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Sustainable Architecture
Sustainable architecture and how it help the environment research paper
Sustainable architecture and how it help the environment research paper
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Recommended: Sustainable Architecture
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Executive Summary
The profession of architecture in this country is faced with the reality that much of our industry is supported by practices which cause undeniable harm to the environment. The rapid growth of human activity into sensitive ecosystems; the support of unsustainable resource industries; the continued practice of designing buildings which do not meet sustainable design standards; all of these issues point to a profession unable to control its reliance on unsustainable practices.
In an effort to mitigate the impact of these issues, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) has drafted a no harm policy that states, “in every region we conduct business, we promote business schemes compliant with a high sense of principles and seek to act for the good of society.” In observance of this policy, the AIBC has begun encouraging the procurement of engineered wood products with due concern for the social, economic and environmental sustainability of affected forests. We hope to achieve this through a number of initiatives, aimed towards encouraging our membership to manage their supply chain from the supplier back to the harvested forest to ensure the sustainability and environmental safety of the wood products procured.
The AIBC’s procurement policy regarding Engineered wood products, specifically Glue laminated products (glulam), will ask professionals to conform to a standard of operation designed for the long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability of the forest.
1.2 Introduction to Glulam
Glulam is a structural timber product manufactured by gluing together pieces of dimension lumber. As a result of its attractive appearance and relatively significant malleabili...
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...roduction
A proper Chain of Custody (CoC) can play a large part in the sustainable procurement of architectural glulam products. However, the CoC involved in a glulam product could prove to be quite complex, as the material provided for the finished product could come through a variety of sources. As noted previously, glulam is manufactured from lamstock, which is purchased from wood mills as a specialty stock. Maintaining a consistent CoC through this process is much more difficult than for other products.
Goal
All future AIBC projects using glulam will require a proper CoC including harvesting permits, bills of lading and other pertinent documentation as it pertains to the harvest and production of this material.
The CoC must provide evidence that the previous policy requirements have been met, including the specification of certified forest products.
When the "new" management took over Pacific Lumber the process of "selective cutting" was abandoned and "clear cutting" was adopted. Although "clear cutting" is a way to obtain so-called fast cash, it wa...
CQC (2009) Guidance about compliance. Summary of regulations, outcomes and judgement. Available at: http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/guidance_about_compliance_summary.pdf Accessed on: 21/03/2014
Woodfuel is not a new form of fuel; historically wood has been used as fuel for millennia with many civilisations relying on it as a source of energy. Even today the global south still use wood to produce heat. At the turn of the 19th century wood in the UK was no longer the main source of energy, but instead fossil fuel, which now outlines and dominates the way we live today. Furthermore with a growing population since World War II, much of the UK agricultural land has been used for conservation schemes and agricultural harvest only. Nevertheless with the rising concern of climate change, woodlands are now emerging to be used again for the use of renewable energy. Woodfuel in the UK is available as sawdust, pellets, sheets, charcoal chips, and firewood. The particular type used depends upon factors such as application, quality, quantity and source. When we view the geography of woodfuel in the UK we can view it from a broader perspective that reflects the discipline of geography. Sustainability is a way which tries to combine earth landscapes, environments and people together. We view sustainability “through the so called ‘three pillars’, namely economic, social and environmental or ecological” (Gregory et al 2009: 738) and it is these pillars which are to “be used as a benchmark for goals in which we must achieve” (O’ Riordan 2004: 245) so that we can use todays resources without compromising future generations supplies. Due to greater awareness of climate change and the need to use low carbon, renewable source of energy, this essay will predominately focus on the sustainability of woodfuel in the UK.
Mattel required that factories in its supply chain use paint and other materials provided by certified suppliers. The company claimed that it did not put undue price pressure on suppliers, particularly as it related to paint. (p.3)
In today’s modern world of material handling, pallets have become an integral part of the supply chain; and this was initiated in the decades of 1940.
The natural resource of wood is being used at an unsustainable rate, with minimal effort to change societal views on the depletion of this valuable natural resource. Much of the wood we use today comes from old-growth tropical forests, and in many regions it is harvested illegally. Recently in England, it was revealed that the major department store, Marks&Spencers, made much of its garden furniture out of Nyato wood which was logged illegally from Indonesian rainforests. Looking at this problem from a micro-level orientation, we can clearly see how the actions of individuals in both Britain and Indonesia affect one another.
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.
... architectures would led to a more organic organization beneficial to the people that choose to make their lives in this city. Although this model of a sustainable city is not a perfectly closed loop, it lays the foundation for one that is. Over time, with constantly evolving and improving technology and new methods of design from the scale of products to buildings, the gaps in the loop could be closed, and a “true” sustainable city could be fully realized.
Some actors are crucial to make logging and end-consumers meet, among which the World Bank, the Inter American, African and Asian Development Banks and the International Monetary Fund. The banks provide the necessary funding for the road infrastructure needed to access the forest, while the IMF --as well as the banks-- force tropical countries into increasing natural resources' exports in order to ensure external debt payments. Being forests one of the main resources available, they are at the front line of exports and are later substituted by other export oriented crops grown in place of the forest. Another very powerful player has now been added to ensure that transnational corporations make wood flow to the consumer markets: the World Trade Organization.
This agreement will support and sustain forest management along with the enlarged use of recycled fiber in the Kimberly- Clark products.
Greer, D. (2004, September-October). Green builders get big help from deconstruction. In Business, 26(5), 20. Retrieved from http://www.jgpress.com/inbusiness/archives/_free/000648.html
used to make products such as plastic lumber, toys, containers, carpet, fiber fill for jackets
Consumers have expectations In terms of a good quality product that should be availed at a reasonable price. Consumers don’t only want the business to be socially responsible towards them in this manner of reasonable prices but way beyond this. They should meet the needs of consumers in ways of convenience and appearance. But business should also consider other aspects like environmental impact when packaging is disposed.
Sustainable buildings are becoming somewhat of a necessity in the world today. As the demand for green building develops, so does the demand for green building materials. Just as the old techniques and building materials seem to disappear in the assembly of things, they are now making a come back. Green building focuses on the efficiency of major resources like water and energy. As the cost for sustainable materials and products are on the decline, building green seems to be the most cost effective kind of design and construction. Looking specifically at green materials and their impact on the production of structures, it is evident that they are a prime choice for building material. The use of green materials should be promoted because they are better for the environment, more healthful for the consumer, and better for the economy.
The beginnings of today's green revolution can be traced back to the environmental awareness of the 1960s and European design. New construction techniques have lead to the development of innovative materials and design concepts. Green buildings are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants. Successfully designed green projects can involve an extensive array of factors, ranging from the resourceful use of materials, to careful consideration of function, climate, and location.