SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTUREPRINCIPLES
Each building is more or less unique and is closely related to its surroundings and to the local infrastructures. The building user's requirements and activities are complex. Many resources are involved in the construction, use and maintenance of a building. Many different materials and products are also involved, and a considerable amount of energy is thus used. Sustainable design consider all these factors in a holistic approach and tries to minimize the impact of buildings on the environment during each phase of their life.
The propose principles are six (9):
- Minimize resource consumption (Conserve)
- Maximize resource reuse (Reuse)
- Use renewable or recyclable resources (Renew/Recycle)
- Protect the natural environment (Protect Nature)
- Create a healthy, non-toxic environment (Non-Toxics)
- Pursue quality in creating the built environment (Quality)
3 R's
Building a house produces about 2.5 tons of solid waste comprised of about 35% wood products, 15% drywall waste, 12% masonry and tile, 10% cardboard, 6% asphalt, 4% metals, and the remains are a mix of plastics, fiberglass and other materials. About 16% of all landfill is demolition waste, about 2% o 3% is construction waste from new construction. (Environmental Research Group, Appendix XII)
REDUCE
Many building materials such as roofing, cellulose insulation and wallboard are made from recycled materials. Always ask if there is a recycled option for the material you need. This save resources and helps create demand for recycled products.
REUSE
It is an indication of a new use of old materials. Reuse implies limitation and verification of functionality.
Some businesses is specialize in buying and selling used building materials. Before demolition, remove and save reusable doors, windows, toilets,etc. Consider shopping for used building materials.
RECYCLE
There are many kind of recycling:
- inside at the same productive process: wastes are recycled to produce the same kind of final product.
- in another productive process, the final product is different from the original and can be also for other use not in the construction industry.
- after demolition it is possible to collect the materials and reuse to produce new elements either for the same or for a different use.
All this different kind of recycling processes imply a manipulation of the material, and this is the main different between reuse and recycle. Of course, the manipulation implied use of energy, so the recyclage is less interesting than reuse but more then the disposal in landfill.
Recycled content products have the same quality value of any other products: high quality, durability, and cost competitive.The manufacturers process using recycled materials offer the opportunity of closed the loop.
DISPOSAL
Landfill has to be the last choice after the evaluation of everything else. Don't forgot that landfill fees are very expensive! See if a salvage yard will take reusable items. Save anything recyclable such as corrugated cardboard, scrap metal or concrete. It will cost you less to recycle things that would otherwise incur a fee for disposal.
CLOSING THE CIRCLE
The word "waste" should disappear to leave space at the "secondary materials" concept.
The concept of waste does not exist in nature, where everything has a value and it is useful for something. The elimination of wastes is possible just if we take the natural circle as model to transfer it in the organization of the artificial circle. Artificial products are not produce in a sustainable way because there is not closing, there is a loose of energy and material and disposing stuff in landfill is the worst possible step. We have to correct this tendency, and we can do it if we follow the 3 R's.
created and maintained by Ilaria Mazzoleni: imazzoleni@hotmail.com
© Ilaria Mazzoleni, 1997