Climate Change in Architecture

Climate Change in Architecture

  • Submitted By: dhillier7
  • Date Submitted: 01/17/2010 7:08 AM
  • Category: Technology
  • Words: 3083
  • Page: 13
  • Views: 4

CLIMATE CHANGE COLLEGE PROPOSITIONS (CCCP)
3000 word illustrated and bound A4 essay outlining an ethical position born out of the technological/environmental position of college and architectural interests.
A4 Illustrated Essay Submission: 26/01/09 (12 noon, General Office)

1 Introduction (200 words)
DH: Our college is strives to be globally aware, considering situations in other countries, with their different culture and climate and regional elements and variations in design and construction techniques. We displace ourselves as designers, discarding our preconceptions and striving to develop our thoughts from scratch. Nature informs our decisions as we strive to achieve the harmony and sustainability seen in natural forms.

2 Material Usage (520 words)
A major consideration when we are determining the form, structure and performance of a building is our use of materials and the impact of their use on global resources and environmental impact.
Currently the most commonly used tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of construction is known as life-cycle analysis (LCA). This identifies the material, energy and waste flows associated with a building over its entire life so environmental impacts can be determined in advance. Comparisons can then be made to make the most environmentally positive choice.
“Building services are the biggest single source of energy consumption (and therefore CO2 emissions) in the UK and domestic buildings in the UK and domestic buildings alone account for 29% of total energy use.”
Along with energy consumption we must take into account the energy used in producing the materials that we build with. This is called embodied energy and it is defined as the primary energy.
We can compare materials on the basis of the energy use that they are accountable for and can make a decision as to which is most suitable, balancing necessity of a materials benefits with its carbon footprint and cost to the environment. If...

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