Sustainable Architecture

One aspect of Human / Nature ● Sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings through efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space. ● Ecological design (sustainability) ensures that our decisions today do not adversely affect future generations. ● Alternative natural materials do not contain chemicals that may harm people, pets, and the environment. They do not rely heavily on natural resources. This book provides a concise overview of all the techniques available for reducing the energy footprint of structures and spaces. With clear, simple language and a practical "can do" approach, the author covers everything from the profession's ethical responsibility, to design structures and spaces that sustain our natural resources, to specific considerations such as rainwater harvesting, graywater recycling, passive heating techniques, solar orientation, green roofs, wind energy, daylighting, indoor air quality, material evaluation and specification, and how to work with green building certification programs. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the global necessity of facing the challenges of Climate Change has unleashed the inventive powers of architects around the world, many of whom are tackling the problem in original and highly creative ways. And yet, as the projects contained in this volume attest, sustainable design doesn't necessarily preclude style and comfort, or even a little bit of luxury. A forward looking book on sustainable design that describes problems and then, by providing a different way to conceptualise design and development, leads on to examples of regenerative solutions. This book offers a hopeful response to the often frightening changes and challenges we face; arguing that we can actively create a positive and abundant future through mindful, contributive engagement that is rooted in a living systems based worldview. This eye-opening book reports the results of a large-scale study based on extensive financial and technical analyses of more than 150 green buildings in the U.S. and ten other countries.