Taperman articles

Sustainable designs and green designs are used interchangeably. They are complementary terms and usually cover all aspects of building green. However there is a general confusion in the understanding what sustainable design means. The closest analogy in understanding what a sustainable design implies is to view the design as a self driven bio sphere.

Sustainable designs do not tax the environment, are able to recycle most of the products used and help better the living conditions. To translate that into practical measures, it involves designing buildings or townships in a holistic fashion utilizing the elements of nature such as sunlight and wind intelligently. These include the use of solar arrays and natural air to reduce consumption of electricity and polluting air conditioners which produce CFCs. A sustainable design looks at conserving water by harvesting rain water. It includes recycling bathroom water for watering the gardens. Conversion of organic wastes generated by humans into manure is a sustainable design feature.

Other aspects of sustainable design include conservation and pooling of resources such common swimming pool, common rainwater harvesting plants, common solar panels to cut down the costs and reduce the environmental load. Why, even car pooling by residents of a green community is part of sustainable design movement. Sustainable design encourages the use of locally available material which can be reused and easily replenished. So if repairs are required of the building, material need not be hauled over long distances but be utilized from around the environment. Such initiatives need government aid to succeed. Thus there are sustainable design standards which have evolved. The most common sustainable design standard is the LEED standard adopted by USA and some other countries in the world. The contribution of the scientific community in providing life cycle calculations for sustainable designs have been an important factor.

Scientists have helped arrive at life cycle energy analysis and introduction of modern technology to the overall ambit of life cycle calculations for sustainable designs. These include inventing better solar panels, better interface with indigenous building practices with modern equipment and optimum utilization of powerful computing available to arrive at simulations for a truly sustainable design. The Greek concept of ‘Gaea, which epitomizes a perfect harmony between Earth and all beings living and non-living, is a final ideal that proponents of sustainable design strive to achieve.

Author