1. Jan-Feb 2011

SOLUTIONS
A synopsis on
Sustainable Architecture
Text: Ar. Sachin Baral,
Images: Google
Map showing Contributions to Global Warming
Credit: World Resources Institute
W
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Sustainability
There is this long running belief amongst many naturalists that the
carrying capacity of the world’s ecosystem can sustain indefinitely
through what is known as regulating factor, which takes into
account the reciprocity of abundance and population growth to
achieving equilibrium. It was questioned time and again as we
moved across the 20th century. The changes in lifestyle leading
to higher consumption of resources per capita, mainly by the
urbanites of the world, have had severe impact on the otherwise
assumed abundant resources, leaving behind a huge ecological
footprint. In other words, the rate of consumption has been
significantly higher than the earth’s capacity to regenerate and the
process to neutralize the corresponding wastes.
The result is Global Warming and the consequential climate
change, which we, no matter where we live, are observing each
passing day. The unusual variations in temperatures, the depleting
icebergs, the melting glaciers, the drying springs, the unseasonal flooding and the acid rains are just some of
its exponents. The irony is that, the rapid growth in global economy and subsequent rise in Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) is a direct indicator of rise in Green House Gas (GHG) emission. GHG mainly constitutes of
Water Vapour, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide and Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and its cumulative
emission is the cause of global warming. Reducing GHG emission substantially is the only way out.
The solution is sustainable development. It is about strictly following a development strategy that ensures
continuity and maintenance of resources, while we continue to avail the comforts we desire. This invariably
requires us to be environmentally aware and product conscious. We need to understand that the total
environmental impact on our planet is a sum of the impact of each one of us. Ethically, it is our responsibility;
while meeting our needs, we do not compromise the ability of the future generation of meeting theirs. And
this obligation of ours extends to the non-human world as well. To prolong the support of nature as a resource
and to reduce impact of the adversities on human as well as non-human existence, our time and concerted
efforts have been drawn in search of renewable alternative energy sources (sun, wind, water, geo-thermal)
with the purpose of minimizing if not completely stopping our reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels
(petroleum, coal, natural gas), which one estimate suggests has been steadily over 85%. There no doubt is
a lot more that can be achieved if we care to manage our workplace and home sustainably; when we care
to pick efficient appliances and other products we use. Today’s need is to adhere to Green Design, which is
based on the principles of economic, social and ecological sustainability and Green Building, which intends to
reduce the impact of the built environment on health and natural environment.
Effect of Global warming - Muir Glacier, Alaska
Global Commitments
Agenda 21 of United Nations (US) at
Earth Summit 1992 in Rio de jeneiro,
Brazil with the goal, ‘Halt and reverse the
environmental damage to our planet and
to promote environmentally sound and
sustainable development in all countries
on earth’, paved the way for a global
commitment. In June 1993, Union of
International architects World Congress
of Architects (UIA) followed the lead.
Later, in 1997 an international
environmental treaty was adopted,
popularly known as ‘Kyoto protocol’ which
came into effect in 2005. Its primary
goal is to stabilizate greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere. More
governments around the world have
set their own development regulations
in line with these goals. Besides, there
are other independent bodies who have
established global standards, which are
more of a voluntary in nature.
Leadership in Energy & Environmental
Design (LEED) Certification is an initiative
of USGBC formed in United States, while
BRE Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEM) is setup in the UK by Building
Research Establishment. There are others
like; Haute Qualité Environnementale
(HQE) based in France, Green Star rating
by The Green Building Council of Australia
(GBCA), BASIX (Building Sustainability
Index) for Residential buildings in New
South Wales, Australia.
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January-February 2011