Sustainable design focuses on the integration of the built environment with its surrounding ecosystem. It attempts to create affordable living spaces for all people while considering their effect on the environment.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS?
- Conserve Natural Resources
Sustainable design recognizes that earth’s resources cannot be limitless and strives to develop efficient ways to conserve them so that they can be used by future generations.
- Save the Environment
By reducing one’s reliance on energy through introducing strategies like building orientation, improved insulation, use of solar panels, and efficient lighting fixtures can help reduce the effects of climate change and conserve valuable resources that can be used by future generations.
- Build Friendly, Comfortable and Safe Spaces for People.
Sustainable designs not only preserve the environment, it helps to improve people’s living conditions. Better utilization of materials during construction, improved ventilation systems, efficient operational procedures post-construction are all important factors to be considered when creating a comfortable work environment that is conducive to productivity.
Principles of Sustainable Design
- Site Potential Optimization
Site potential optimization is one way sustainable design can reduce waste and material depletion. It is the utilization of natural features like existing topography and solar exposure to maximize efficiency. Using organic layouts allows developers the chance to work around the natural flow of a property’s surroundings. Also, the incorporation of biophilic design elements into architecture also significantly increases energy conservation.
- Reduce Energy Use
Integrating sustainable designs into building construction results in the optimization of energy efficiency, which can lead to significant savings for both developers and home-owners. Incorporating the use of solar panels, energy saving appliances, etc. can substantially decrease a building’s reliance on mechanical systems like generators,
- Maximize Energy Production
Sustainable design goes beyond just reducing energy use, it also focuses on maximizing available alternate means such as; utilizing methods of renewable energy production so that the building can provide power even if there is a power outage.
- Healthy Indoor Environment
The highest priority of sustainable designs is to provide homeowners with healthy and comfortable spaces to live and work in. Design buildings that filter out pollutants from the air and collect rainwater to reduce water consumption can drastically improve indoor air quality so that occupants feel healthier and more productive.
Benefits of Sustainable Design
The implementation of sustainable design practices is a wise investment to consider in any commercial property construction because it benefits the building’s occupants and owners in different ways. These include:
- Reduced harm to the environment from waste and emissions
- Reduced energy costs.
- Improved occupant health from increased ventilation and more healthy materials used during construction.
- Longer life-cycle for building components and better overall return on investment(ROI) over time.
With so many benefits to designing buildings within the guidelines of sustainable design practices, it is advisable that real estate developers embrace these types of initiatives. By leveraging eco-friendly design ideas into their plans, architects can help improve project ROI while also setting high expectations for future sustainable construction initiatives that contribute to a more resilient built environment.