Architecture is the practice of designing and eventually constructing a structure. An architect must use and follow the design process, a seven step process that must be followed in order for an architect to successfully solve a problem that a client gave them. Sustainability is utilizing many methods to prevent the depletion of all natural resources with the intentions of maintaining a balance in the environment. Sustainability in architecture, also known as green architecture or sustainable architecture, is when an architect incorporates sustainable methods into the design process to create a form of architecture that maintains the environmental balance. Even though green architecture Green architecture is important to society and the environment due to economic benefits, environmental benefits, and social benefits.
Green architecture is economically beneficial to society. One economic benefit to green architecture is low operating costs. In the United States of America, energy bills on average tend to be expensive. However, buildings that utilize green architecture use methods that save energy which saves money, (“4 economic benefits”). The more energy that is saved is the more money that is saved. The amount on an energy bill is determined by the amount of energy that is used by an individual. This means that all energy that is being wasted is included in the bill. Green methods are more efficient and can save energy which saves money. For example, a method of green architecture would be a green roof. A green roof is a roof that has been covered in vegetation. This roof can cool down the entire building during the summer by absorbing the heat energy that normally goes into the building. This saves energy by making the use of an air conditioner unnecessary. Green architecture is also economically beneficial by providing thousands of jobs. A report by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and the Delphi Group found that the green architecture industry has generated over $20 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and employed over 250,000 workers in 2014, over the past decade, (CaGBC, 30). Therefore, green architecture is economically beneficial. Green architecture provides hundreds of thousands of jobs and brings in billions in profit. Green architecture is a profitable business. The fact that green architecture provides thousands of jobs makes it beneficial to society.
Green architecture benefits the environment in multiple ways. One way is that the design of the building combines multiple elements. Green methods lower the need for gas, electricity, and water by including natural elements, (Morales). Including natural elements in the design of a building benefits the environment. For example, the architect may choose to incorporate sunlight into the design. A design that includes sunlight could be a roof that absorbs the heat energy from the sunlight and use it to cool the building in the winter. The design could also use the sunlight to power batteries using solar panels. Both of these potential designs are environmentally beneficial because natural resources are not being depleted at all. In fact, the designs use the green architecture to an advantage. Also, buildings that utilize green architecture are projected to save resources. Currently, buildings use 14% of the total drinkable water on Earth but buildings using green methods are projected to reduce the 14% by 15%, (“Benefits of Green”). Thus, green architecture can definitely benefit the environment. Green architecture is projected to reduce the amount of potable water that is consumed by buildings. This is important because now, more potable water is being saved and can be used for other purposes. For example, potable water is used in the kitchen, for bathing, washing cars, flushing toilets, and more. Potable water is drinkable water. Reductions in any of these aspects means more drinking water for humanity.
The social benefits of green architecture are very important.
Works Cited
- “4 Economic Benefits of Green Building.” Atalian US, 5 Oct. 2015. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018. atalian.us/4-economic-benefits-of-green-building/
- “Benefits of Green Building.” U.S. Green Building Council, 1 Apr. 2016. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018. www.usgbc.org/articles/green-building-facts
- Morales, Arlin. “Benefits of Green Architecture” Green Planet Architects, 5 Oct. 2013. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018. www.greenplanetarchitects.com/en/news/196-benefits-of-green-architecture?nomobile=1.
- “New CaGBC Market Impact Report Demonstrates Green Buildings Are an Engine of Economic Growth in Canada.” Canada Green Building Council. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018. www.cagbc.org/News/EN/2016/20160210_News_Release.aspx
- “The Benefits of Green Buildings.” World Green Building Council. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018. www.worldgbc.org/benefits-green-buildings.
- “The Social Benefits of Sustainable Design”. Accessed on 25 Nov. 2018. https://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/buscase_section3.pdf.