Green Architecture for Green Buildings - Literature review Example

Project Proposal: Development, Printing and Publication of an architectural design reference book dubbed ‘Green architecture for green buildings: the evidence.’ Student Name Institution 1. The proposed idea This project proposal aims to seek funding for the development and publication of green building architectural design guidelines for the Australian building and construction industry. The idea is to develop an index of various green building projects so as to present an outline of different green building technologies and practices incorporated in their architectural designs. The overarching goals of this project will be achieved through an intensive vetting exercise of a number of green buildings that have received the green building certification or are under construction with the intent of receiving the certification. Finally, I intend to publish the selected architectural designs as an architectural design reference book dubbed ‘Green architecture for green buildings: the evidence.’ 2. The context of the proposed idea and its significance Documenting building projects with exceptional architectural achievements is important not only to the socio-economic, environmental and cultural aspects, but also will contribute to the understanding and appreciation of architecture as a discipline. It will also help to link the public with architects through the documentation of those architectural designs with outstanding contribution to the green building movement. It will further contribute to the educational needs of various architectural schools in identifying green building architectural practices and projects that can act as green building benchmarks. The intention of publishing such a guideline is underpinned by the hope that it will not only educate the public on unique architectural designs capable of contributing to environmental preservation, but it will inspire and spark their desire to seek more green building architecturally designed buildings. According to O’Mara & Bates (2012), many building owners, operators, and occupants are increasingly left to sift through massive green building literature in their endeavors to gain an understanding of how to realize environmental sustainability and economic benefits through smart building design and operation strategies. The reference book will provide a simple yet detailed one-stop reference on sustainable designs as well as inspire deeper and critical thinking, and reflections regards the drastic contributions of architects and designers in sustainable building design. The publication will be used to encourage project owners, designers, planners and architects on how innovative architectural building designs and final project outcomes can be used to enhance environmental sustainability. Another reason that underpins this project is that many green building certified buildings desire to publicize various green innovative technologies incorporated in their building projects so as to attract clients who are environmental conservation-conscious, (Miller, Spivey & Florance, . As such, such a project that aims to publish and document green buildings will provide a much-needed platform in which such individuals will fulfill their publicity needs, subject to satisfaction of all the selection criteria. 3. The methods of approaching the project The project will entail the use of a multi-criteria decision-making model such as the one developed by Chen et al. (2006). Professional reviews by architects, planners and energy analysts will be carried out as part of the vetting exercise for architectural building designs that incorporate retrofit projects and practices for the construction industry. Design aspects such as lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, appliances, rainwater retention system, security and other systems that contribute to the convenience and efficient energy use and safety benefits will be assessed. As Fuerst & McAllister (2008) argue, the financial benefits of achieving green building certification include reduced occupancy costs, higher rents, lower investor holding costs as well as lower risk premiums. According to Janda (2011), minimizing energy consumption in buildings is an indispensable architectural responsibility that can contribute to the attainment of carbon reduction commitments. Besides, Janda (2011) further argues that architects should integrate user involvement before embarking on their architectural designs since building occupants play a critical but under-recognized or unrecognized role in building designs for sustainability performance. This argument is espoused Leaman, Thomas & Vandenberg, (2007), who posit that green buildings that are properly designed and are user responsive attain positive environmental outcomes and instantaneously deliver positive user comfort and productivity. On the contrary, green buildings that pay little attention to user needs run the possibility of elevated user dissatisfaction. As a result, the vetting exercise will focus on identifying those architectural designs that incorporate integrated project delivery and collaboration for better green building outcomes. Buildings that have received various green certifications will be given prevalence as well as those that have earned different awards and accolades for their green features. Similarly, borrowing from Mc-Graw Hill (2013) criteria of choosing green buildings, the judges will be required to take into consideration those buildings that are under construction albeit being built to qualify for certification under a recognized global green rating system such as Australia’s Green Star green building rating framework. A checklist will be developed that will include various considerations on the extent and degree of use of various green features, innovation and new technology application as well as conformance to set building regulations and laws. This is in recognition of the fact that technical aspects of architectural designs directly affect a building’s level of energy efficiency, material usage, and environmental impact, and can to a large degree, be controlled by the architect, (Brennen, 2010). Another consideration will be on an architect’s ability to take into consideration set rules and regulations in his/her designs. Such new rules and laws include Australia’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act, Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act, Environmental Upgrade Agreements and Energy Performance Contracts, (Bowman & Wills, 2008). In addition, Brennen (2010) proposition regards the need to consider ethics in sustainable architectural designs will be considered. As a result, architectural designs that address socio-political issues such as race, class and poverty and uphold community identity, and heritage will qualify for inclusion in the final reference book. I recognize Mc-Graw Hill Construction (2013) research findings that the sectors with the highest opportunities for green buildings are in new residential and commercial constructions, new institutional constructions such as schools and hospitals and retrofit renovation projects. As such, the vetting exercise will also consider retrofits and renovations to existing buildings. However, such renovation projects must have incorporated green architectural aspects and cutting-edge green innovations with a touch of esthetics to scale up environmental sustainability. Another aspect that will be vetted includes a specific building’s contribution to the greater architectural profession and practice as well as buildings ability to contribute to architectural landmarks. The ability of an architectural piece to crafting a model that others can follow will form another assessable attribute. As part of the desire to increase the awareness of architects and planners on the benefits of incorporating green building technologies into their designs, the judges will consider the underpinning objective of considering green building. According to O’Mara & Bates (2012), some of the reasons for consideration of green building strategies include the desire to maximize ‘green value’. Based on the identified reasons for undertaking green building projects by O’Mara & Bates (2012), some of the reasons that will be vetted include the need to enhance market demand and receive financial benefits, mounting stakeholder pressure, corporate commitments as well as the desire to conform to existing and anticipated government regulations. Other factors that will be vetted include the ability to achieve energy savings, reduce water usage, minimize green-house gas emissions and conserve natural resources, (McGraw Hill Construction, 2013). In addition, the ability to address and ameliorate the adverse environmental effects as well as ensure the general health and comfort of occupants will qualify for inclusion in the guidebook. Another criterion will be an assessment of the ability of an architectural design to address regionally specific environmental issues. 4. Project completion timeframe The implementation of the project will take approximately six months from inception to completion. The initial phase of the task will take one month and will be devoted to the vetting exercise of those buildings that exemplify green building architectural designs. The second phase that will comprise the remaining five months will be dedicated to typesetting, manuscript preparation, editing, printing and consequent publishing of the green building guidelines through concrete evidence. 5. Potential problems or limitations One of the anticipated challenges in implementing this project will be in convincing professional architects, planners and designers to consent in participating in this project. This problem is informed by the fact that such individuals run very demanding schedules due to their nature of work. Another challenge will be in finding a qualified and well-experienced publisher who will take up the task of promoting the guidebook to fulfill its intended objectives, beyond a mere publication. We also anticipate opposition as a result of the fact that already there are publications on green buildings that have received various certifications such as the American LEED certification, UK’s BREAM certification and Australia’s Green Star green building rating system. 6. Personal description and capacity to carry out this project This project proposal has been developed and submitted by a first-year architecture student with a focus on the environment. I have a passion for designing green buildings as a response to the challenges of climate change and the need to adopt sustainable building designs. I am an innovative individual cognizant of the benefits that accrue as a resulting of designing and constructing green buildings. I have adequate project and financial management skills that will enable me to implement and successfully deliver the intended outcomes for this project. 7. Bibliography Bowman, R. & Wills, J. (2008). Valuing green: How green buildings affect property values and getting the valuation method right, Green Building Council of Australia, Retrieved November 4, 2014, from https://www.gbca.org.au/docs/NSC0009_ValuingGreen.pdf Brennen, A. (2010). Sustainable design, the role of the architect, and a question of ethics. Justmeans. Available at http://www.justmeans.com/blogs/sustainable-design-the-role-of-the-architect-and-a-ques tion-of-e thics, Accessed October 4, 2014. Chen, Z., Clements-Croome, D., Hong, J., Li, H., & Xu, Q. (2006). A multicriteria lifespan energy efficiency approach to intelligent building assessment. Energy and Buildings, 38(5), 393-409. Retrieved November 4, 2014, from, http://cmapspublic2.ihmc.us/rid%3D1207858064371_1400159358_22609/A%2520mul ticriteria%2520lifespan%2520energy%2520efficiency%2520approach%2520to%2520i ntelligent%2520b uilding%2520assessment.pdf Fuerst, F., & McAllister, P. (2011). Green noise or green value? Measuring the effects of environmental certification on office values. Real Estate Economics, 39(1), 45-69. Retrieved November 5, 2014, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6229.2010.00286.x/full Janda, K. B. (2011). Buildings don't use energy: people do. Architectural Science Review, 54(1), 15-22. Leaman, A., Thomas, L., & Vandenberg, M. (2007). 'Green'buildings: What Australian users are saying. Retrieved November 4, 2014, from https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/research/bitstream/handle/10453/5915/2007001076.pdf?sequ ence=1 Mc-Graw Hill Construction. (2013). World green building trends: Business benefits driving new and retrofit market opportunities in over 60 countries. Smart Market Report. Retrieved November 5, 2014, from http://www.worldgbc.org/files/8613/6295/6420/World_Green_Building_Trends_Smart market_Report_2013.pdf O’Mara, M. & Bates, S. (2012). Why invest in high-performance green buildings? Schneider Electric White Paper, retrieved November 5, 2014, from, http://www2.schneider-electric.com/documents/support/white-papers/buildings/Why-In vest-in-H igh-Performance-Green-Buildings.pdf Worthen, W. J. (2014). Sustainability and Design–Can We Evolve? The American Institute of architects, Accessed October 4, 2014, from http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB086275 Read More