Ecological Architecture

By Dawod Abdie(M.sc.)
Lecture -2&3
Concepts
Environmental Architecture
Sustainable design and Construction
Ecological Building/Green Building
and rating systems
Issues to be address
Material
Why environmental architecture?
 By the year 2025 the World’s population will have
increased by at least 50% (7 billion  9 billion
people)
 Therefore, an additional 3.0 billion people will need
houses, shops, places to work.
 One environmental consequence - the level of
energy consumption will increase by at least 25%
above current levels
 In addition, the level of water consumption and
waste production will also increase by at least 30%
based upon current development patterns.
 If this scenario continues then a sustainable future will
not only be more difficult to achieve, but increasingly
less likely to be achieved at all!
 More people means-
 More houses, shops, work-places, roads etc
 More demand of products and services
 Greater demand for land
 More People = More Cities = More Impact
 New Ideas, New Paradigms, New Approaches to
designing and Construction buildings are
URGENTLY needed
Environmental Architecture
•Thinking ecologically about design is
certainly not a "new" idea
• Since ancient times people saw nature
as the perfect model to follow.
•More recently, designers such as Le
Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright,
have attempted, with some degree of
success, to address ecological issues
through their designs.
•"Green Architecture,“ " "Sustainable
Design," and "Ecological Design," are
some of the terms commonly used today
to describe a special expression of design
that takes as its primary driving force
nature's processes.
Environmental Architecture is
 Designing to reduce the overall impact of the built-up
environment on human health and the natural
environment by:
1. Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
2. Protecting occupants’ health and improving
productivity
3. Reducing waste, pollution and environmental
degradation
4. use of natural materials available locally.
Improving the built environment while minimizing
the impact on the natural environment.
"any form of design that minimizes environmentally
destructive impacts by integrating itself with living
processes."
 Environmental Architecture
•Considering the building as a whole.
how the site,
form,
materials and
structure
can be integrated to reduce energy consumption and
resource efficient but maintain comfort.
 Sustainable Architecture
is an architecture replying and interacting with
environmental and local conditions and it is trying to
apply contexts ecological abilities to create desirable
environmental conditions; consequently, it is ecological
equilibrium

•Sustainability in architecture is referred to

imagination of design and construction for future.
 Traditionally, decisions and designs have been
based on economics, form and function. The
broader environmental context – in which all
things exist, and on which all things rely- has not
adequately been considered.

•As a result of neglecting to consider the

environmental consequences of our actions, we
now find many serious environmental problems
emerging.

•If we want to have ecological resources to use in the

future, and ensure a high quality of life, we must start
considering the broader environmental context in
our designs and choices.
Sustainable design and construction
Five principles of an environmental architecture
 Healthful Interior Environment
 It has to be well insured that building materials and systems
used do not emit toxic unhealthy gases and substances
in the built spaces.
 Energy Efficiency
 Ecological Materials
 Environmental Form
 The building form should respond to the site, region, climate
and the materials available thereby generating a harmony
between the inhabitants and the surroundings.
 Good Design
 Structure & Material and Aesthetics are the basic parameters
of defining design. They should be so integrated
 The aims of sustainability in environmental
design
 Maximizing the human comfort
 Efficient planning
 Minimizing waste of spaces
 Minimizing construction expenses
 Minimizing buildings maintenance expenses
 Protecting (keeping) and improving natural values
Sustainable Design
Reduces the negative impact on the environment and
human health, thus improving the performance during a
building’s life cycle. Careful consideration is given to
water, energy, building
materials, and solid waste
e.g. earth, wood, stone etc (not involving pollution in its
treatment) that are energy efficient and that make little or no
impact on the nature of a site and its resources.

Sustainable architecture can be practiced still

maintaining efficiency, beauty, layouts and cost
effectiveness.
Principles of Sustainable Design
 Economy of Resources
 Life Cycle Design
 Humane Design
Economy of Resources
 Energy conservation,
 Water conservation, and
 Material conservation
Life Cycle Design - Structured methodology for the
building process
Human habitation systems — from cities to houses — create one-way
energy and material flows, leaving loops open.

Conventional model of
the building life cycle.

The sustainable building

life cycle.
 Life-Cycle Assessment Phase 1
Raw Materials extraction and
processing
Energy Atmospheric
Life-Cycle Assessment Phase 2
Fuels emissions
Production of Building Materials
Raw Water
Life-Cycle Assessment Phase 3
Materials pollution
Construction and re-building/
Extension of Buildings
Water Wastes and soil
Life-Cycle Assessment Phase 4
contamination
Operation and Maintenance of
Buildings
Other
Life-Cycle Assessment Phase 5
emissions
Demolition, Re-use and Disposal
Humane Design
 Sustainable design must take into consideration the wide
range of cultures, races, religions and habits of the people
who are going to be using and inhabiting the built
environment.
 This requires sensitivity on the needs of the people and the
community.
 Sustainable design process:
1. understand the needs of the users of the building
2. look at the capacity of the site and the environment in
supporting those needs
3. make design decisions and use appropriate
technologies to fulfil the above

appropriate technologies
•Making and using technology that meets human
needs while taking into account long and short term
consequences for society and the environment
The impacts of unsustainable design &
building practices
 INCREASED SOIL CONTAMINATION - chemicals, dirty
water, loss of nutrients
 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS - global warming and
climate change
 UNNECESSARYDELEPLETION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES - forests, water, minerals, soil
 EFFECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH - we all need clean air
and water, good food
 INCREASED WATER POLLUTION - raw sewage
rubbish chemicals
 INCREASED AIR POLLUTION - chemicals and gases
 Architectural Design has a major affect on buildings’
sustainability and environmental efficiency through
 Architectural Design has to consider these environmental
issues
Benefits from Sustainable Construction
• Increased employment opportunities
• New markets created
• Better use of resources
• Reduced human health impacts
• Reduced energy consumption
• Reduced waste production
• Reduced disposal of wastes
 Reduced impact upon the Environment
Three R of sustaianble design and
construction
 REUSE
 RECYCLE
 REPAIR
Regenerative Use of Eco friendly Materials
Architecture keeping
the existing balance of • Grass Paver Blocks Pavements
nature to connect • Local Stone with Marble Strips
outdoor greens and • Bamboo Jute Composite for Frames & Doors
the courtyard greens • Natural stone for flooring and cladding
Natural ventilation
Solar power generation

Building
Natural punctures are
ventilation due designed to aid
to stack effect cross ventilation

Innovation & Design

Regenerative Lift
High Efficiency Solar panel.
Mechanized car parking.
Low energy EM technology for
Bio digestion of organic waste.
GREEN BUILDING
 What is a Green Building?
What is a Green Building?

 “Green” Buildings are high performance structures that

also meet certain standards for reducing natural resource
consumption
 Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of
buildings and their use of energy, water, and materials, and
reducing building impacts on human health and the
environment, through better sitting, design,
construction, operation, maintenance, and removal
— taking into account every aspect of the complete
building life cycle.
Measures for green buildings can be divided into four areas:
 reducing energy in use
 minimizing external pollution and environmental damage
 reducing embodied energy and resource depletion
 minimizing internal pollution and damage to health
 Why Green Buildings are important?
The Global CO2 Emissions by Sector
1- Buildings (Electricity + Heat + Construction) = 47.5%
2- Transportation = 25%
3 - Land-Use Change & Forestry = 22%
4- Other = 5.5%

Land-Use Other
Change & 6% Buildings
Forestry 47%
22%

Transportation
25%
The benefits of green buildings
 Financial
 environmental,
 social
Financial Benefit #1: Green buildings reduce capital
costs.
•Reusing portions of existing structures reduces
construction material costs and the amount of waste
sent to landfills.
•Maximum use of natural daylight reduces the number
and size of lighting fixtures required.
•Smaller, less expensive mechanical systems are used
when buildings are designed with energy efficiency in
mind.
•Minimizing impervious surfaces reduces storm water
handling and the need for traditional paving materials.
•Materials from demolition are recycled,
Financial Benefit #2: High performance buildings reduce
operating and maintenance costs.

 High efficiency water fixtures

 Healthier buildings mean less employee sick time and higher
productivity,
 Green flooring materials (such as renewable, recyclable ) last
for decades, requiring little to no maintenance beyond
cleaning.
Financial Benefit #3: Sustainable buildings result
in lower risks and liabilities.
•improved ventilation reduces toxics and molds that
contribute to sick building syndrome.
Environmental Benefit #1: Green buildings
reduce the impact on the natural environment.
 Conscientisons construction methods divert tons of waste
materials from landfills and minimize site disturbance.
 Storm water reuse reduces the demand for potable water
and municipal groundwater withdrawals.
 Reduced energy consumption means fewer power plant
emissions.
Environmental Benefit #2: Healthier working and
living spaces improve occupant productivity.
Social Benefit #1: Sustainable buildings foster
stronger social networks.
 Local transportation of materials reduces air emissions and
petroleum consumption, therefore reducing our dependence
on foreign oil as well.
 Locally produced and purchased materials sustain the
community and resulting decreased transportation costs yield
financial as well as environmental benefits.
Social Benefit #2: Environmentally responsible
development increases environmental awareness.
 the presence of unusual building features pique the curiosity of the
public and expand their understanding of our relationship and
responsibility to the natural environment.
GREEN BUILDINGS’ RATING
SYSTEMS
where we stand?
GREEN BUILDINGS’ RATING SYSTEMS
 What is LEED?
 LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council's
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
building rating program.
 The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary,
consensus-based standard to support and certify successful
Green Building design, construction and operations.
 LEED promotes a whole-building approach to
sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of
human and environmental health:
 sustainable site development
 water savings
 energy efficiency
 materials selection, and
 indoor environmental quality
 It guides architects,engineers, building owners, designers and
real estate professionals to transform the construction
environment into one of sustainability.
 1-Sustainable Sites 26 Possible points
• Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
• Site Selection
• Development Density & Community Connectivity
• Brownfield Redevelopment
• Alternative Transportation
• Site Development
• Storm water Design
• Light Pollution Reduction
2-Water Efficiency 14 Possible Points

• Water Efficient Landscaping

• Innovative Wastewater Technologies

• Water Use Reduction

3-Energy and Atmosphere 35
Possible Points
• Commissioning
• Energy Performance
• On-Site Renewable Energy
• Measurement & Verification of the Building Energy
Systems
• Green Power
4- Materials and Resources 10
Possible Points
• Storage and Collection of Recyclables
• Building Reuse
• Construction Waste Management
• Materials Reuse
• Recycled Content
• Regional Materials
• Rapidly Renewable Materials
5- Indoor Environmental Quality
15 Possible Points
• IAQ Performance
• Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring
• Increased Ventilation
• Construction IAQ Management Plan
• Low-Emitting Materials
• Controllability of Systems
• Thermal Comfort
• Daylighting and Views
LEED for New Construction (LEED NC)
First LEED Certified Retail Shopping
Center in U.S.
(Awarded LEED Silver – C&S) 2007
First LEED Certified McDonald’s In U.S.
(Awarded LEED Gold – C&S)
Sustainable Features
Beijing Parkview Green

Recevied LEED Pre-

certified Core & Shell
Platinum
on September 22, 2009.
 China Resources Building
Hong Kong: A Sustainable
Transformation and Role
Model of Existing Building
Renovation
The First LEED Platinum Rated Building in
India –CII Godrej GBC
what has to be done to implement Green
Building Rating System in Ethiopia
.Raising awareness across all sectors of the building
industry
.Incorporate Green Building criteria into the existing
building codes.
.Proper enforcement and regular supervision of the
application of Green Building Criteria.
.Introduction of Green Building criteria into the
education modules of different engineering
disciplines.
. Building the capacities of all parties and sectors
involved in the building industry
 Integrating Environmental Education in the
Architectural Studies
ASSIGNMENT-2
Differentiate Sustainable/Green features of the
Current Building Regulation and Incorporate
Green Building criteria into the existing building
codes.? (out of 10 points)
Submission date – one week from the given date
LECTURE 3
ISSSUES TO BE ADDRESSED
 Materials
 Site
 Energy
 Water
 Waste
 Community
 Indoor Environment
 Issues to be addressed
Material
 What is green building material?
 Green Building material is a kind of building material
which would not cause damage to human body.
 Green Building material can be summarized as
reuse, reduction, and low-emission.
 Green Building material plays an important role in the
Green Buildings
The advantages of Green Building material

 reduces the ecological load and energy consumption of the

chemical synthesis material.
 reduces the production of energy and resource consumption
by recycling
 using natural material and low volatile organic building
material may reduce the danger of synthesis material.
Four categories of Green Building material
1. Ecological building material
 consumes the least energy and resource
 least processed , most natural
2. Healthy building material
 low pollution, low order, and low physiological hazard
 low volatile organic compounds
 Environmental friendly
3. High-performance building material
improving quality performance sound proof Green Building
material can effectively prevent noise impacts
4. Recycling building material
low processed, low energy consuming, low carbon dioxide
discharge, low pollution discharge, naturally decomposed,
and reusable
DECONSTRUCTION
•When designing their schemes and selecting materials,
developers should consider designing for deconstruction,
rather than demolition.

•Deconstruction is the dismantling of a structure in the

reverse order in which it was constructed,
PREFABRICATION
incorporate as many prefabricated buildings elements as
possible
The fabrication of elements of a building off-site can reduce
the generation of waste due to the controlled manufacturing
process.
 To reduce embodied energy, without compromising
efficiency:
 re-use existing buildings and structures wherever possible
 Design buildings for long life, with ease of maintenance and
adaptability to changing needs
 construct buildings and infrastructure out of local and low-
energy materials where possible
Embodied Energy
 The quantity of energy required by all the activities associated
with a production process,
 The energy input required to quarry, transport and manufacture
building materials, plus the energy used in the construction
process, can amount to a quarter of the 'lifetime' energy
requirement of a very energy-efficient building.
 all stages in the life of a material generate environmental impacts
and must therefore be analyzed, including raw materials
extraction and processing, intermediate materials
manufacture, material manufacture, installation,
operation and maintenance, and ultimately recycling and
waste management.
 MAKING MATERIAL GREEN

MANUFACTURING BUILDING OPERATION WASTE MANAGEMENT

• Waste Reduction • Energy efficiency • Reusable
•Pollution prevention •Non toxic •Recyclable
•Recycled •Biodegardable
•Embodied energy reduction
•Selecting more natural
Thank you