Archive for category Sustainable Design
Energy Efficiency | Sustainability
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Sustainable Design on January 31, 2012
Sustainability and Design | Energy Efficient design techniques
In one of our earlier articles, we made a questionnaire on “Energy efficient Techniques”. In this article, we will discuss the answers to each of those questions.
Energy Efficiency Questionnaire
Achieving Energy Efficiency through Urban Planning
Hong Kong | Urban Planning Setup
What is Energy Efficiency? Define Energy Efficient Architecture.
Energy Efficiency implies on using less energy to required for various products and services without compromising on the need of the usage.
“Energy efficiency” and “energy conservation” are not similar.
Let us study with the help of examples:
Examples of Energy Efficiency
When the walls and roofs are insulated, the use of air conditioners and heating systems is reduced while still keeping the indoor environment comfortable.
When a refrigerator or washing machine is replaced by the same appliance that require lesser amount of energy to carry out the same function is called “energy efficiency”.
Examples of Energy Conservation
When a tube light is switched off during day time, it can be termed as energy conservation.
For what purpose is the significant amount of energy used in homes?
Energy is mainly used for cooling and heating purposes. Air conditioners and heating systems require extensive amount of energy for its functioning.
Hence, designers must design the house in such a way that the use of air conditioners and heating systems can be minimized without compromising on the comfort.
What is to be done in order to avoid the extensive use of air conditioners for cooling?
The orientation of the house/any building should be taken into consideration. Climatological aspects of the place have to be studied before designing the structure.
Energy Efficiency through Urban Design and Urban Planning
Posted by BenzuJK in Sustainable Design, Town Planning on January 28, 2012
Energy Efficient Methods to be adopted for Town and City Planning
Urban Design and Urban Planning plays a great role in achieving energy efficiency. Planning of towns and cities is an extremely important aspect in order to achieve energy efficiency.
In this article, we will discuss how efficient town planning can help in achieving energy efficiency. We will mainly focus on the architectural planning part of the town planning.
Rectangular Pattern with superimposed diagonals
How does town planning help in resolving the problem of energy consumption?
A town planner has to take into consideration various amenities and facilities that are to be incorporated in a town. For resolving the problem of energy consumption, “Polycentric urban structure” has to be designed.
The centralization of all various important amenities and facilities has to be necessarily incorporated. This will help in reducing the distance of the people travelling from various points in town. The shape and form of the town and the road network should be so designed that the walking distance from any point in town is not more than 7minutes to 10minute walk.
If possible, pedestrianized streets have to be designed in order to create a safe pedestrian environment.
Encouraging travel by foot will help reduce the need for two wheeler and four wheeler vehicles. This will help in saving fuel. Saving fuel will cut travelling costs as well as it will help conserve the non-renewable sources of energy.
Questionnaire on Energy Efficient Techniques | Sustainable Construction
Posted by BenzuJK in Architecture, Sustainable Design on January 28, 2012
Discussion on “How to achieve Energy Efficiency?” | Sustainabity and Design
- What can be done to prevent the use of extensive amount of energy for production of these materials?
The above questions will be answered in our succeeding articles… Do voice your opinions through the comment section.
Issues concerning Sustainability | Need for Sustainable Environment
Posted by BenzuJK in Sustainable Design on December 21, 2011
Issues concerning Sustainability
Holistic approach to the issue of sustainability is required. Understanding the importance of the development of sustainable environment is very important.
What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable Development is important for the environmental stability of our Mother Earth… The main focus of Sustainable Development is to preserve the natural resources and use them very cautiously so that we can protect our Mother Earth from devastation…!!
Earth will continue to support life if humans will be able to create a sustainable environment successfully
The definition is based on two concepts:
- The concept of needs, comprising of the conditions for maintaining an acceptable life standard for all people, and
- The concept of limits of the capacity of the environment to fulfil the needs of the present and the future, determined by the state of technology and social organization.
Limitless growth (Misconception)
Change in the perception of the people has to be brought about. Growing at the expense of others is a wrong mindset that most of the developed nations keep.
Confuse capital with income
The vital resource such as oil is taken as a source of income. They do not realize that there is a big difference between capital and income. They have mistaken resource as their income. Hence, it is depleting at a great speed.
Sustainable Features to be Incorporated in a Building
Posted by BenzuJK in Sustainable Design on October 29, 2011
Guide to Design of Sustainable Buildings
In my previous article, we discussed the concept of Sustainability in a way understood by Architects. In this article, we will discuss in brief all the necessary design features to be incorporated in a building to make it Sustainable.
Sustainable buildings should:
Harvest all of their own water and energy needs on site.
Be adapted specifically to site climate and evolve as conditions change.
Operate pollution free and generate no waste that aren’t useful for some other process in the building or immediate environment.
Promote the health and well-being of all inhabitants, as a healthy ecosystem does.
It should comprise energy efficient integrated systems that maximize efficiency and comfort.
Improve the health and diversity of the local ecosystem rather than degrade it.
Be beautiful and inspire us to dream.
A practical guide towards achieving Sustainability in Design
A building cannot be sustainable unless its interior design is not in tandem with it. Solar and Wind energy should be made use of and the orientation and placement of a site should be looked into.
Positioning of windows should be such that they allow cross ventilation, thus creating climate sensitive design.