Sustainability in Modern Design
In the realm of architecture, the term "sustainability" often conjures images of rustic eco-huts adorned with green roofs and mud walls. That is a far cry from the truth these days. Sustainable architecture can look as awe-inspiring, dramatic, and cost-effective as its conventional counterparts. Due to advances in technologies and materials, it’s easier than ever for Architects to design environmentally-responsible buildings. I believe it is my professional responsibility to design your home such that it covers all your design requirements while simultaneously being respectful to our finite resources.
You get what you want, your architect figures out how to make it “sustainable”.
Let's explore that a bit further.
Sustainable and Badass
When the concept of sustainable architecture is mentioned, visions of quaint, back-to-nature structures may dance in your mind. A google search for ‘sustainable architecture’ literally yields endless images of silly high-rise towers draped in roof gardens. These stereotypes are as outdated as they are inaccurate.
A widely accepted definition of “Sustainable” is “to meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the needs of future generations to meet their needs.” That’s it and it’s not that hard to achieve these days. The biggest modern advances that enable this are the widespread availability of materials that don’t take a ton of resources to produce and low-cost renewable energy generation. That enables us to create a structure that produces its own energy and has a low carbon footprint. That’s it, you’re making a positive difference for our environment.
There are countless specifications and details that your architect can work out behind the scenes during the design process, allowing you to get whatever look you want, in a sustainable manner, without you even needing to be involved.
My point: you shouldn’t need to worry about it. Are you after a rustic, down to earth Farmhouse-style home? Or maybe you are after a concrete and glass contemporary masterpiece? Regardless of aesthetic, your home can be both sustainable and badass if you have an architect who values both aesthetics and sustainable design practices.
Sustainability Is A Responsibility
Architecture literally plays a pivotal role in shaping our environment. Consider this: 35% of the United States' electrical consumption is attributed to buildings. 39% of the global carbon emissions come from buildings. The carbon footprint of construction and operation is substantial. I view it as my ethical and professional obligation to consider it on every project. Every architect should want their designs to make a positive contribution to the environment. If we can address this without sacrificing our design goals, why wouldn’t we? I’d even argue that creating a design without considering how efficient it is to construct and operate is simply not thinking holistically about the lifecycle of the design.
As discussed below, the strategies that we consider during the design process are fairly simple and can actually, in some cases, lead to dramatic and exciting architectural ideas in and of themselves.
Net-Zero Homes: My Ideal Standard
My ‘stretch goal’ for every home I design is that it should generate all the energy it needs for it to operate. We achieve this by creating a home that uses as little energy as possible by the selection of efficient appliances, fixtures, and envelope sealing while also including on-site power generation such as solar panels.
In short, no electricity bills. You might even be able to sell electricity back to the grid if you end up producing more than you need.
Again, that’s it.
Let’s Explore Tactics
The strategies below explore the tactical strategies we can implement to create a more environmentally responsible structure:
Building Orientation: Strategic building orientation can maximize natural daylighting, reducing the need for artificial lighting and decreasing overall energy consumption.
On-Site Power Generation: Solar panels and energy storage systems (batteries) are cheaper and more efficient than ever. You can generate and store power very in a very cost effective manner consider the 30-40+ year lifespan of a new home. Some states, such as California, have even started requiring a certain amount of solar on new construction.
Rapidly Renewable Materials: All of the high-quality, durable materials that I typically work with (woods, concrete, metals, stones, etc.) have versions available that were manufactured and sourced responsibly. We simply don’t need to sacrifice the look you want in order to use a product that has a small carbon footprint.
Modern HVAC Systems: We will specify modern, efficient heat pump HVAC systems. These systems operate with significantly lower energy consumption, reducing the overall energy requirements of the structure. They also come with improved indoor air quality. Think, no more of that burnt dust smell when a traditional furnace turns on for the first time in a while.
Building Envelope Strategies: This involves proper insulation, weather sealing, and eliminating thermal bridging. These are fairly technical items that you won’t ever have to consider on a daily basis. Essentially, the construction documents we produce will include specifications for your contractor to build the exterior walls such that they will minimize heat loss during winter and heat gain during summer. In practice, that means you’ll simply use your air conditioning and heating systems less leading to even lower energy use.
Smart Home Technology: Current smart home technologies are capable enough to understand how your home is used throughout the day. It will automatically turn on and off lights when areas aren’t in use. It can automatically adjust temperature at different points of the day depending on the weather or if you’re home. It can schedule appliances to run at specific times when electricity costs are cheapest. We rely on technology to cut energy costs at times that we will never notice.
The Wow Factor, Without Compromise
My big takeaway is that “sustainable” architecture doesn't mean sacrificing the "wow factor." None of the strategies I shared involved creating planted roofs or dirt walls. It's more about pushing boundaries of how materials are sourced and produced, embracing the innovations in energy generation, and creating spaces that simply function without using tons of energy. My hope is that when considering your next project, you find an architect who can fully embrace your design goals and aesthetics, in a manner that also incorporates the strategies discussed here. When done correctly, your new “sustainable” home won’t feel like a compromise, but will feel like a more livable home compared to traditionally-built houses.
