Sustaining the Environment through Eco-Buildings

Nowadays society is really worried about nature. Eco-buildings are becoming the reality and increasingly studies are developing to make architecture more environmentally sustainable. Sustainability means not harming the environment and making sure it can last while we move forward. It is a big challenge design a building in harmony with the environment. Architects have an important role to face this obstacle. 

Eco-buildings are designed with purpose to save energy, conserve water, protect natural resources and keep home healthy. For accomplish these goals and make architecture sustainable is necessary to recycling materials, reducing pollution and designing green buildings.

One way to protect nature is through the use of recyclable and renewable materials. Use these materials in buildings can maintain natural resources. In fact, when you recycle or renew materials, these materials are used continuously, so new resources are conserved. Another point, the use of renewable materials, including wood for reforestation, is a way to decrease consumption of energy at each stage of the building process. This energy is reduced because during the extraction and transportation of materials, fabrication, assembly, building erection and maintenance minimum of energy is be used.

According to Lloyd Alter, a past President of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (2013, December 12), using sustainably harvested wood is a way to recycle CO2 because when plants are growing up, they are absorbing CO2 from atmosphere and liberating 02. That's why the new wave of using recycled wood construction is so exciting, and why so many construction companies are using this approach and allowing taller wood buildings. Using reforestation wood in construction is an appropriate action to avoid global climate change and preserve natural resources.

Construction activities affect the soil, air, water and noise pollution. However, green buildings are solutions for alleviate these problems caused by construction. These types of buildings produce less pollution for the world because uses less toxic materials. Furthermore, the trash generated by the construction is reused for recycle.

According to U.S Environmental Protection Agency (2014), during the construction process of green buildings, toxic components are substituted to safer chemistries. When toxic substances are reduced or eliminated during manufacturing process, air quality is improved because the air is keeping clean. If it is possible preserve the environment just changing construction habits, we should make this happen.

Another benefit of using “green” materials in homes is that it helps keep people healthy. Nowadays, people have many illness because of air pollution. According to Robin Pharo (2010, December 1), green-building material manufacturers are creating products to meet the environmental needs of homeowners without compromising durability. It is important consumers select products that don’t release significant pollutants into the building, such as no-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free.

Another option for consumers is they can look for products that carry an emissions certification from a third-party organization, such as Washington,D.C based Green Seal. This type of organization certifies a vast array of products that can affect the indoor air quality of a home or building. Health is the most valuable noun that humans have, so it is very important people allow their time to research about healthy home products.

Green buildings provide positive effects in economy. The initial investment of green building is the harder part of the process because its cost is higher than the traditional buildings and that is the reason why investors are doubt about investment future.

According to, Kampschroer (2009) 12 of the lasts federal building built in the United States were green and they showed an increase of 27% on people satisfaction, due to its bigger satisfaction these buildings have a lower vacancy rates. In addition, they have an economy of energy higher than 25% compared with average of commercial buildings and their operating costs are on average 8 to 9% lower. Finally, green buildings are a good and safe investment for long term, providing 6.6% total return on investment.

When using the appropriate technology, architecture can provide for people a better quality of life because it makes the house a comfortable place with less money. It is increasingly common houses with sunroof and system for rainwater because these technologies make renewable natural resources. Also called rain harvesting, this simple system connect downspouts (gutters) to a central water tank.

Sunroof is a way to collect solar energy. In buildings, collected water can be used for clean common spaces and captured energy can be used for heat water. In addition, using LED lights is a way to decrease consumption of energy in homes because this type of lights have longer operational life and efficiency compared with incandescent bulbs, consequently consumer pay less for get energy service. These simple systems are cost-effective and last for a long time.

In conclusion, the actions to make sustainable world through have been started. Concerning about environment have moved people to think ways to preserve Nature. Also, architecture have a fundamental function of preserve the environment through using recycled and renewable material, producing less pollution during the process of construction and design eco-buildings.

Getting green seal constructors can attractive consumers to buy their buildings because sustainable technologies have impact in consumer’s choice. Constructing more eco-building natures resources could be better utilized and make the process of maintenance the building sustainable which lead for a lower energy consumption and lower solid waste. In other point, If more eco-building were built, the Planet would be a better place, ensuring more quality of life and health for people. Consequently, people would have more life expectancy.

References

Alter, L. (2013, December). Canadian concrete companies running deceptive ad campaign against wood construction. Retrived from http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/canadian-concrete-companies-running-deceptive-ad-campaign-against-wood-construction-Hamlet

Kampschroer,K. (2009) Benefits of Green Buildings on Costs, the Environment and Jobs. Retrivied from http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/103662

Pharo, R. (2010, December 1) Healthy Homes. Qualified Remodeler, 36(12), 18. Retrivied from http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=478e789b-7051-4496-8009-541f591dc94d%40sessionmgr4002&vid=8&hid=4114

Rachmawati, M. (2011, March) Redefinition function in architecture: Integration of nature, technology and humanity. Retrived from http://0-web.b.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=77a17c32-dd24-4eb9-ae8f-ba7689b19138%40sessionmgr114&vid=6&hid=125

U.S Environmental Protection Agency (2014). Components of Green Building. Retrived from http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/components.htm