“As the economies of the world continue to expand, designers are faced with the challenge of leading future development in a way that protects and conserves environmental quality and the natural resource base. Future development undertaken in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner requires new ways of thinking in planning, designing, building, operating, and maintaining the built environment” (Dorf, 449).
Factors that inhibit the use of new technologies in buildings:
- Facilities designed using least-cost technology
- Inability to achieve consensus on government design and construction policies that advance sustainable development
- Not being able to find and retrieve better technology
- Inflexible and inappropriate rules and regulations, codes and standards
Practices and technologies for energy-efficient buildings
- Manufactured wall systems with integrated super insulation and super windows optimized for orientation, external temperature, and internal needs
- photovoltaic roof shingles with reflective roofing
- Low-cost, high-performance solar water heaters and other advanced solar heating and cooling technologies
- Strategic positioning of trees to reduce cooling costs; fuel cells providing low-carbon energy and energy storage
- Advanced high-efficiency lighting systems actively operating with an array of daylighting and site/task strategies to optimize luminosity and reduce energy consumption
- Smart technology to closely match energy and water supply for multifunctional and integrated appliances and buildings control systems and automatic load modulation of heating and cooling systems in response to varying weather, environment and occupant demands
- Improved sensors and controls, zoning and variable loading of the heating and cooling systems
- Healthful house construction that is radon resistant, nonallergenic, and makes use of recycled material
Buildings using this technology make it clear that even a tremendous use of resources is not sufficient for creating architecture that will engage on an emotional and spiritual level.
Examples:
- Pittsburgh Municipal Courts Building
- CNG Tower, PA
- Apple Computer Company- Cupertino, CA
- University Center at Carnegie Mellon University- Pittsburgh, PA
Photo Courtesy of World Bank
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World Bank Headquarters- Washington, D.C.
The newest technology in construction is environmental or sustainable architecture. Sustainability represents a balance that accommodates human needs without diminishing the health and productivity of natural systems. It is defined by the American Institute of Architects as “the ability of society to continue functioning into the future without being forced into decline through exhaustion or overloading of the key resources on which that system depends” (Mendler and Odell, 1).
The goals of sustainable architecture are:
- Protect ecosystems and support restoration of natural systems
- Promote development of livable communities
- Use resources efficiently, including energy, water, land, and materials
- Create healthy indoor environments
- Move toward eliminating waste and pollution
- Move away from fossil fuels
In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to have new technological developments.
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