Energy Efficient Construction
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Energy Efficient Construction
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Environmental Impact From Building
The environmental impact of buildings is substantial as homes and buildings in the U.S. consume over 70% of total electricity and 39% of total energy consumed as well as 40% of the raw materials used and they also produce 39% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, construction accounts for 40% (around 3 billion tons) of the raw materials used on a global basis, produces 50% of CFC production and accounts for 40% of all landfill waste material.
Global population is also increasing and is projected to go from 6 billion currently to 10 billion by 2050. At the current rate of material consumption it is estimated that a 350% increase in material consumption will be occur within the next 50 years and that a 50% reduction in material consumption is necessary to sustain this. Oil and gas reserves are expected to be depleted within the next 50 years and global deforestation is happening at 2.5 acres per second. Thus we must revitalize and reuse older buildings as it takes a lot of materials and energy to replace it as well as creating a large waste stream that ends up in the landfill, and we need to build more sustainable and longer lasting structures constructed with local and more natural materials that are plentiful and or readily renewable. Renovated and new construction should also be built to consume far less energy than today’s typical construction. We are beginning to see this today with the infancy of the green building movement which will certainly become common place as materials and energy become scarcer and thus more expensive.
Suburban development also has a very negative impact on the environment and we need to focus our sights inward on urban renewal and infill of vacant lots to decrease urban sprawl which consumes raw land that can be used for farming as well as increases infrastructure costs, upkeep and travel distances to and from our workplaces. An enormious amount of energy is expended on suburban development maintaining roads, extending water, sewer and electric services to them as well as travel to and from the city. It may be surprising to know that New York City is the greenest city in America in terms of energy use as it consumes less energy per capita than any city in the U.S. Thus as population increases and energy sources are depleted, we must build our homes, buildings and cities to consume less energy and to once again take advantage of the earth’s natural heating and cooling.
Global population is also increasing and is projected to go from 6 billion currently to 10 billion by 2050. At the current rate of material consumption it is estimated that a 350% increase in material consumption will be occur within the next 50 years and that a 50% reduction in material consumption is necessary to sustain this. Oil and gas reserves are expected to be depleted within the next 50 years and global deforestation is happening at 2.5 acres per second. Thus we must revitalize and reuse older buildings as it takes a lot of materials and energy to replace it as well as creating a large waste stream that ends up in the landfill, and we need to build more sustainable and longer lasting structures constructed with local and more natural materials that are plentiful and or readily renewable. Renovated and new construction should also be built to consume far less energy than today’s typical construction. We are beginning to see this today with the infancy of the green building movement which will certainly become common place as materials and energy become scarcer and thus more expensive.
Suburban development also has a very negative impact on the environment and we need to focus our sights inward on urban renewal and infill of vacant lots to decrease urban sprawl which consumes raw land that can be used for farming as well as increases infrastructure costs, upkeep and travel distances to and from our workplaces. An enormious amount of energy is expended on suburban development maintaining roads, extending water, sewer and electric services to them as well as travel to and from the city. It may be surprising to know that New York City is the greenest city in America in terms of energy use as it consumes less energy per capita than any city in the U.S. Thus as population increases and energy sources are depleted, we must build our homes, buildings and cities to consume less energy and to once again take advantage of the earth’s natural heating and cooling.
