To begin with, an architect often works on the designs of a building. He or she deals with the nitty-gritty involved in the construction process. Architects are the ones who ensure what the skeleton of a building looks like and that it is safe to construct a certain building in a certain manner. Given that 70% of electricity in the US is consumed by home and office buildings (as pointed out by a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council), most anyone should be able to understand the dire need to reduce the amount of our resources that is consumed by our buildings.
Clearly one way to tackle this would be to think hard about how to make our buildings more “green,” or eco-friendly. This is where an architect’s knowledge might come in handy. As mentioned in an article online, there are serious efforts being made by architects, builders, environmental agencies, and government to create alternate methods of construction and design which they refer to as “green building.” Since architects work on building designs, they are the ones who should be able to shed some light on how to make “eco-friendly” buildings. While designing, they should be taking into account what sort of materials should be used (ideally something that proves to be least hazardous to the environment) and how and where should these be used so that they cause minimum damage to the environment.
LPA, a leading architecture firm based in California, recently created an eco-friendly design for a massive “green building” for the automobile giant Toyota’s sales office in California. The building is expected to generate enough power, using solar panels, to provide electricity for up to 500 homes. Another feature of the building is its use of reclaimed water for cooling and the surrounding landscape. Additionally, most of the building material comes from recycled automobiles. This makes the building a perfect example of a “green building” that is fully functional and successful as a project.
The only drawback to constructing a “green building” is the additional cost. But as reported in an article on the PBS website, a 2% increase in the construction costs of a green building can yield savings of up to 20% in energy costs over the lifetime of that building. These numbers are very encouraging. To be sure, an additional 2% cost may seem daunting at first blush, but in the long run it does translate into more savings.
If you are planning to buy a new house or construct your own, then it might be very useful to get in touch with an architect who can advise you on how to make a green design. Going for solar panels and rain water harvesting might make your house even more eco-friendly. In any case, an architect’s knowledge can be very handy as you strive to create an eco-friendly home.
Conclusion
As noted on the One World Design website, "Natural materials have stood the test of time throughout the world. They age gracefully and their subtle textures provide the sensory nutrition that we desperately need for health and vitality." The main conclusion to draw from this is that green buildings are no longer a “dream world” project. So go green with your new home.
