Sustainable Design

In today's world, we are always faced with questions about protecting the earth and bettering our environment. And as we move into the future, that question is something that has to be addressed in our designs as architects and interior designers. We have to address sustainability. So now here is the time to address sustainability. What it is? How it affects us? How can we achieve sustainability?

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY

The concept of sustainable design has come to the forefront in the last 20 years. It is a concept that recognizes that human civilization is an integral part of the natural world and that nature must be preserved and perpetuated if the human community itself is to survive. Sustainable design articulates this idea through developments that exemplify the principles of conservation and encourage the application of those principles in our daily lives.
A corollary concept, and one that supports sustainable design, is that of bioregionalism - the idea that all life is established and maintained on a functional community basis and that all of these distinctive communities (bioregions) have mutually supporting life systems that are generally self-sustaining. The concept of sustainable design holds that future technologies must function primarily within bioregional patterns and scales. They must maintain biological diversity and environmental integrity, contribute to the health of air, water, and soils, incorporate design and construction that reflect bioregional conditions, and reduce the impacts of human use.
Sustainable design, sustainable development, design with nature, environmentally sensitive design, holistic resource management - regardless of what it's called, "sustainability," the capability of natural and cultural systems being continued over time, is key.

THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability does not require a loss in the quality of life, but does require a change in mind-set, a change in values toward less consumptive lifestyles. These changes must embrace global interdependence, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability.
Sustainable design must use an alternative approach to traditional design that incorporates these changes in mind-set. The new design approach must recognize the impacts of every design choice on the natural and cultural resources of the local, regional, and global environments.
A model of the new design principles necessary for sustainability is exemplified by the "Hannover Principles" or "Bill of Rights for the Planet," developed by William McDonough Architects for EXPO 2000 to be held in Hannover, Germany.
Insist on the right of humanity and nature to co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse, and sustainable condition.
Recognize Interdependence. The elements of human design interact with and depend on the natural world, with broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognizing even distant effects.
Respect relationships between spirit and matter. Consider all aspects of human settlement including community, dwelling, industry, and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material consciousness.
Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural systems, and their right to co-exist.
Create safe objects to long-term value. Do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creations of products, processes, or standards.
Eliminate the concept of waste. Evaluate and optimize the full life-cycle of products and processes, to approach the state of natural systems in which there is no waste.
Rely on natural energy flows. Human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use.
Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.
Seek constant improvements by sharing knowledge. Encourage direct and open communication between colleagues, patrons, manufacturers, and users to link long-term sustainable considerations with ethical responsibility, and reestablish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity.
These principles were adopted by the World Congress of the International Union of Architects (UIA) in June 1993 at the American Institute of Architect's (AIA) Expo 93 in Chicago. Further, the AIA and UIA signed a "Declaration of Interdependence for a Sustainable Future." In summary, the declaration states that today's society is degrading its environment and that the AIA, UIA, and their members are committed to:
Placing environmental and social sustainability at the core of practices and professional responsibilities
Developing and continually improving practices, procedures, procedures, products, services, and standards for sustainable design
Educating the building industry, clients, and the general public about the importance of sustainable design
Working to change policies, regulations, and standards in government and business so that sustainable design will become the fully supported standard practice
Bringing the existing built environment up to sustainable design standards
In addition, the Interprofessional Council on Environmental Design (ICED), a coalition of architectural, landscape architectural, and engineering organizations, developed a vision statement in an attempt to foster a team approach to sustainable design. ICED states: The ethics, education and practices of our professions will be directed to shape a sustainable future. . . . To achieve this vision we will join . . . as a multidisciplinary partnership."
These activities are an indication that the concept of sustainable design is being supported on a global and interprofessional scale and that the ultimate goal is to become more environmentally responsive. The world needs facilities that are more energy efficient and that promote conservation and recycling of natural and economic resources.

Taken from http://www.nps.gov/dsc/dsgncnstr/gpsd/ch1.html

Another part of sustainable design is recycling the many materials that we as designers use in construction. Here a ways to recycle those materials and promote sustainability.


Paper-Though not strictly a building material, a great deal of paper waste is generated during the design and construction of a building. Many types of paper are now recyclable. In addition to white office paper and computer paper, colored paper, fax paper, and even junk mail can be recycled. Newspapers, magazines, catalogs and phone books are also recyclable, though they need to be sorted. Unfortunately, blueprints are not currently being recycled in this region. An alternative is to use xerographic reproduction on bond paper, which is recyclable. Ask your blueprinting service about this. Use recycled paper in your office, have business cards and letterhead printed on recycled stock, with soy-based inks. Print on both sides of paper. Set up strategically located, clearly marked recycling bins at the office and on the job site.

Concrete-Concrete waste is ground up for road base and reused as aggregate for new concrete.

Asphalt-Asphalt from shingles and paving can be recycled into paving or road base.

Metals-Most steel has been reincarnated at least once. Some recyclers will accept metals mixed in with wood wastes because they can be separated magnetically, but check first. Did you know that it only takes 11% of the energy to recycle aluminum as it does to produce it initially from bauxite ore?1 That is why there is always a market for aluminum cans. Copper is so valuable that pipes are routinely recycled.

Wood-Wood waste can be ground up for particle board, mulch, or to mix with sewage to make fertilizer. Check with the recyclers for any restrictions. .

Corrugated Cardboard-Cardboard waste is remade into boxes and packaging.

GlassFloor tiles are being made from recycled windshield glass and from light bulbs. Although not yet manufactured in our region, they are locally distributed. Stained glass artisans may be able to use your leftover glass. Please note that for health code reasons, window glass cannot be recycled with glass bottles and jars because these are recycled back into food containers.

The more difficult materials to recycle are:

Plastics-These can be an environmental problem: rarely recycled, non-biodegradable, and when improperly disposed of, dangerous to fish and wildlife. Animals can become tangled in plastic and drown, suffocate or become injured. Waterfowl eat their fill of foam packaging, which is not digestible, and subsequently starve to death. Plastic is a petroleum-based product and, therefore, is not renewable. Research is being done to develop biodegradable plastics. There are also a variety of building materials and consumer goods that are being made from recycled plastics.

Insulation-Foamboard and fiberglass are not readily recyclable, although they can often be reused if not damaged in demolition. Cellulose insulation, made from recycled newsprint, is biodegradable. (Biodegradable means that with exposure to air, sunlight and/or moisture, the material will decompose into naturally occurring, harmless components). Unfortunately, the conditions in a landfill are not conducive to this process.

Gypsum Board/DrywallRaw gypsum is plentiful and inexpensive therefore recycling is not considered cost effective in our region. Transportation costs quickly exceed the value of the used gypsum board. One local recycler is experimenting with composting drywall waste. It is a biodegradable material.

Paint and Solvents-It is illegal to dispose of paints and solvents in most landfills. Many communities have special arrangements for toxic waste disposal. Call your city government for information. To prevent or minimize the problem, avoid using or specifying paints with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful ingredients, such as heavy metals. Carefully estimate the amount needed to avoid large quantities of leftover paints or solvents. Leftover paint can be used as a primer on another project or given to someone who can use it. In Seattle, Habitat for Humanity has a program where leftover paints are combined and used as primer or finish coat where the desired color happens to be “Seattle Beige.” Check with your community to see if such a program exists.
To encourage recycling, there must be a demand for the end products made from the recycled materials. For example, wood waste is made into oriented strand board siding, particle board (non-formaldehyde preferred), or landscaping mulch. Throughout this guide you will find building products made from recycled materials. Encourage recycling by specifying and purchasing recycled products.
When implementing construction site recycling, presorting is almost always required. Recyclers operate on such a tight margin, that the time required to remove contaminants by hand causes it to be unprofitable. If the load is not pure enough, it is likely to end up in the landfill anyway. Check with your recycler for sorting guidelines. The need to involve and educate everyone on the building team cannot be over emphasized. Consult with the workers to help decide how to best implement the sorting process. Label bins clearly with symbols and words. Use bilingual labels, if appropriate.

Taken from http://www.aiasdrg.org/sdrg.aspx

One architecture firm, HOK, is making sustainable design there main priority. This is what they have to say about sustainable design.
"We embrace our responsibility as one of the world's most influential design firms to advance sustainable design for every building type, geographic region and budget level. Our people are impassioned by the opportunity to design healthy, environmentally friendly buildings that improve our planet's overall environmental condition. By designing solutions that enhance aesthetic goals, limit resource consumption, improve building performance, and promote health and productivity, HOK is leading the way toward an increasingly sustainable future."

To read more about what they are doing to help sustainability you can go to http://www.hok.com/sustainable/, there you can also view pictures of their work.