Sustainable architecture design uses techniques to achieve sustainability in energy, land, water usage, and building materials. It considers geographic features and uses renewable energy sources, alternative building materials, and sustainable landscaping to reduce environmental impact.
Sustainable architecture design uses types of design techniques to achieve greater sustainability in energy, land and water usage as well as building materials. Sustainable energy design takes into account climate and natural geographic features in an effort to use those attributes to reduce impact on the environment. Energy savings can be achieved to a greater extent in new construction, as the choices are many in the pre-construction phase.
For example, when planning to build a house on a lot, sustainable architecture design should take into account geographic features, such as the orientation of a lot with respect to the angle of sunlight during the day and the seasons. This sunlight factor can be considered both a negative and a positive potential on the overall energy consumption of the structure. If there is abundant sunlight from one direction, solar panels can be installed on the roof. At the same time, window coverings can be designed to respond to more or less light through manual or automatic means, with the goal of reducing the amount of heating or cooling needed.
Another type of green architecture addresses the energy needed to maintain a certain level of comfort. Many possibilities are available to reduce energy consumption and they include technology that regulates energy production, stores energy, produces energy and conserves energy through active or passive means. For example, for a home located in a windy location, a small wind turbine could offer the homeowner low-cost renewable energy generation.
Choosing building materials is another type of sustainable architectural design. The choice of traditional building materials has emerged over time in various cultures, with people generally using abundant local materials to erect buildings. These included plants, stones and rocks, wood and animal hair, fur or skins.
In modern societies, specification-compliant building codes have been developed for lift, zoning, and other methods used both to make buildings safer and to restrict development in certain areas. The challenge in designing sustainable architecture is that these materials are not necessarily the most scientific choice, but because they are traditional and building codes have been included, they are easier to use. Alternative building materials can incorporate natural fibers and materials, as well as blends of fibers and resins called composites.
An example of this type of architectural design would be straw bale building. Straw bales are stacked and placed in the spaces between the outer and inner walls. Because agricultural practices around the world produce straw in abundance, the material is readily available and inexpensive, offering significant reductions in heating and cooling energy costs. Composites are lightweight, yet very strong, and can replace other manufactured materials that require more energy to produce and ship.
Landscaping in sustainable architecture design is another type of design technique. Choosing plants that are best suited to the local environment can reduce water consumption while preserving the topsoil. Replacing the traditional grassy lawn with sustainable plantings of native grasses and plants can also eliminate mowing.
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