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Sustainable Architecture

Naturally Efficient

By Andres Saavedra

February 2011

Sustainable architecture. Thinking of the term immediately referred me to the human need to protect the environment and each one of its elements, using an efficient design and the least amount of resources and processes. Whoever turns away from these principles is understanding architecture as a fad or as a "fashion" and not as an art form that follows function.

Naturally, the architecture tends to explore, understand the geography and space and, therefore, to respect them. Thus, an important part of sustainable architecture is to avoid geographically incorrect ideas, as to build a medieval castle on a tropical beach or a "palapa" in the middle of the icy mountains in Canada. Therefore, observing the light, the wind and the view automatically generates an efficient design.

Sustainable design is based on the principles of wellness and energy efficiency, which means using better paints and renewable materials, as well as consideration of the CO2 footprint we leave from the transportation. When exotic materials are brought from far away (from India to Brazil, for example), the carbon footprint is enormous. Many organizations are attempting to regulate quality standards and guidelines that define sustainable design and construction as the USGBC. http://www.usgbc.org.Besides the efficient use of space and materials, sustainable architecture also involves the use of clean energy. Currently there are new ways to generate it, such as turbines, photovoltaic panels, LED lighting (which replaces the base lighting elements), drinking water filters to avoid the handling of jugs and bottles, as well as technologies that capture rainwater so we stop affecting groundwater.

The high design and the efficiency add up to a principle of community. Sustainable architecture should produce a benefit to the surrounding towns, promoting the sense of social responsibility to employ local labor and local materials, generate trades that result in more prosperous and environmentally responsible communities. It's like the principle of karma: for every action there is a reaction.

In a world made of contrasts, with geographic and economic differences, we can broaden the perspective to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of this planet; it's up for us to apply the principles of sustainability not only as a professional exercise, but also as a way of life.