What is Sustainable Architecture?

The combination of building design and construction

that examines all aspects of the building process
that will effect and be effected by the environment.

Consists of buildings designed,

built, renovated, operated, or
Sustainable Architecture reused in an energy efficient
and economic manner.

The History of Sustainable Architecture What are some benefits of sustainable architecture?

The origin of the green architecture movement stems back to the green What are the benefits of
political movements during the 1970’s and 80’s. Lower electric and utility costs
sustainable design?
Environmentally effective use of building materials
Key events include the energy crisis of the 1970’s, the
formation of the Greenpeace organization in 1971, as Enhanced health and productivity
well as conception of the Green Party in European and
United States governments during the 70’s and 80’s.
Long-term economic returns

Reduced environmental impact

These events were causing people to become
more educated on the effects our industrial
society was having on the environment.

Who is involved with sustainable architecture? LEED Standards

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The main player is the USGBC or the United States Green
Building Council, which was founded in 1993.
The LEED Standards consist of six different components:

It is a group of people in the design/building 1. Sustainable Sites

industry who set voluntary standards on
architecture and construction techniques to
2. Water Efficiency
ensure efficient and clean building practices.

3. Energy & Atmosphere

LEED Standards, begun in 2000.

4. Materials & Resources

5. Indoor Environmental Quality

6. Innovation and Design

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 Sustainable Sites
Water Efficiency

Wastewater technology
Erosion and sediment control
Water use and efficiency

Land development

Transportation impacts

Conservation of natural resources

Storm water management

Energy and Atmosphere Interesting Energy Facts

Building performance
If the United States replaced 500 million
incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs,
HVAC
we would be an energy exporting nation.

Ozone Protection
By replacing one incandescent bulb with a
Power from sustainable energy sources fluorescent bulb, it offsets the burning of 528
pounds of coal, which in turn prevents one ton
of carbon dioxide from being released into the
atmosphere.

Materials and Resources Indoor Environmental Quality

Air quality

Monitoring Carbon Dioxide

Storage and recycling

Ventilation

Reuse of existing buildings

Low material emissions (paint, finishes, carpet, etc.)

Construction waste management

Thermal comfort and daylight
Use of regional materials

Use of rapid renewable materials (bamboo, adobe, straw The average person spends about
bale, rammed earth, etc.) 90% of their time indoors and
indoor air qaulity is about 4 times
worse than outdoors.

2
 Innovation and Design Arguments against Sustainable Architecture

“Green materials cost too much and this makes it impractical.”

“LEED Certification is too expensive, therefore there is no point

taking time to follow the guidelines.”

“Materials used in green design don’t have the quality of

standard building materials.”

High standards of excellence in the LEED Rating System

Uses environmental practices not addressed in LEED

Sustainable Buildings
Sustainable Architecture Resources

United States Green Building Council - www.usgbc.org

Emerging Green Builders – Iowa State Organization

Ask a professor

“The Power is Yours!”

-Captain Planet