The Infinite Evolution of Green Building and Sustainability Dr. Alexia Nalewaik FRICS CCP
Sustainable Development and Green Building
Defining sustainable development • The ‘Brundtland’ report (1987) : “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs” • The American Society of Civil Engineers : “a set of economic, environmental and social conditions in which all of society has the capacity and opportunity to maintain and improve its quality of life indefinitely without degrading the quantity, quality or the availability of economic, environmental and social resources” • Definitions have changed over time, and will continue to do so
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Defining green building • Proposed steps to achieve sustainable balance included: • • • •
growth management (smart growth) new urbanism renewable energy ‘green’ development
• The philosophy of green building is derived from Arcology, a combination of architecture and ecology put forward by Paolo Soleri in the 1960’s • The practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction
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What is missing from current approaches • At present, most of the green labeled buildings exist in the form of [discrete] individual buildings, not large-scale communities • Social and humanistic needs • • • •
Safety Comfort Health Security
• Meeting the broader intent of the original definitions
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maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
A few concepts to bring us closer to the original intent
Smart Cities
What is a Smart City? • A city is considered ‘smart’ when investments in (i) human and social capital, (ii) traditional infrastructure, and (iii) disruptive technologies fuel sustainable economic growth and a high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through participatory governance • Internet of everything
• Big data
• Sensors and surveillance • Artificial intelligence
• Blockchain
• Social robotics
• Cloud computing
• Real-time information
• Gamification
• Drones
• Mobile technologies
• Sharing economy / peer- • Renewable energy to-peer • 3-D printing • Social media / digital • Crowdsourcing platforms 8
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• Dynamic pricing
maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
Design for Resilience
What is design for resilience? • Urban resilience addresses the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow, no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience • Planned and unplanned • Objectives • • • • • •
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foster economic prosperity ensure social stability meet basic human needs ensure food security provide continuity of public and critical services ensure cities and communities can continue to function
maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
design for resilience • Hallmarks • • • • • • • • •
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Redundant systems Flexibility Durability Passivity Diversity Adaptability Elasticity Tolerant of interruptions and dynamic conditions Messy vitality in addressing risk and uncertainty
maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
Active Design
What is active design? • Improvement of all aspects of design for health – physical, mental, and social – at home, work, and throughout a neighborhood • community gardens • interactive civic spaces • infrastructure to support active lifestyles and mobility (walking, running, and bicycling, in addition to many other solo and group activities and sports) • green space such as parks • improved access to fresh produce
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maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
• traffic calming features • ‘programmed’ spaces that include art and events, pedestrian-oriented programs • public water fountains • placement and design of staircases • motivational signage • exercise facilities
Biophilic Design
What is biophilia? • The philosophy that humans require daily physical, visual, and emotional contact with nature because they, themselves, are part of nature • • • • • •
Light Air Water Plants Natural materials Images
• Prioritizes nature and wildlife first in planning objectives • Celebrates biodiversity
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maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
biophilia • Design elements • • • • •
Nature reserves Urban forestry Reclamation of abandoned sites Indoor gardens Improved accessibility to existing green space
• Imagining the city as a garden, instead of a city with gardens
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maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
Ubudehe
What is ubudehe? • Community working for the community, solving problems that affect everyone • Four pillars to locally fabricated building • • • •
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Hire locally Source regionally Train where you can Think about every design decision as an opportunity to invest in the dignity of the places where you serve
maintain and improve quality of life indefinitely
Questions?
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