Industry trends
Sustainable architecture: Designing for the future
Let’s talk about sustainable architecture. It is widely understood in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries that the way we’ve done things in the past can’t be the way we do things moving forward.
So how can we design buildings for the future? How can we, as an industry, design for sustainability? As architects, how can we be the drivers of innovation?
Why is sustainable architecture important?
Our planet’s resources are finite.
The Spruce explains: “The world is now in the midst of a climate change emergency, and many of the environmental laws that were passed in the last 50 years have been rolled back. This makes it even more imperative for designers, architects, builders, and consumers to demand better building practices to help combat the damage caused by one of the most polluting industries on the planet. In the United States, for example, buildings account for 39% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.”1
If we are to help our industry, then sustainable architecture is critical. But what does that look like exactly?
HMC Architects tells us, “Sustainable architecture is the use of design strategies that reduce the negative environmental impact from a built environment. Architects take the site landscape, energy management, and stormwater management into consideration when planning, and then use environmentally friendly systems and building materials during construction.”2
What are the top sustainable architecture strategies?
There are a number of strategies that architects can use to design for sustainability. These include:
Passive sustainable design
Passive sustainable design is a strategy that maximizes the impact of wind, the sun’s orientation, native vegetation, and more when designing a building’s infrastructure (i.e., heating, cooling, etc.).
Passive sustainable design considers things like the building’s layout and where solar panels could be placed to harness energy or to minimize the use of electric lights in the afternoon.
Active sustainable design
Active sustainable design, on the other hand, is the use of high-efficiency systems (HVAC, electrical, etc.) that, as HMC Architects puts it, “are designed to have small environmental footprints.”
Prioritize green building materials and finishes
Architects that design for sustainability seek eco-friendly or natural materials. Or they choose to work with suppliers that use recycled materials—or operate in other environmentally responsible ways.
Renewable energy systems
HMC Architects explains, “Renewable energy systems, including those that harness solar and wind energy, are also great options for some buildings. These systems are often used in conjunction with passive design strategies.”
Native landscaping
Planting native plants in the area of the new building is another way to design for sustainability. Native foliage requires less water and unnatural irrigation.
Stormwater management
Another sustainability strategy is the management of stormwater that allows rainfall to replenish natural groundwater supplies.
Sustainable architecture in the office
And finally, many architects are emphasizing sustainable practices in their offices. From high-efficiency lighting and sustainably sourced furniture, to getting their large-format printer from a company that champions sustainability, architects can design for sustainability by using sustainable practices early in the lifecycle.
When designing for the future, think about your printing needs as well. If you're searching for a large-format printer for your office, contact HP today to discuss your options.
Footnotes
1. The Spruce, What Is Sustainable Architecture? by Kristin Hohenadel, September 2022.
2. HMC Architects, The Top 6 Sustainable Architecture Strategies for Public Building Design, October 2018.
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