SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN
DESIGNING BUILDINGS AND
OTHER BUILT ENVIRONMENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
Sustainable architecture is architecture that seeks to minimize the negative
environmental impact of buildings by efficiency and moderation in the use of materials,
energy, development space and the ecosystem at large.
II. TYPES OF SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES IN DESIGNING BUILDINGS
1. ACTIVE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
- Active design strategies use purchased energy (including electricity and
natural gas) to keep buildings comfortable. Active strategies also include systems that
generate energy such as solar electric and solar thermal panels, wind turbines, and
geothermal energy exchange.
- Architects consult with mechanical and electrical engineers to implement
high-efficiency electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other systems, which are designed to
have small environmental footprints.
- Buildings use equipment to modify the state of the building, creating energy
and comfort.
STRATEGIES IN ACTIVE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
 GRID CONNECTED- Grid-Interactive Buildings have a holistically optimized
blend of energy efficiency, energy storage, renewable energy, and load
flexibility technologies enabled through smart controls. These buildings can
dynamically interact with the power grid and ramp energy use up or down
depending on the cost or carbon intensity. This helps utilities to recarbonize the electricity system, prevent outages, and allow optimal levels
of renewable to be supplied to the grid.
Conversely, when the electricity demands of the building exceed
the amount supplied on site, electricity can be drawn from the power grid.
Optimally, a Grid-Connected building can be net-zero (or net-positive),
meaning that the amount of electricity supplied to the grid is equal to (or
greater than) the amount drawn from the grid.
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NET-POSITIVE COST OF ENERGY- The notion of a Net Positive Energy
building is premised on the generation of more energy by a building than
is needed to meet its own requirements. The excess energy can be placed
into the. electrical grid or exported to adjacent buildings to offset their
energy requirements. Net-Positive Cost of Energy means that within the
period of one year, a project generates enough energy to exceed the
cost of energy they pay to their energy utilities each year, and thus create
revenue for themselves.
This is typically done by photovoltaic (PV) panels, sometimes by
wind mills or a combination.
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SOLAR ELECTRICAL POWER- Solar Electrical Power is generated by
photovoltaic (PV) modules that harvest energy from the sun and convert it
into electrical energy. For use in buildings, solar modules can be integrated
into the design as cladding components or as sun-shades, mounted on
the roof, or mounted on land adjacent to the building. Tracking devices
can follow the path of the sun for optimal exposure.
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SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY- Solar thermal energy (STE) is a form of energy
and a technology for harnessing solar energy to generate thermal energy
for use in industry, and in the residential and commercial sectors. Solar
Thermal Energy is heat energy generated by a roof-mounted solar
collection device that absorbs heat from the sun. Flat-plate collectors are
the most common type, where fluid is circulated through tubing to transfer
heat from the collection surface to an insulated water tank.
GEOTHERMAL HEAT EXCHANGE- Geothermal Heat Exchange brings a
building in harmony with the earth, taking advantage of subterranean
temperatures to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.
Geothermal heat pumps basically work like every other heat pump.
Heat pumps are machines that use a refrigeration cycle (the same as used
in your refrigerator) to transfer heat — they make it hot on one side and
cold on the other. In the winter you want the hot side in your house and
the cold side outdoors, and the opposite in the summer.
WIND POWER- Wind power generation means getting the electrical energy
by converting wind energy into rotating energy of the blades and
converting that rotating energy into electrical energy by the generator.
Wind energy increases with the cube of the wind speed, therefore WTGs
should be installed in the higher wind speed area.
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HRV/ERV - Heat recovery ventilation, also known as mechanical ventilation
heat recovery, is an energy recovery ventilation system which works
between two sources at different temperatures. Heat Recovery Ventilation
(HRV) and Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) are dedicated ventilation
systems that supply continuous fresh air to your home. Fresh outdoor air
runs through the HRV/ERV which pre- conditions the air by transferring the
heat (HRV) or heat and humidity (ERV) from stale exhaust air into the fresh
outdoor air.
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HIGH EFFIECIENCY HVAC SYSTEM- An HVAC system refers to mechanical
systems for Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning to maintain the desired
environmental conditions within a space. There are many different systems
available but should be tuned to the building’s needs. Where possible,
passive strategies and low-energy systems for heating and cooling are
utilized to reduce energy demand.
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IN-FLOOR RADIANT HEATING- Radiant heating systems supply heat directly
to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. The systems
depend largely on radiant heat transfer -- the delivery of heat directly from
the hot surface to the people and objects in the room via infrared
radiation. Radiant heating is the effect you feel from the warmth of a hot
stovetop element from across the room. When radiant heating is located
in the floor, it is often called radiant floor heating or simply floor heating.
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BUILDING AUTOMATION- Building Automation refers to the computer
networking of electronic devices designed to monitor and control the
HVAC, security, fire & safety, lighting, humidity and audio-visual control
systems within a building. Automated Buildings are often referred to as
“intelligent buildings”, “smart buildings”, or (if residential) as “smart homes”.
2. STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
- According to EPA, stormwater management is the effort aimed at reducing
and channeling rainwater runoff or melted snow from urban areas, streets, lawns, and
homes to improve water quality. It also helps to reverse the negative effects of urban
and rural stormwater flooding caused by agriculture and human activities such as
infrastructural constructions.
- In urban and developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement and
roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, water runs
rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems and drainage ditches and can cause flooding,
erosion, turbidity (or muddiness), storm and sanitary sewer system overflow, and
infrastructure damage.
IMPORTANCE OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
 MAINTAIN THE NATURAL HYDROLOGY CYCLE- Without proper stormwater
management, infiltration can decrease reducing soil replenishment and
groundwater recharge. It is worth noting that soil moisture is essential in
sustaining vegetation and the reason it has a role to play in maintaining
the natural hydrology cycle.
 PREVENT AN INCREASED OF FLOODING- Effective stormwater management
helps to keep flooding in check. Areas that embrace stormwater
management have a low risk of flooding and thus, less likely to experience
the negative effects of flooding.
 PREVENT UNDESIRABLE STREAM EROSION- By reducing the speed and
amount of water running to the streams, stormwater management helps
to prevent excessive erosion. If stormwater is not managed, it can cause
excessive erosion that may prevent the stream from fulfilling its normal
function of conveying water and sediment.
 PROTECT WATER QUALITY- Stormwater management plays a critical role in
ensuring water quality. Contaminants such as grease, oil, pesticides,
metals, plastic, and pesticides from gardens and normal daily uses tend to
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build upon surfaces. If stormwater is not managed, it can carry the
contaminants to water sources such as streams, lakes, oceans, and even
groundwater.
PREVENTS SOIL EROSION- In agricultural lands, stormwater can affect the
productivity of the land by washing away the rich soil cover. It can also
transport manure from plants in addition to topsoil, lowering the
productivity of farms.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
 GREEN ROOFS- Green roofs are roofs with different types of vegetation. The
vegetation and materials on the green roof can trap some rainwater,
ensuring that the water does not run off the surface.
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RAIN BARRELS AND CISTERNS- In this stormwater harvesting method, you
may need to alter your roofing by including water harvesting components
like gutters and downspouts that will channel water to rain barrels and
cisterns. You can use the harvested water for domestic purposes like toilet
flushing or even agriculture.
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THE INSTALLATION OF PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS- Another effective way to
control stormwater is through the use of permeable pavements. This
method is ideal for large projects that have large parking or projects in
urban areas. Permeable surfaces have porous asphalt that allows water to
infiltrate to the ground.
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SWALES -Swales manage stormwater by slowing runoff, facilitating
infiltration, and filter pollutants as runoff flow through the system. Swales
can be dry or vegetated channels depending on individual preferences.
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VEGETATED FILTER STRIPS- They are effectively used to manage runoff from
roads and highways, small parking lots, roof downspouts, and impervious
surfaces. The vegetated strips slow the runoff allowing sedimentation,
evapotranspiration, infiltration into the underlying native soil and filtration
through the soil matrix and root zone.
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CURB AND GUTTER ELIMINATION- Another effective way to manage
stormwater is to eliminate tools that encourage water to run off quickly.
Tools that collect water like gutters and curbs collect and transport runoff
quickly to the drainage as they do not allow infiltration.
SAND AND ORGANIC FILTERS- Sand and organic filters can be successfully
used to manage runoff by removing particulate metals, floatables, and
pollutants. In most water treatment systems, sand and organic filters are
part of the treatment solutions used for removing pollution from the water
before they can be discharged to the receiving water or groundwater or
for reuse.
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BIORETENTION AREAS- Bioretention or rain gardens can be used to
manage stormwater by directing it to the designated area. Bioretention
areas are shallow, landscaped depressions that filter runoff through soil
and vegetation.
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CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS- People or governments with large tracts of land
can construct wetlands that mimic natural wetlands. The wetlands should
be built with an objective of holding saturated water just below the soil
surface or on the surface and allowing it to infiltrate slowly into the ground.
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RIPARIAN BUFFERS- The main goal of creating riparian buffers is to separate
and protect the marine areas from destruction, encroachment, or
disturbance. A well designed and maintained buffer zone can sustain the
integrity of aquatic ecosystems and habitats by trapping pollutants and
particles that can destroy the water system.
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INFILTRATION BASIN- The creation of the infiltration basin is feasible in areas
with soils that are highly permeable. The basin offers temporary storage of
stormwater runoff. The inflation basins do not have a structural outlet.
Instead, the outflow of water from the basin is through the surrounding soil
and evaporation. If necessary, the infiltration basin can also be combined
with an extended detention basin to enable the basin to hold additional
stormwater.
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DETENTION PONDS- Detention ponds can be used to store water
temporarily and this is the feature that makes it ideal for stormwater
management. The ponds can be excavated or constructed in natural
depressions that are dry during low flow periods. In the detention ponds,
water must be allowed to stay long enough to settle out the solid particles.
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RETENTION PONDS- Retention ponds function in the same way as detention
ponds but with an added benefit of flood control. Although they are
primarily designed to improve the quality of water from stormwater flows,
they are not designed to dry out.
ONSITE DETENTIONS- Onside detention is a simple method, which can be
used to collect rainwater on a site, store it temporally, and then release it
slowly to ensure it does not worsen the downstream flooding. The method
can be most effective in urban and residential areas of stormwater
management.
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III. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Wind power generation using wind energy. (n.d.). Systems & Solutions. Retrieved October
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Grid-Integrated Buildings Are Good for Business and the Climate. (2019, February 19).
Guidehouse Insights. https://guidehouseinsights.com/news-and-views/grid-integratedbuildings-are-good-for-business-and-the-climate
Schultz, M. (2021, August 19). How Geothermal Heat Pumps Work ⋆ . Earth River
Geothermal, Inc. https://earthrivergeothermal.com/how-geothermal-heat-pumps-work/
Dao, S. (2018, May 10). How Energy Travels: What Happens with PV Solar Power. Medium.
https://medium.com/@solar.dao/how-energy-travels-what-happens-with-pv-solarpower-16a047dbe87e
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Radiant
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Sustainable • Healthy, High-Performance, and Energy-Efficient Architecture — Strategies.
(2021, October 8). Sustainable • Healthy, High-Performance, and Energy-Efficient
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