as the roofs of the houses were high and ventilation was simple but effective. These high roof thick mud plastered wall worked as insulation in winters with closed windows. Europe was using stones and lime, which was a perfect shelter for freezing winters. People lived and survived without central heating for centuries with local heating systems. All over Europe and even America there were back yard kitchen gardens that provided great sustainability. Sustainable architecture is more like green foot prints, its like respecting the land and what ever the environment has to offer. Why should houses made in Newyork & Maxico city be same and utalize similar construction materials and energy when the landscapes are not same and the environment is opposite as well. Sustainable architecture dose not promote passive living, instead it helps us live fully and actively and harvest every thing nature offers us jealously with out wasting, may it be sunlight, wind water, food sustainable architecture is just an attempt to preserve and utilize intelligently.

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