Preamble

Sustainable architecture is gaining popularity in building design. Not only does it improve cost savings over time, but it also has a positive impact on air quality, well-being, and regeneration in the future. This blog presents the concept of sustainable architecture along with introducing energy-efficient homes as a model for future sustainability. The benefits and opportunities of this concept along with how Pakistan can implement it in the future are also presented.

Research Questions

1. What is sustainable architecture?

2. What is the energy-efficient (green) model for infrastructure?

3. What are the benefits and opportunities of green infrastructure?

4. How can Pakistan incorporate green infrastructure?

Introduction

Buildings are responsible for over one-third of total energy consumption. However, it is the building and construction sector which can generate the highest levels of energy savings in the future. Sustainable architecture is gaining popularity in building design. Not only does it improve cost savings over time, but it also has a positive impact on air quality, well-being, and regeneration the future. Architects can take site landscape and energy management into consideration while planning to incorporate environmentally friendly systems and building materials during construction. The method reduces the environmental impact of buildings and lowers air pollution and carbon emission due to the use of more renewable resources. A fully sustainable infrastructure would mean that all waste generated after consumption can be fully utilized for future consumption through efficient recycling. Although the cost might seem high in the construction stages, the overall savings over time are well worth the investment. The benefits of a healthy and comfortable lifestyle are the most prominent aspects besides lower environmental impacts, increased biodiversity, and aesthetic value. Pakistan is already facing massive energy-related issues due to poor implementation of power distribution lines and expensive tariffs for the consumer. Taking the sustainable architecture approach towards constructing energy-efficient houses can solve Pakistan’s energy crisis and help elevate the living standard and health of its citizens.

What is Sustainable Architecture?

Consuming energy from non-renewable sources has caused considerable harm to our environment. Sustainable architecture is the practice of designing infrastructure in a way that reduces the human consumption of resources. This is reflected in the construction materials, methods of its use, and in its use of resources such as heating, cooling, water, power, and waste management. The concept is not only geared towards the building, rather, it also focuses on making the lives of those who live in these buildings and the surrounding areas also more sustainable. Sustainable architecture also aims to minimize the negative environmental impact of infrastructure and buildings by efficiency moderation in the use of development space and the ecosystem at large. This will enable present-day users to efficiently use the resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. There are five characteristics of sustainable architecture, namely, a healthy interior environment, resource efficiency, ecologically benign materials, environmental form, and good design.

Buildings are a key component of cities and modern-day civilizations. There is a massive opportunity to limit the environmental impact of a building by making sustainable practices more common in the design and land use of infrastructure development. A good amount of consideration should go towards materials used in the construction and finishing of homes and buildings such as ensuring no toxic material is used. This can be coupled with air filtration and planting to provide a more natural and cleaner environment. Materials that minimize the destruction of the global environment are to be given preference, while all possible measures should be taken to ensure minimal use of resources to conserve energy and reduce the environmental impact of waste. Efforts to relate the design of buildings to the site, region, and climate should be made to augment the ecology of the site. Lastly, the design should be efficient, long-lasting, and make elegant use of the area. Although sustainable practices require an up-front overall cost increase, the practice can provide large savings over time, positively impact air quality and well-being, and lead to a regenerative future. (Enclopedia.com, 2020) (United Nations, 2021)

Energy Efficient (Green) Infrastructure: A Model for Future Sustainability

Among human activities related to development, the construction industry remains the sector that utilizes the largest number of resources in terms of raw materials and energy. No society can achieve sustainable development unless the construction sector goes through a transformation. Benefits associated with energy-efficient (green) buildings include reduced energy consumption, increased water use efficiency, low environmental impact, reduced carbon emissions, and air pollution, biodiversity, aesthetic value, and provision of more space for food production. In developing countries, buildings of all sorts are highly dependent on renewable energy resources. In contrast, green buildings use the natural environment to efficiently utilize heating, cooling, light, and water management. By analyzing occupant behavior, site conditions, climate, and interaction details, everything from appliances, insulation, lighting, climate control, and water heating can be optimized. (Energy.gov, 2020) (Dawn, 2015)

Benefits and Opportunities

It is now becoming widely accepted that investing in energy-efficient infrastructure is vastly more profitable than investing in increasing the capacity of the energy supply. Improving energy efficiency in housing is a great way to promote economic development, human rights, quality of life, and social equality (Golubchikov, 2009). From the environmental perspective, better and more efficient use of energy sources reduces the pressure of energy from climate change. In the use of energy-efficient designs, a building can also be made more secure from adverse weather conditions, while also reducing carbon emissions and making a country eligible for carbon trade. Efficient use of energy in homes can also provide a surplus for other areas of the construction sector. From an economic perspective, better efficiency leads to better research and innovation, business development, employment, and investment, making it an effective tool to stimulate economic growth. It can also greatly improve the comfort of living and elongate cycles of repairs. Lastly, the social and health effects are also noticeable. Energy efficiency interventions improve the standard of living and address problems of energy affordability. This can greatly reduce social exclusion and inequality.

How Pakistan can Incorporate Energy Efficient Infrastructure

Pakistan has a massive potential to utilize the energy-efficient infrastructure. Given the mostly hot climate of Pakistan, a green rooftop can be used to save energy in summers as it can provide a cooling effect whilst acting as an insulator during winters. Rooftops can also be used for growing vegetable and ornamental plants which add to the aesthetics of a landscape. Site selection is an important step in establishing a green infrastructure. The site should have wide roads, parking areas, and easy access to public amenities. Less dense soil, which acts as a better insulator due to air pockets, is a viable option from the construction perspective. There should also be research in the implementation of bio-based products originating from an agricultural basis or consisting of natural bio-fibers from trees, straw, corn, or flex. A new, nano-based structural composite material has also been introduced which is not only durable, but also low cost and proven to be a good insulator, noise absorber, and resistant to extreme weather (Dawn, 2015). Interior fixings can reduce energy consumption by 30 to 40 percent in a green building (Dawn, 2015). Moreover, construction design should be in accordance with the local environment, climatic conditions, and the direction of the building, and ensure maximum use of natural resources such as daylight and air. The idea for a sustainable green infrastructure began in 2005 after a devastating earthquake. The country was later jolted by severe floods in 2010 which resulted in the large-scale collapse of infrastructure and non-sustainable buildings, but efforts on part of the government and the public remain to be seen. Pakistan can also utilize public-private partnerships and the government can subsidize and incentivize the construction of energy-efficient buildings and homes. Green buildings are the need of the hour. Efforts can be made to implement the idea in big cities at first and then gradually move to smaller cities and towns. Lastly, the government needs to bring attention to this issue by launching awareness campaigns and highlighting the importance of the efficient use of energy.

Conclusion

Pakistan faces multi-faceted problems in its energy sector and there is a need to introduce a sustainable architecture for energy-efficient construction of infrastructure. Consuming energy from non-renewable sources has caused significant harm to the environment, and a shift toward renewable sources while also making efficient use of resources will ultimately help Pakistan in achieving sustainability in the future.

Key Takeaways

1. The building and construction sector can generate the highest levels of energy savings in the future.

2. Taking the sustainable architecture approach towards constructing energy-efficient houses can solve Pakistan’s energy crisis and help elevate the living standard and health of its citizens.

3. Sustainable architecture is the practice of designing infrastructure in a way that reduces the human consumption of resources. This is reflected in the construction materials, methods of its use, and in its use of resources such as heating, cooling, water, power, and waste management.

4. Sustainable architecture also aims to minimize the negative environmental impact of infrastructure and buildings by efficiency moderation in the use of development space and the ecosystem at large.

5. No society can achieve sustainable development unless the construction sector goes through a transformation.

6. Benefits associated with energy-efficient (green) buildings include reduced energy consumption, increased water use efficiency, low environmental impact, reduced carbon emissions, and air pollution, biodiversity, aesthetic value, and provision of more space for food production.

7. Energy efficiency interventions improve the standard of living and address problems of energy affordability. This can greatly reduce social exclusion and inequality.

Bibliography

Dawn. (2015). Green buildings: Minimising environmental impact. Retrieved from Dawn: https://www.dawn.com/news/1216437

Enclopedia.com. (2020). Sustainable Architecture. Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sustainable-architecture

Energy.gov. (2020). Energy efficient home design. Retrieved from Energy.gov: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/design/energy-efficient-home-design

Golubchikov, O. (2009). Green-Homes: Towards Energy efficient housing in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Region. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256042256

United Nations. (2021). Sustainable Buildings. Retrieved from United Nations Environment Program: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/cities/sustainable-buildings