Physics and Technology – Technology – Environmentally Sustainable Construction
Since the last decades, recognition of the limitations of the Earth’s fossil resources has led to a new awareness among those who plan and implement both private and public construction projects.
The efficient and environmentally sustainable use of land and locally available building materials has long been a necessity, especially in densely settled or resource-poor areas. These practices also helped safeguard the long-term supply of natural resources.
However, after the far-reaching changes brought about by the industrial revolution, and in the face of his architectural creations-as with the house Fallingwater, built into a cliff above a waterfall-Wright became a forerunner of today’s movement that demonstrates that environmentally conscious construction can also be aesthetically appealing.
New needs, new concepts
Today ecologically sustain-able construction means, above all, considering both the present and future needs of human beings and the environment. Thus it seeks to avoid destroying natural habitats or imposing bur-dens on future generations.
To accomplish this, builders must not only consider factors related to the construction site itself—such as the use of locally available, renewable building materials-but they
must also ensure that the extraction, manufacturing, and transportation processes involved are environmentally sustainable, as for instance, minimizing emissions, waste generation, energy use, and water consumption.
Those involved in large construction projects, such as property owners and developers, regional and local governments, construction companies, architects, and engineers, must work together to ensure environmental sustainability. This is no less important for private house-holds, which also constitute a significant part of the problem.
In the United States, for example, approximately 30 percent of carbon monoxide emissions stem from environmentally unfriendly home aircondi-tioning, heating, lighting, water, sewer, and waste disposal systems.
NATURAL CLIMATE CONTROL
A traditional element of Persian architecture still in use today is the windcatcher. This natural “air conditioning” system is both economical and sustainable. The height of the tower, which extends down into the building’s lowest levels, is important because it takes advantage of the chimney effect.
During the night, air cools the interior walls, which have stored daytime heat. The warmed air flows upward within the tower and escapes. The walls of the building also radiate heat during the night. Air channels that can be ln individually opened and closed optimize these processes.
BASICS
WOOD is a renewable resource. Trees bind CO2, as they grow, removing it from the environment.
CLAY helps maintain a comfortable indoor environment As building material, it is gaining renewed popularity
STRAW can be used as insulating material in wood frame buildings Straw roofs provide excellent rain protection.