Recent developments in climate change have made it very clear that our current practices of building architecture are not sustainable or eco-friendly. The increasing amount of energy needed to construct buildings, as well as the large amounts of heat these structures retain, has an adverse effect on the environment.

Climate changes caused by the built up waste from all this heating is one of the main culprits behind global warming. This article will discuss some ways architects can be more environmentally friendly and what companies are doing to help preserve the Earth’s atmosphere.

Introduction

Architecture plays a huge part in the production and consumption of energy. Energy comes in the form of electricity, natural gas, gasoline, and water. All major components used in construction require significant energy inputs!

The building and design industries account for about 10% of the total energy use in the United States (Energy Information Administration). That means they consume around 1/10th of the nation’s total energy supply.

However, the way most people perceive the architectural field is through the media, which frequently features stories about lavish homes and hotels. These examples don’t tell you how much power each machine uses, but looking at the overall numbers it becomes quite apparent how much energy was consumed during production.

This article will talk about some easy things builders and designers can do to reduce their environmental impact while still practicing good architectural principles.

Effects of architecture on climate

We, as humans, have an ever-expanding influence on our environment. Buildings are no exception to this rule. The way in which buildings are designed directly impacts how much energy is needed to keep it warm or cool, how efficiently heat is dispersed, and how effectively air flow is carried away waste products.

Many factors contribute to the heating and cooling of a building, but unfortunately not all of them can be controlled. One factor you can control though is what kind of materials your house uses to conserve energy.

There are many different types of material that make up a house, such as steel, plastic, wood, and glass. Each one of these has its own unique thermal properties. For example, glass does not retain warmth like other materials do, whereas metals do.

By incorporating some type of glass into your home’s design, you can help reduce temperatures by creating a more open space and allowing light to shine through.

Ways architecture affects climate

The way our society is built impacts how effectively we are able to mitigate or address environmental issues like climate change. Buildings use up energy in several ways, including through electricity used for lighting, air conditioning, and other functions.

Architecture also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions directly by using materials that contain fossil fuels to produce the bulk of their content. And the transportation involved in moving resources into and out of buildings uses fuel as well.

All three of these things can be minimized or eliminated within a building if you know some helpful tips.

Ways to reduce the impact of architecture on climate

There are several ways to mitigate or even eliminate the effects that architecture has on our environment. These strategies include using less energy to power buildings, reducing water use in offices, changing how you address climate change with your community and country, and choosing sustainable materials for home improvement.

In fact, some architectural styles are proof that environmentally conscious design is possible! The rounded roofs and thinner walls used during the Gothic era (the classic style built across Europe around the middle ages) reduced temperatures by cooling air down as it escaped through the structure.

The Neoclassical style, which was popular between the revolutions of 1848 and 1900, incorporated ideas from classical antiquity. This included clean lines and proportionals to emphasize order, harmony, and balance. These qualities help promote calmness, which can be applied to addressing environmental issues.

Learn to be more sustainable

We as humans have a significant impact on our environment, whether we like it or not. The impacts of our actions extend far beyond our own neighborhoods and lives- they affect those around us who live in close proximity to us, as well as people living miles away that depend on the land and water for their livelihoods.

Land use is one of the most important factors when looking at how much energy an individual uses per day. For example, someone who spends hours every day traveling back and forth from work can consume a substantial amount of energy while doing so. They may also spend time in traffic which requires fuel to run the vehicle, and eating food that was transported and processed using electricity.

The environment adds up over time!

Architects play a large part in this effect by where they choose to reside and what kind of practices they use during the design process. By choosing to live near parks, transit routes, and other sources of green space, you lower your daily reliance on cars. This cuts down on gas emissions as well as lowering overall health costs due to decreased stress levels and improved fitness.

It also helps limit the amount of money individuals and companies must invest in transportation modes such as buses, trains, and private vehicles if they are able to walk or take public transport. These investments reduce carbon footprints.

General tips

Practice smart spending. Make sure to evaluate how much money you spend on things such as gasoline, tolls, and entertainment.

Use natural materials

There are many ways to reduce your environmental impact while still wanting beautiful interior spaces. One of the biggest factors is using natural materials instead of manufactured ones.

Natural materials are products that have lived past their expiration date by undergoing repeated use or degradation. For example, trees grow tall and thin because they continually put energy into growing longer limbs and thinner roots.

Products made out of plastic do not survive long before breaking down into smaller pieces. These small fragments can be ingested by wildlife, which may ingest more product as it grows, passing it along its digestive system. This adds another layer to how much plastic there is for animals to consume and potentially harm themselves from internal exposure.

By choosing natural materials over synthetic ones, you help prevent these impacts! Natural materials include things such as wood, cotton, wool, leather, bamboo, stone, and clay.

These materials are either recycled or naturally replenished through re-growth. Plants also contribute to atmospheric oxygenation as they breathe.

Insulate properly

One of the biggest things you can do to reduce your energy use is by making sure all areas of your home are insulated. Proper insulation comes in various forms, depending on what area of your house you want to insulate. These include foam products like polyester or wool blankets, rugs, gel cells for underfloor heating, caulking materials that work as thermal barrier coatings, and plastic sheeting used to cover exposed walls and floors.

By using these tools, you can layer up to improve your home’s efficiency tremendously! The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has some great tips here. They also have an easy way to check yoursliability levelsof certain products.

Avoid excessive use of artificial lighting

Recent studies have shown that one of the biggest energy hoggers in buildings is interior lights. Not only do these unnecessary lights burn up electricity, but they can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions as light bulbs are manufactured which contain mercury.

Studies show that if all offices were completely dark during working hours, it would save enough energy to power about 30 average size homes for a year!

On top of this, many office facilities never switch off their overhead lights even when everyone has gone home, using an incredible amount of wasted energy. This article will talk more about how you can reduce your building’s energy consumption by looking into ways to turn off internal illumination.

There are several easy ways to achieve this, such as switching off individual lamps or whole rooms, using natural daylight instead, or finding new uses for old ones. More advanced methods include replacing them with LED technology or fluorescent tubes free of mercury.

Design for natural airflow

The amount of energy that a building uses to cool itself or heat up the surrounding air is called its thermal efficiency.

A well-designed house will have very high thermal efficiencies due to several factors, including properly placed windows and efficient use of insulation. But one major factor that has little effect on a house’s overall efficiency is how effectively the building’s structure works in creating an internal flow of warm or cold air.

Thermal mass — which consists of materials such as concrete, brick, or other substances that take longer to reach their equilibrium temperature than more delicate ones like stone or wood — can sometimes hinder this flow.

So you have to be careful about incorporating thermal masses into your home design. It is not totally possible to have completely free flowing air unless you live in a cave!

However, there are some easy ways to reduce the impact of thermal masses in your home by making sure they work for your house and your budget.