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Alternative source of energy
The role of human activity in climate change
How can alternative sources of energy be harnessed effectively
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The main function of architects is to design buildings for the present, with awareness of the past, but without compromising the design of future generations. Unfortunately, the current building construction around the world immensely affects the environment, contributing to global warming because 30-40% of world’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to buildings. Therefore, architects should give the necessary importance to the design of energy-efficient buildings since it would significantly reduce the percentage of damage that current buildings have in the environment.
Scientists have spent a great amount of time trying to discover what is causing global warming. They have looked to natural cycles and events that are known to influence the climate. However, the amount and pattern of warming that has been measured in the planet cannot be explained just by natural factors. Therefore, the best way found to explain the changing climate pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases emitted by humans that is endangering important and necessary things. In fact, power plants burn non-renewable sources of energy as fossil fuels to generate electricity for homes and industries all over the world.
Current construction of buildings and the environmental disadvantages that this entails has concerned many countries all over the world, making them seek alternatives ways to satisfy the growing demand for the production of fossil energy in a more efficient way. Besides other contributors, obtaining natural resources as materials to build any structure consume energy and has an impact in the environmental degradation. The development of green buildings is extremely important because it would decrease the release of gre...
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...design in different phases, for example, economically because it would dictates the total cost and the overall cost thought the years, and long-term efficiency and safety because with more details taken into consideration when designing and building the structure, the most effective results the building will have.
Works Cited
Huat, Ng Ban, and Zainal Abidin bin Akasah. "An Overview of Malaysia Green Technology Corporation Office Building: A Showcase Energy-Efficient Building Project in Malaysia." Journal of Sustainable Development 4.5 (2011): 212-228. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
Newman, Peter, and Anne Matan. Green Urbanism in Asia: The Emerging Green Tigers. World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore: 2012. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
Tang, Pamela. “Appeal of 'Green' Buildings Growing in Asia: Report.” Asiamoney 21.3 (2010): 47. Business Source Complete. Web. 3 Feb. 2014.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a certification program for green buildings with stringent requirements for building energy efficient and environmentally responsible structures. Some requirements of this program include specific building materials, smart grid capable, gray water reclamation systems, green space minimums, high levels of insulation and low thermal transfer glass (US Green Building Council). Green buildings are a must if we are to sustain our current level of growth. Despite the higher initial cost of these buildings, the long term energy savings make these buildings a smarter choice for
Global warming has become on of the most controversial issues in the media today. While most of the Western world countries have generally accepted the premise that man's chemical emissions in the atmosphere can and are affected by the world’s climate patterns, in the United States, the issue has become so politicized with many republicans challenging the science behind the theory. Global warming is a greenhouse effect whereby gases are trapped on the earth’s surface causing it to heat up (Maslin 14). It is based on the worldwide temperature records that have been maintained by human beings through their activities since the 1880,s. In addition, global warming is not only caused by human activities only but also through climate changes in solar radiance. The problem is that, humans continue to contribute to the global warming phenomenon. All citizens should work in reducing human activities that cause global warming and also support the development of nuclear power. Scientists deem that, global warming is mainly caused by human activities which accelerate the natural process by creating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Human activities have become a great contribution to the greenhouse effect and this means that climate changes are inevitable. They further argue that, if these activities continue and are not reduced, it will lead to more trapping of energy radiated from the earth and this will likely lead to extreme weather and global warming. Global warming should be at reduced levels or else, it will be catastrophic.
In conclusion, the designers and builders of the tower have an undesirable job: creating a building that is functional, modern, sustainable and unique. At the same time it is honoring the memory of the people that died in and around the buildings that stood there before. While the green sustainable features have been criticized for being too expensive, they will do more than save just water, electricity and emissions. They and the grace of the building will inspire a generation of green and safe skyscrapers for the twenty-first century. This building has become one of the safest, environmentally friendly and expensive ever built, but as critics slate the building for various reasons, one cannot take away the determination through political, social and economic status that designers and workers have created such a beautiful building with great meaning.
The article “an introduction to climate change” describes in detail about the causes of climate change, and its potential effect on earth. According to this article, the global warming is due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide and other pollutants formed from burning fossil fuels that accumulate on earth’s atmosphere so that light rays are reflected back to the earth surface causing the atmospheric air to heat up. In addition, the article also gives some relevant solutions to global warming such as reducing air pollution and use of “clean energy.”
Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objects of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimal waste, and create healthy, productive environments (“Sustainable Design”). Focusing primarily on the sustainable design principles, there are five, including: low-impact materials, energy efficiency, quality and durability, design for reuse and recycling, and renewability. As sustainability appears to become the necessary trend in architecture, the question concerning the cost versus outcome of “going green” really an investment or a waste of time and money comes to mind. With our research provided below, we believe the expenses may truly be with the investment in the end.
The following are the current, more popular trends diploid in architectural design: Consideration of Green environment: We all understand that we reside in a world that is more environmentally conscious than ever. The protection of our Mother Nature extends to architecture. It is evident that more architects are trying to adopt eco-friendly items into their designs. This includes the selection of materials that don't leave much of a carbon footprint. Most places have enacted laws which most architects are governed like efficient use of land and energy, storm water filtration, waste-product reduction, native landscape use and minimal disruption of the habitat (Association of Cost Engineers, 1999).
The commonly debated “greenhouse effect” refers to “the global average temperature increase that has been observed over the last one hundred years or more” (Spencer). President Barack Obama addressed the issue in an effort to highlight its severity, "We have to all shoulder the responsibility for keeping the planet habitable, or we’re going to suffer the consequences – together” (Leader). The earth’s increasing atmospheric and oceanic temperatures result in climate changes due to cumulative amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. As an outcome, researchers around the globe have established that the by-product of burning fossil fuels is the main culprit of the increasing temperatures. Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels have significantly increased since 1900, as shown above from a study carried out by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center.
Scientists used experimental methods and statistical analysis to prove that human activities cause global warming, through emission of greenhouse gasses, deforestation and the use of chemical fertilizer. Environmentalists and scientists are trying to enlarge the use of renewable energy technologies e.g. solar and wind energy. Plantation of trees can also reduce global warming at a large scale by absorbing carbon dioxide. Use of animal manure instead of chemical fertilizers can reduce exhaustion of ozone layer. The use of renewable energy source together with human cooperation can make this environment better place for present and future generation.
In talking about global warming, we need to learn what causes the greenhouse effect. Rays from the sun are taken up and absorbed by water vapor that is natural in the atmosphere. The United States emits the largest man made greenhouse gases in the world. As Americans we must realize the responsibility to reduce the emissions. (Gore, Albert) Water Vapor is eighty percent of greenhouse warming. The last twenty percent results from other gases that are in very little amounts. A huge absorber of the sun’s heat rays is carbon dioxide. Us as humans release a lot of carbon dioxide. When fossil fuels are burned, they release big amounts of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is on the increase in our atmosphere due to car emissions. Approximately eighty percent of CO2 increases because of man’s use of fossil fuels. When there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere the more sun rays are absorbed. In result to this happening this will cause the earth and the earths atmosphere to warm. When the earth is warming, water temperatures will start to get warmer. Oceans and lakes will get warmer in result f...
Unites States Green Building Council. (2014). Leadership in energy and environmental design. Retrieved from http://www.usgbc.org/leed#why
As we approach the future we are faced with many global problems. Most of these problems arise because we have caused them ourselves. We need to face these problems and find a solution. Global warming, although most often overlooked in importance, is a crucial problem of the future directly related to human activities. Global warming is caused by gases humans release into the atmosphere called anthropogenic gases and by deforestation. Anthropogenic gases include carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofl...
A green building (also referred to as sustainable building or green construction) is a structure that employs an approach that is responsible for the environment besides being efficient in regard to resources all through its life cycle: This is from selecting the site to designing it, constructing, operating, maintaining, renovating and demolishing it. To achieve this, the client, the engineers, the architects and the entire design team closely cooperate at all stages of a project (Yan and Paliniotis, 2006). Practicing Green Building complements and expands the conventional building design areas of comfort, durability, utility and economy.
Global Warming One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”).
This module broadens our understanding on the ways in which buildings are constructed and the purpose of choosing materials and structures for buildings. This module is divided into survey, structure, materials and construction. These are taught specifically through lectures, tutorial exercises, drawings and lab test workshops. The lectures were an explanation of the topics in which our knowledge was put into practice by solving and experimenting questions during tutorials and workshops. By the end of the year, we gained great knowledge on the contents of this module by taking part in this structured order of learning and understanding in workshops and tutorials.
Global warming is an increase in average global temperatures. This will lead to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’s surface. Coal is a main contributor to global warming because so much electricity is produced from coal-burning power plants. According to the book Global Warming by Peggy Parks, “In the United States, more than 50 percent of all electrical plants use coal, which also provides power for about 40 percent of the total electricity generated throughout the world” (43). Global warming is also caused because of deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. Many people say that global warming is natural; however, people speed up the process. Global Warming needs to be taken serious because as the temperature rises, it causes melting of polar ice caps, a rise in sea levels or unnatural patters of precipitation which can result in floods. This can also have an effect on wildlife such as the food chain. Many species have been dying of starvation and many have to move to different places due to the temperature changes. Possible solutions to Global Warming is for people to switch to LED light bulbs as it gives the same light and uses less electricity, wash clothes in cold water, buy less products, and to spread the