Where will your designs be in 500, 1,000, or 1,800 years
I live in the one square mile of London, I live in 1,800 years of architectural diversity, the history is embedded in each brick, stone, or window. Every built environment leaves a literal mark on our planet, a testament to our choices as designers. We strive for aesthetics, for innovation, But… Are we also building for resilience? Resilience is a fundamental component of sustainability. A sustainable system must be resilient to endure and adapt over time. To create a truly sustainable future, we must consider the interconnectedness of our BUILDINGS with the social, economic, and environmental systems that supports it.
Are you familiar with the five P’s of sustainability.
It encompasses the well-being of our communities and the health of our planet. Its holistic vision is represented within the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a partnership to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. These were incorporated in 2015 as part of the 2030 goals of the United Nations.
As architects and designers, our work directly impacts and is impacted by these goals. You will see these goals represented by Both LEED and WELL as they align their criteria with in them. Obviously, the complexity of these challenges cannot be solved by architects alone. Collaboration across all disciplines is the key to unlocking a truly sustainable design. We can no longer afford to design in silos. To create a resilient and thriving buildings, all must work together: architects, engineers, scientists, policymakers, and community members.
So what are the keys principes of sustainable design in the built environment?
Key Principles of Sustainable Design:
Energy Efficiency:
Passive Design: Optimize building orientation, shading, and natural ventilation to reduce energy demand for heating, cooling, and lighting.
High-Performance Envelope: Use insulation, air sealing, and high-performance windows to minimize heat transfer and maximize energy efficiency.
Efficient Systems: Utilize energy-efficient HVAC systems, lighting, appliances, and renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines.
Water Conservation:
Rainwater Harvesting: Collect and reuse rainwater for irrigation, toilet flushing, and other non-potable uses.
Greywater Recycling: Treat and reuse wastewater from showers, sinks, and laundry for irrigation and toilet flushing.
Water-Efficient Fixtures: Install low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads to reduce water consumption.
Xeriscaping: Use drought-tolerant landscaping to minimize irrigation needs.
Material Selection:
Embodied Carbon: Prioritize materials with lower embodied carbon, such as locally sourced wood, recycled steel, and low-carbon concrete.
Recycled Content: Use materials with high recycled content to reduce the demand for virgin resources and minimize waste.
Renewable Materials: Choose materials that can be replenished naturally, such as bamboo, cork, and straw bales.
Healthy Materials: Select materials that are non-toxic and have low VOC emissions to improve indoor air quality.
Waste Reduction:
Design for Deconstruction not demolition: Design buildings so that materials can be easily disassembled and reused at the end of their life.
Modular Construction: Utilize prefabricated modules to minimize construction waste and increase efficiency.
Waste Management Plans: Implement comprehensive waste management plans during construction and operation to reduce waste generation and maximize recycling.
Alone as designers our choices can focus on Embodied Carbon…
50% of All extracted materials are from the construction industry all extracted materials globally!
Concrete is the second most consumed substance on Earth, guess what is the first?
Water! Water is the most consumed and after that is concrete.
So What is Embodied Carbon?
also known as embedded carbon, refers to the total carbon emissions associated with products and materials. Unlike operational carbon, which is emitted during the use of a building (like heating, cooling, and lighting), embodied carbon is released before the building even starts to function.
The Embodied Carbon Cycle:
Extraction & Processing: This initial stage involves extracting raw materials like timber, sand, minerals, and fossil fuels (for energy).
Manufacturing: Raw materials are transformed into products (concrete, steel, glass, textiles).
Transportation: Manufactured materials are transported from factories to construction sites, often over long distances sometimes across the world.
Construction: On-site activities like operating machinery.
Maintenance & Replacement: Over a building's lifetime, components may need maintenance, repair, or replacement, leading to additional embodied carbon emissions.
End-of-Life: The demolition or hopefully deconstruction of a building and the disposal of materials.
So what are we doing? Our decisions are critical.
Architects and designers play this pivotal role. By integrating sustainability into every project phase, we can significantly reduce embodied carbon. We must stay informed about new materials and technologies, advocate for sustainable practices, and consider the full lifecycle impact of design choices.
With the increasing accessibility of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools, you can now uncover the hidden carbon footprint of your material choices, from cradle to grave. Armed with this knowledge, you can make informed decisions.
The data is more accessible than ever before, thanks to advancements in technology. Many LCA tools integrate seamlessly with BIM software, allowing you to analyze the embodied carbon of your designs in real-time. And with the rise of AI, we're entering a new era of intelligent design. AI-powered LCA tools can swiftly analyze vast datasets, predict the environmental impact of different choices, and even recommend alternative materials with lower embodied carbon.
We have a complex relationship with the earth. We feel like we were put here to tame it, to make it hospitable, to create a refuge to protect us from it. We cannot separate ourselves from it and cannot take it for our use. We have learned a very hard lesson: we are nature. We exist within and because of it.
Where will your designs be in 500, 1,000, or 1,800 years
