GOING GREEN: 5 Ways Renewable Energy is Utilized in Sustainable Architecture

In today's economy, the demand for sustainable buildings is increasing largely due to climate change, brought on by global warming. The climate change is challenging architecture firms to invest in renewable energy. By developing new sustainable buildings and homes, developers hope to minimize harmful effects caused to the environment.

A sustainable building, or a green building, is a construction practice focusing on increasing the efficiency of resources used. From creating renewable energy to regulating a building’s temperature, the top architecture firms apply for certifications such as Green-Globes, LEED, and Energy Star that offer incentives for future buyers. Here are some of the best practices used to create certified sustainable buildings.

An estimated 10 billion gallons of fresh water is used daily worldwide. One of the best ways to save money is by retaining a natural water supply in your own home or building. The most common practice is the collecting and treating of rainwater by installing reservoirs underneath a building’s foundation. Learn how to harvest rainwater with a DIY rain barrel.

Unfortunately, only 33 percent of the world’s trash is recycled. While the amount of trash recycled is going up from recent years, that still equates to millions and millions of pounds of trash left to haul, treat, process, and remove. With the increasing development of sustainable buildings and green homes today, there is a high demand for recycled building materials such as plastic, glass, wood, and even everyday garbage. Some developers are finding new ways of incorporating everyday waste into building design which is helping to reduce waste.

Many houses have already started converting to the use of solar panels to create renewable energy. The ability to harness the sun for renewable and cost-effective energy is often overlooked. In California, lawmakers have begun industry regulations that will require all new housing developments to install solar panels.

Builders have also begun including practices of sustaining a thermal temperature. New developments in ventilation and insulation are creating thermal mass. This practice aims to keep a house or building at a constant livable temperature regardless of the time of day or night.

Be sure to check out some of our suggested blogs to learn more about the future of sustainable buildings in the construction industry.