How Architects Will Bring About A Sustainable Way Of Living?

In the 21st century, sustainability remains a major concern in various areas of life around the world. While environmentalists, manufacturers, suppliers, and engineers have already aligned their work with sustainability goals, architects around the world are also ready to work towards a sustainable future for all.

Buildings have a major contribution to global energy use, greenhouse gas emission, solid waste production, and consumption of drinkable water. Keeping the present climatic condition in mind, architects are responding to the situation with innovative and modern building solutions for both- new and existing infrastructure.

Sustainable architecture, otherwise commonly referred to as green architecture, is not the way for the future, it is the present that mankind needs.

So, based on ideas and creations around the globe, here are a few strategies used by architects around the globe to pave way for future generations.

1. Building Design: The most sustainable constructions are the ones that are designed using principles of green architecture. Sustainable design at the conceptual stage can pave the way for energy efficiency and water conservation through the usage of technology. Sustainable design can include considering sun orientation for natural ventilation, thermal mass techniques, passive cooling, airflow strategy or biomimicry. Understanding sustainable design techniques at the college level through a detailed curriculum can help students become major contributors to sustainability goals.



2. Sustainable Construction: To achieve sustainable construction, architects are now using low impact construction material, laying focus on space efficiency, minimizing construction waste, and joining hands with companies that practice sustainability. Such practices will ensure that water and energy conservation takes place during construction.

3. Using Technological Innovation: Technological advancements can make construction sustainable at every stage. With use of the latest technology, construction can be made efficient, designing can be made simpler with the use of lesser resources, maintenance can be quicker and energy conservation can also be made possible. Overall, technology can transform the complete process of architecture towards sustainability.

4. Smart Water Systems: Given the present conditions of water scarcity, conserving water is a necessity. With the use of modern techniques available, architects can install smart water systems that can conserve water in commercial as well as residential buildings. With the use of smart water systems, architects can not only conserve water but also make its reuse possible.

5. Sustainable Energy Sources: An effective design that ensures the installation of sustainable energy sources like solar power plants, optimizing energy performance by the usage of energy-efficient equipment, and reducing dependency on heavy lighting solutions can be a huge step towards sustainability.

6. Native Landscaping: choosing the right landscape can make a huge difference to the energy requirements and building’s water consumption needs. A roof covered with many trees and plants can prevent solar heat to get trapped inside the space, thus reducing the reliability of AC’s and other cooling devices, leading to energy conservation.

While experience can help professionals to develop skills required to ensure sustainability in architecture, colleges providing architecture studies can provide a strong foundation towards this goal.

At Poornima University, our architecture curriculum is designed to ensure greater skill development and knowledge transfer toward sustainability. It is because of our extensive curriculum and knowledge-oriented programme that we are consequently ranked among top B Arch colleges in India. Visit the campus to know more and get admission details for the upcoming session!