Affects of Buildings on The Environment

Eco-friendly Architecture

Sustainable, or green, architecture is the practice of designing eco-friendly structures using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. Green buildings are built to improve human health, reduce pollution, and to use energy and natural resources efficiently.[vi] In New York City, New York, Hearst Tower was the first green building established in New York City.[vii]

Bioclimatic architecture is the practice of designing buildings while taking into consideration the local climate, using the natural resources available to achieve thermal comfort in buildings by reducing the consumption of energy.[viii] Ken Yeang, an architect and ecologist, is also known as the inventor of the Bioclimatic Skyscraper. He is the world’s leading architect in ecological and passive low energy design.[ix] According to him, buildings are pointless unless they help preserve the environment.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Buildings can also have an impact in the microclimate of their immediate surroundings. An example of such a building is the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry. Occupants of surrounding buildings have complained of elevated temperatures and visual glare. The reflection from the building can cause the sidewalks to reach a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit and freestanding lightweight objects get hot enough to soften plastic. Their response was a computer analysis of the building’s surfaces identifying the offending panels. In 2005 these were dulled by lightly sanding the panels to eliminate unwanted glare.[x]

Conclusion

Sustainable architecture is a good way to reduce pollution and the carbon dioxide emission. People hope that the world will begin to construct more green buildings to ensure our world’s environment is in good condition. However, building green and expecting it to fix every environmental problem is insane to say. Sustainable design is just one part of a whole in which we need to shift the way we think about living on this planet if we want to truly make a difference. 

Works Cited

“Basic Information | Green Building |US EPA.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm>.

“Biography: Ken Yeang – CNN.com.” CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. <http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/07/18/yeang.bio/>.

Schiler, Marc , and Elizabeth Valmont. “MICROCLIMATIC IMPACT: GLARE AROUND THE WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL.”  <http://www.sbse.org/awards/docs/2005/1187.pdf>.

“Second Arab Oil Embargo, 1973-1974.” U.S. Department of State. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dr/96057.htm>.

“The Origin of Green Building.” ecomii – The credible, comprehensive resource for green living. <http://www.ecomii.com/building/origin-of-green-building>.

“Why Build Green? | Green Building |US EPA.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.htm>.

“Msa | BArch | Bioclimatic Architecture.” msa | Welcome to the Manchester School of Architecture. <http://www.msa.ac.uk/colleges/bioclimatic/>.

[1] “Why Build Green? | Green Building |US EPA” <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/whybuild.htm>  (Buildings accounted for 39.4%…humidification devices)

[ii] “The Origin of Green Building”< http://www.ecomii.com/building/origin-of-green-building>

[iii] “Basic Information | Green Building |US EPA” <http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm>

[iv] “The Origin of Green Building” (Willis Faber and Dumas Headquarters…reduce solar gain)

[v] “Second Arab Oil Embargo, 1973-1974”< http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dr/96057.htm> (In 1973…we still use today)

[vi] “Basic Information | Green Building |US EPA”

[vii] “Hearst Corporate Site” <http://www.hearst.com/hearsttower/index.htm>

[viii] “Bioclimatic Architecture” <http://www.msa.ac.uk/colleges/bioclimatic/>  (Bioclimatic architecture…consumption of energy)

[ix] “Biography: Ken Yeang – CNN.com” <http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/07/18/yeang.bio/>

[x] “Microclimatic Impact: Glare Around The Walt Disney Concert Hall” <http://www.sbse.org/awards/docs/2005/1187.pdf>