Water Efficiency | Principles of Green Architecture

Necessity for Water Efficiency

Water Efficiency is one of the seven key principles of Green Architecture. All of us are pretty much aware of the water shortage across the globe. The climatic changes have reduced the extent of rainfall in many parts of the world. The climatic changes are reaching their extremes. There are either droughts or floods but not proper rainfall.

Water efficiency
Water efficiency

Study of Global Warming and Climate change also forms the part of the study of Green Architecture. It helps you understand the gravity of the consequences that the world is facing already because of the human activities today. Why creation of sustainable environment is so important?

In our previous articles regarding “Principles of Green Architecture”, we have listed seven important principles of Green Architecture. They are as follows:

  1. Site and its surroundings
  2. Energy Efficiency
  3. Water Efficiency
  4. Material Efficiency
  5. Indoor Air Quality
  6. Waste Reduction
  7. Low maintenance costs

There are two key objectives to be analysed when studying water efficiency:

  1. Reduction in Water consumption
  2. Preserving the quality of water

Achieving these two key objectives is the second ultimate goal of Green Architecture…

Demand versus Supply

We have already discussed how urbanization has increased the demand for food, clothing and shelter. Water forms the major part of the ever increasing demand which we are not able to satisfy.

The availability of fresh water for drinking purposes is falling short and is unable to meet with the ever increasing demand for water supply.

The demand for water is more than the natural aquifers can give in a period of time.

Water efficiency can be classified into three major categories:

  1. Interiors
  2. Exteriors
  3. Stormwater reuse

Interiors

  • By using water less urinals
  • Using low flush , ultra low flush or dual flush wc’s
  • Using aerators
  • Tap magic

Exteriors

  • Sustainable landscaping
  • Drip irrigation
  • Xeriscaping

Stormwater Reuse

  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Soak ways
  • Swales
  • Infiltration ponds
  • Wet lands

This is the initial classification of various zones of study for water efficiency. This segregation will help deal with every aspect of water efficiency in detail.

We will discuss more about water efficiency in our successive articles…

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