Sustainability Concepts and the Built Environment PDF

Sustainability Concepts and the Built Environment Sustainability in the context of the built environment refers to creating and managing spaces, buildings, and infrastructure that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This invol...

Sustainability Concepts and the Built Environment Sustainability in the context of the built environment refers to creating and managing spaces, buildings, and infrastructure that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This involves balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations to achieve a harmonious and resilient built environment. by ESV. Femi Oyeyoade Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Environmental Sustainability Economic Sustainability Social Sustainability Focuses on minimizing the Ensures the financial Prioritizes enhancing the environmental impact of viability of projects and quality of life for individuals construction and building buildings over their lifecycle. and communities. This operations. This includes This involves cost-effective includes promoting reducing energy design and construction, inclusivity, accessibility, and consumption, promoting maximizing operational equity in the built resource conservation, and efficiency, and creating long- environment. Key minimizing waste term value. Strategies considerations involve generation. Key practices include incorporating providing affordable include implementing energy-efficient systems, housing, creating accessible green building standards, adopting innovative building public spaces, and fostering utilizing renewable energy technologies, and pursuing community engagement sources, and adopting sustainable financing through participatory design sustainable materials. options. processes. Life Cycle Thinking 1 Design and Construction This phase focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation. Sustainable practices include selecting eco-friendly materials, optimizing construction methods, and reducing waste generation. 2 Operation and Maintenance This phase focuses on reducing energy and water consumption, managing waste, and ensuring occupant health and well-being. Sustainable strategies include incorporating energy-efficient systems, implementing water conservation measures, and optimizing building maintenance schedules. 3 Decommissioning and End-of-Life This phase focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of demolition and waste disposal. Sustainable practices include maximizing material reuse and recycling and minimizing landfilling. This phase emphasizes the importance of circular economy principles in the built environment. Resilience and Adaptability 1 Climate Change 2 Disaster Resilience 3 Societal Change Adaptation Ensuring buildings and Designing adaptable spaces Designing buildings and urban infrastructure can withstand that can evolve to meet spaces to withstand the natural disasters such as changing societal needs, such impacts of climate change, earthquakes, hurricanes, and as shifts in demographics, such as extreme weather wildfires. This involves technology advancements, events, rising sea levels, and adopting seismic design and evolving work patterns. heat waves. This includes principles, incorporating This includes incorporating implementing strategies like hurricane-resistant building flexible design principles, flood-resistant design, green materials, and implementing incorporating smart roofs for stormwater wildfire mitigation strategies. technology for building management, and management, and ensuring incorporating passive cooling accessibility for all users. techniques. Circular Economy in the Built Environment Waste Minimization Material Recycling and Regenerative Design Upcycling Adopting design strategies Creating buildings and and construction methods Reusing and repurposing spaces that contribute that minimize waste construction waste and other positively to the generation. This includes materials in new environment. This includes using prefabricated construction projects. This integrating renewable energy components, employing includes incorporating systems, promoting modular construction, and recycled aggregates, biodiversity through green prioritizing material reuse reclaimed wood, and spaces, and utilizing bio- and recycling. recycled steel into building based materials that components. decompose naturally. Energy Efficiency in Buildings Efficient Building Design Incorporating passive design strategies like natural lighting, ventilation, and insulation to reduce energy consumption. This includes optimizing window placement for daylighting, utilizing cross-ventilation, and selecting high-performance insulation materials. Renewable Energy Integration Installing solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to power buildings sustainably. This includes considering site-specific conditions and optimizing system size and placement for maximum energy production. Smart Energy Systems Utilizing IoT and AI to monitor and optimize energy use in real time. This includes installing smart meters, integrating building automation systems, and using predictive analytics to identify energy savings opportunities. Sustainable Materials in Construction Material Benefits Properties Bamboo Rapidly renewable, low Durable, versatile, embodied energy, strong and aesthetically pleasing lightweight Recycled Steel Reduces waste, conserves Strong, durable, recyclable, resources, high strength-to-weight fire-resistant ratio Reclaimed Wood Reduces waste, historic value, Durable, aesthetically pleasing, unique character adds character to buildings Bio-based Materials Renewable, biodegradable, low Versatile, sustainable, environmental impact aesthetically pleasing Benefits of Sustainable Building Practices Environmental Benefits Economic Benefits Social Benefits Reduced carbon footprint, Lower operational costs due Improved health and well- minimized resource depletion, to energy and water efficiency, being for occupants through conservation of biodiversity, increased property value and better indoor air quality, and improved air and water marketability of green thermal comfort, and acoustic quality. buildings, and economic comfort, enhanced community growth through green jobs and engagement, and increased sustainable investments. access to affordable housing and public spaces.