Expert Talks | Specialising in Sustainability as an Architect: What it Involves

Summary

In this insightful interview, Arat speaks with Asan Rehman, a U.S.-based architect and sustainability expert. Asan shares her professional journey, discussing her work in sustainable architecture and how technology, specifically Building Information Modeling (BIM), helps reduce environmental impact. She emphasizes the importance of making sustainability affordable and accessible to all, noting that true progress comes from holistic approaches. The conversation touches on her research, professional projects, and advice for those entering the field. Rehman also highlights the value of programs like 1s2x in preparing professionals for industry challenges.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Sustainability affordability is a key challenge, with a focus on making technology more accessible and efficient for all.
• 🌍 Ashan Rehman is a U.S.-based architect passionate about sustainable architecture, particularly in balancing modern technology with traditional methods.
• 🏫 Ashan pursued her master's at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on sustainable operations, building simulations, and environmental science.
• 🛠 BIM (Building Information Modeling) plays a crucial role in reducing construction waste, optimizing material use, and extending the lifespan of buildings.
• 💻 Ashan's work involves various sustainability and modeling software, with tools like Ecotrope, eQuest, Climate Studio, and Ladybug used for energy and carbon analysis.
• 🏛 Vernacular architecture in India, such as the 'jali' technique, has inspired Ashan to explore the integration of traditional methods with modern sustainable solutions.
• 💡 A significant misconception is that sustainable solutions are only for the wealthy, but long-term benefits make these solutions more affordable and accessible over time.
• 🌎 BIM aids in fighting global warming by promoting transparency in material use, carbon reporting, and retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency.
• 👷 Ashan's favorite projects include research on Indian vernacular architecture and creating a comic about a future where technology aids sustainable living.
• 🎓 Ashan encourages young professionals to explore diverse career paths in sustainability, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's passion and direction within the field.

Q & A

What challenge does Ashan Rehman identify as her biggest in the field of sustainability?

Ashan Rehman feels the biggest challenge in sustainability is affordability. While everyone should have access to technology and comfort, the current challenge is making sustainable technology more affordable and efficient for everyone.

How did Ashan Rehman decide to pursue a career in sustainability?

Ashan Rehman realized during her architectural studies that architecture is not just about aesthetics but also about environmental responsibility. Growing up in a place with vernacular architecture that used sustainable methods also inspired her to pursue sustainability in her career.

What are some software tools Ashan uses for energy modeling and sustainability projects?

Ashan Rehman uses a variety of software depending on the project. For example, while studying at Carnegie Mellon, she used Climate Studio, Hope Tool, and Ladybug. Professionally, she uses Ecotrope and eQuest.

How does Ashan Rehman believe BIM contributes to sustainability?

Ashan believes BIM helps by reducing construction waste and enhancing the lifespan of buildings. It allows for the fabrication of construction modules, which can prevent over-ordering of materials, and also facilitates tracking of carbon data and retrofitting decisions for improved efficiency.

What misconception about sustainability does Ashan Rehman aim to clear?

Ashan wants to address the misconception that sustainability is only affordable for the rich. She argues that while the initial costs might be high, sustainable investments pay off over time through reduced operational costs like energy and gas.

What are Ashan Rehman’s favorite projects in her sustainability career?

Ashan mentions two projects: one was a research project on Indian vernacular architecture, particularly studying 'Jali' construction for thermal comfort and daylight optimization. The second was a creative project where she imagined a future where technology enables sustainable living.

What advice does Ashan Rehman offer to young professionals wanting to specialize in sustainability?

Ashan advises that aspiring sustainability professionals should understand the wide range of careers in the field, from energy modeling to ESG consulting, data analysis, and software development. She encourages people to identify their interests and pursue relevant courses accordingly.

What has been Ashan Rehman’s experience working with 1s2x as a mentor?

Ashan has found her mentoring experience with 1s2x rewarding. She appreciates that students are eager to learn and improve themselves. She also values that 1s2x provides not only BIM training but also industry guidance and mentorship opportunities.

What role does Ashan Rehman believe architects play in combating climate change?

Ashan highlights that 40% of carbon emissions come from the built environment, making architects crucial in the fight against climate change. BIM helps in reporting carbon data, making buildings more energy-efficient, and supporting retrofitting efforts to avoid unnecessary demolitions.

How does Ashan Rehman view the global responsibility in sustainability efforts?

Ashan stresses that sustainability should be viewed holistically. It’s not just about saving money or individual health benefits; it's about the broader environmental impact. She emphasizes that the effects of climate change will disproportionately affect poorer communities.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 Introduction to the Challenge of Sustainability

05:01

🌍 The Importance of Sustainability in Architecture

10:02

🏛️ Blending Architecture and Sustainability

15:03

🔍 Utilizing BIM for Data and Sustainability

20:03

💡 Software and Tools in Sustainability

25:04

💼 Challenges in the Sustainability Field

🌿 Misconceptions About Sustainability

⚙️ BIM's Role in Combating Climate Change

🏗️ Carbon Emissions in Construction

🏆 Notable Sustainability Projects

🎓 Advice for Aspiring Sustainability Professionals

📚 The Role of Mentorship in Career Development

🌱 Final Thoughts on Sustainability

Keywords

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to practices and processes that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In the video, sustainability is a central theme, as the speaker discusses the responsibility of architects to the environment and future generations, emphasizing the importance of efficient, green building practices.

💡Affordable Technology

Affordable technology means providing cost-effective and efficient technological solutions that everyone can access. The speaker highlights this as a challenge in sustainability, arguing that all people should have access to comfortable, efficient technologies, such as more affordable, energy-efficient buildings and devices.

💡Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, primarily from human activities like construction and energy use. The speaker mentions that 40% of carbon emissions come from the built environment, making it crucial for architects to use sustainable methods to reduce this impact.

💡Energy Modeling

Energy modeling involves using software to simulate and analyze the energy performance of buildings. In the video, the speaker talks about how BIM (Building Information Modeling) and various software tools are used to reduce energy consumption and make buildings more sustainable through accurate predictions of energy use.

💡Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular architecture refers to traditional building methods adapted to local environments and cultural needs. The speaker mentions their research into Indian vernacular architecture, such as the 'jali' technique, to explore how these traditional methods can inspire modern sustainable practices.

💡Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM is a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building. The speaker discusses how BIM is used not only for design but also for reducing construction waste, improving energy efficiency, and providing transparency in reporting carbon data, making it a powerful tool in sustainable construction.

💡Embodied Carbon

Embodied carbon refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, transport, and assembly of building materials. The speaker emphasizes the importance of tracking embodied carbon through BIM to make informed decisions that reduce the overall environmental impact of construction.

💡Retrofit

Retrofitting involves upgrading existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The speaker explains that instead of demolishing and rebuilding, architects should focus on retrofitting older buildings using BIM to identify inefficient areas that need upgrades, such as windows or HVAC systems.

💡Daylight Analysis

Daylight analysis involves studying how natural light enters and illuminates a building, impacting both energy efficiency and occupant comfort. The speaker mentions using software like Climate Studio to perform daylight analysis as part of their sustainability efforts, ensuring buildings use natural light effectively.

💡Operational Carbon

Operational carbon refers to the carbon emissions produced during the use of a building, primarily through energy consumption. The speaker discusses the importance of minimizing operational carbon by using sustainable materials, improving energy efficiency, and implementing long-lasting building systems.

Highlights

Ashan Rehman emphasizes the importance of making technology accessible to everyone and the challenge of affordability in sustainability.

Ashan Rehman is introduced as a U.S.-based architect and mentor with expertise in sustainability, architecture, and sustainable building certifications.

She highlights the importance of balancing both science and art in architecture, which led her to pursue a career in this field.

Her journey to sustainability was inspired by the realization that architecture is not just about aesthetics but also about responsibility to the environment and future generations.

Rehman discusses how traditional Indian architecture, specifically vernacular methods like the jali design, influenced her interest in sustainable construction.

She highlights how Building Information Modeling (BIM) helps in reducing construction waste and improving the quality of buildings, thus contributing to sustainability.

Rehman explains how different software tools are used in sustainability projects, with tools varying based on the project needs such as daylight analysis, energy modeling, or carbon reporting.

She emphasizes that sustainability should be affordable and accessible to all, and that the cost-benefit ratio of sustainable solutions often becomes favorable over time.

She outlines the major challenge in sustainability, which is the lack of affordable, efficient technology for developing regions compared to more developed countries like the U.S.

Rehman clarifies the misconception that green or sustainable buildings are only for the wealthy, stating that long-term benefits outweigh the initial higher costs.

She discusses how BIM can help report carbon data, improving transparency in material use and reducing the environmental impact of buildings.

Rehman stresses that 40% of carbon emissions come from the built environment, highlighting the critical role architects play in reducing emissions.

She explains how retrofitting existing buildings is a more sustainable option than constructing new buildings, and how BIM aids in identifying areas for improvement.

Rehman shares one of her favorite research projects focused on Indian vernacular architecture, particularly jali design, for improved daylight and thermal comfort.

Rehman offers advice to young professionals entering the sustainability field, suggesting they explore various roles such as energy modeling, ESG consulting, or data analysis within the AEC industry.

She praises the 1s2x BIM professional course, highlighting its role in preparing students for real-world industry challenges while offering mentorship and industry guidance.

Transcripts

my biggest challenge has been that i

feel like you know it's very unfair to

tell people to not use technology i feel

like everybody should have access to

technology everybody should have access

to comfort but as a society we should be

able to give

more affordable options of technology

which is more efficient i think the

biggest challenge in sustainability

would be affordability for this reason

[Music]

hello everyone my name is arat and i'm

here with 1s2x presenting another mentor

interview where we have a chat with

renowned professionals from all over the

world

in this occasion i am proud to interview

and present to you one of our bim

professional course mentors ashan rehman

she is a u.s based architect with a deep

passion for creating a greener world

through policies business operations and

building construction she has a

demonstrated history of working in

corporate social responsibilities

designing modeling and certifying

sustainable buildings

during her time at the carnegie mellon

university she explored the fields of

sustainable operations building

performance simulations hvac systems

generative modeling environmental

science daylighting and energy finance

so greetings sapshan it is a pleasure to

have you joining us today how are you

i'm good thanks for the introduction

with us

no problem

so

let's get right into the question shall

we

yeah

excellent so

ashan you have experience as an

architect you're a certified led

professional and have even gotten your

research published

can you give us a rundown of your

professional experience up until now

yes so i started off as

with my bachelor's of architecture from

india from hyderabad and before choosing

architecture i wanted something that

you know is somewhere in between

science and arts and i thought

architecture would be

a good way to integrate both and that's

why i chose to do

architecture and once i graduated from

uh my bachelor's

oneist 2x wasn't around and i didn't

know

what to do so

i was

in between

like different uh jobs i did visual

designing for a bit and then i came back

to architecture and i was working with

various architects in india and during

my host

in architecture i always wanted to do

sustainability but then i didn't know uh

how to pursue it and so i did a lot of

courses online on coursera i did

introduction to sustainability and i

also wrote the igbc ap exam and i was

working as a designer in a 3d

visualization company called foyer in

hyderabad and even though i really loved

my job i thought that you know i should

pursue my masters in sustainability

since it's what i always wanted to do

and that's why i applied to various

colleges all over the world and

i chose carnegie mellon university and

once i graduated from cmu i started

working as a sustainability project

manager

in new york city at the level function

excellent

so

what was it that attracted you to the

field of sustainability

so there are two things um that

attracted me to sustainability so one

while i was doing architecture while i

was studying uh my five years of

bachelor's i realized that you know

architecture is not just about

aesthetics and functions

and i realized that you know architects

had like a deeper sense of

responsibility to the environment and

the future generations to come and

that's why sustainability was important

and i realized my responsibility as an

architecture and i decided that you know

i want to pursue sustainability and

that's where i saw myself in the

structure of society and another reason

is like you know

because i grew up in hyderabad there is

so much like vernacular aspects in

hyderabad even like the rest of this so

much vernacular architecture and all

these buildings were very sustainable

like their methods of construction and i

wanted to do research on how

you know you can incorporate these uh

vernacular methods and

use them to pioneer like uh

modern technology instead of looking for

completely new solutions and yeah these

are the two reasons why i decided to

pursue

excellent yeah i mean i agree that

architecture is much more than just

designing pretty stuff right

and parting from that as well

you have worked on projects that

actually require like another branch of

architecture which is managing and

analyzing a lot of data so

how has bim helped you with these

challenges

so um

when it comes to

sustainability uh like

a lot of people just see the larger

picture sustainability which is

consuming less

electricity like as less energy but a

sustainability also means like consuming

less

holistically so like reducing reusing

recycle so

how bim health is you can use like the

data available through bim to reduce the

amount of construction based like if

you're able to

uh fabricate your

construction modules you can avoid uh

over ordering materials

and you know by reducing this waste

you're

you know being more sustainable and it's

not just about not reaching material if

you use like the data in

them and you know fabricate your

construction you're also um

making like better quality products

and when you're building lasts longer

and the lifespan of your building is

longer and

yeah the lifespan of the building is

longer you are building more

excellent yeah

and

when you have like integrated bim with

the field of sustainability

um

typically what are the some some of the

software that you use on a daily basis

for that

uh so um

the software that you use uh vary depend

on what you want the output to be

so uh like if you are going uh for

like

a dating system like heat or

passive house then you would use another

software but if you want to do a

daylight analysis carbon and energy

analysis then your

software would be different so while i

was in carnegie mellon university when i

was a student i was mostly working with

climate studio hope tool and

ladybug and then when i started working

professionally i had to work with

completely new software but

uh you know there's nothing to be

overwhelmed because there are so many

softwares that are available in the

market

um it might seem difficult and

overwhelming but as long as you

understand what the basic

modeling inputs are for energy modeling

you should be able to use any software

which is available so

in

my present professional day-to-day life

i we use

ecotrope equest and

excellent

yeah i mean definitely many people think

that is like the same bim software over

and over again and

i mean many people don't realize that

revit sometimes isn't even used right

for you so maybe like never works

so what i realized is as an energy

modeler you can't uh like your

dependency on a 3d model like if your

model is on sketchup or grasshopper or

revit that will be the last point in

selecting your energy modeling software

like that is not even a priority like

the other things matter much more and as

an energy modeler you should be able to

uh you know use a gpa xml file and use

any energy modeling software

excellent

so part of that like uh

we talked about the the

ways that you want to get into the

sustainability factor

sector rather

and also all these

processes that are taken before

getting to the modeling

what do you think are some of the

biggest challenges that you have faced

as a professional in the field of

sustainability

um

so this is something that's always been

on my mind even

like before i started working

professionally like um

for example if you see

um the amount of energy

u.s consumes versus india like

america consumes 10 times more

electricity than india even though like

the population of india is one billion

the population of u.s is like 300

million and um it doesn't mean that

india is more sustainable it just means

that you know in india people don't have

access to like

uh dishwashers and washing machine and

air conditioners so

my biggest challenge has been that i

feel like you know it's very unfair to

tell people to not use technology i feel

like everybody should have access to

technology everybody should have access

to comfort but um

like

as a society we should be able to give

more affordable options of things

technology which is more efficient

and i think everybody should have access

to like a building construction or

like

equipment which is more efficient and

i think the biggest challenge in

sustainability would be affordability

yeah

yeah definitely um and i agree with you

a lot on that because for example all

this discourse about like using straws

or something like that i think it's

putting the responsibility on the

individual

yeah instead of like you know seeing

like the full picture of it and yeah i

mean also talking about how not

everybody has access to the same

technology and

infrastructure is also kind of important

and i don't think it's being discussed

enough

which is something that actually leads

to the next question which is that

you know recently there's been a lot of

discussion about sustainable development

right

um

besides what we just mentioned what are

some misconceptions that you would like

to clear about what you do in your field

um so it's still slightly related to

what i just mentioned the the

misconception is that uh

green or sustainability is only

something that

the rich can afford

so even though the first

cost of price might be high

like if you look at

the payback and the lifespan of the

building like you're eventually going to

make that money back if you invest in

something that is sustainable and

in a few years you're going to start

getting a bank for your buck because you

know you're spending less on electricity

or gas so even though it seems like it's

expensive in the long run it's

not going to be expensive

yeah

[Music]

and

for example like when we're talking also

about the whole thing of sustainability

like global warming

um how do you think that bim can help in

the efforts against uh global warming

and climate change

okay so one point i already mentioned is

about the basis like how you can use

them to reduce

uh the amount of construction waste and

the other way

can be used and is being used is uh

for reporting carbon data so whether

it's

embodied carbon or operational carbon

using them produces a lot of

transparency so

from the beginning like the conceptual

design stage to you know the design

development stage there's always

transparency about what materials you're

using and what's the embodied component

of each material and um

where you're sourcing your materials

from and because you know bim stores

this information about what materials

you're using

i think

having the carbon data

can really help in combating

global warming and

another way bim is used for this is uh

for like retrofitting and renovating

buildings like uh

breaking down a building and

constructing a new building is never a

solution you should try to retrofit what

you already have and by using you know

the data that you have you can just see

which part of your building is not very

efficient like if you should uh replace

your windows or you know add more

insulation or just replace your hvac

system like you can use

them to make these retrofitting

decisions

excellent

yeah i think that

[Music]

most like we said previously

a lot of people think that bim and like

you know something of the real world

like global warming don't actually link

up but like you said if we actually

truly see the processes that we're doing

we can actually see how it's helping

i mean simply as like you said reducing

the amount of time that we spend

doing we work which is something that we

struggle with a lot in the construction

industry

um and also the transparency and factor

of it right like

um

we can reduce all the time needed for

like

uh

things that maybe are inflated prices

are inflated or like even sometimes a

ghost

tasks or schedules

i think that

while not uh

as popular as like putting a green

building

i think that they can also help like you

said and i think that's something very

interesting to be discussing

like currently

on this stage particularly that we are

now like adopting them

in many countries right

so

go ahead yeah and um

like a lot of people just assume that

most of the carbon emissions are coming

from industry you know and factories but

actually 40 of the carbon emissions come

from the build environment so yeah

architects have a huge role to play and

i think fortunately we are

in a stage where we don't have to

like tell the importance of

sustainability to people i think

everybody now knows that climate change

is real and global warming is exist it's

just that they don't know

what to do about it

yeah yeah definitely the other way is

talking with a colleague about how

for example here in mexico we do have a

lot of

like

emissions generated by the construction

industry

but people

don't think that's real because like

most of the construction here is like

auto construction so like

people build their own stuff but

they don't realize that for example when

people self-construct they're wasting

more money they're wasting more

resources they're spending more time

constructing and that also adds to like

water pollution air pollution

and all of these like uh results of

not efficiently managing construction

and i think

it's also very important

to

make notice within our own industry

how we also like contributing to

the harm right but also i think it's

important to recognize how we can help

as well

um and parting from that uh you've been

involved in a lot of projects like we

said that deal with a lot of data with a

lot of

um analyzing for example energy

sustainability how they can reduce costs

and stuff

which one

of the projects

do you think would be your favorite

um

i'm gonna mention two projects actually

and it's going to

fall back to what we spoke just now uh

so one project is um

i something that i worked with uh with

my peers at candy melon university

ammunition she's also from

sba and uh it's

we both wanted to study about you know

indian vernacular architecture so we

chose uh this uh method of construction

used in india called the jali

uh like it has different names in other

cultures like it's called mashrabya in

the middle east and in india it's called

sejali and we wanted to you know

research on that and work on like

the solution ratio and the perforation

size and alter that and see how you can

you know increase the amount of daylight

in a room and

also uh

like give more terminal comfort by you

know

using venturi effect of them

so i think that is uh one project that

we both are very excited to work on and

another project which was

like more of a fun logic and was not a

research project is um

i had imagined uh

it was a comic and i had imagined a

future where you know technology is

taking over the world and the main

protagonist is

very lazy very dull but he's still able

to live a very sustainable life

because you know technology is helping

him live a very sustainable life and i

have given a few drawings and examples

of how that happens so that's also one

of my favorite questions

yeah thank you for sharing them i think

uh i mean we would invite our readers to

go and check her website

because that's where all of these

projects are and actually the comic is

also included there so go and check it

out

[Music]

and also talking about like um

career-wise

um do you have any advice for young

professionals who might want to

specialize in sustainability

uh so

like

you know most of the people in india are

engineers are doctors so architecture

itself is a very niche profession

and sustainability is even more niche

but when it comes to sustainability

there are many fields that people can

pursue it's not just energy modeling so

like me and my peers who did

master of sustainable design at carnegie

mellon together all of us are working

now in different fields but in

sustainability in the a industry

so people who want to pursue

sustainability

um

in the aac industry uh i think should uh

be aware of what all they can do so that

you know they can choose

like a college or a course which caters

to you know what they want to research

about so

the examples of you know this uh

sustainability in the asc industry would

be like one would be energy modeling

one can be um an esg consultant which is

like um an environment social problems

and there is a lot of scope for that you

can be a data analyst

uh you can be a software developer you

can develop all these you know softwares

for um energy modeling so there are many

things that you can do in sustainability

so my advice would be to you know

know why exactly you want to do

sustainability and where you see

yourself contributing and

like choose a course accordingly

excellent i actually didn't know that

the architecture was

there's not many architects i guess in

india is that correct yeah it's mostly

engineers mostly

doctors

wow i didn't know that actually here

mexico is kind of the other way around

yeah i mean there's a lot of like health

professionals but there's also a lot of

civil engineers and a lot of architects

and a lot of lawyers as well

but uh yeah i definitely didn't know

that so

um i think that is your advice is very

valuable especially because of that

because there is now so much people that

want to delve in in the field

and i think that your efforts and your

work actually have to or will contribute

actually to

people seeing like all the branches that

architects can actually uh

delve into right

um so part of this efforts of getting to

know like more possibilities in the

construction industry is the bim

professional course of 1s2x

which you what you are a mentor of

so

um

how you found sorry working with bonus

2x starting so far what has been your

experience

so um

so when i did architecture like

everybody in my family they are doctors

so i didn't have

uh anybody to go to for advice like

career

like whether i should be working or if i

should pursue my master's immediately so

i think one is to x uh provides

it's not just teaching you bim and

making your industry ready i think the

best thing about 102x is it also

provides industry guidance you can talk

to

people and mentors from the industry who

are doing different things in different

countries and you always have them

available for advice so you can

uh everybody is very approachable

and

you know that's one great thing about

manage to ex and it's also helping you

with you know uh learning them and

grasshoppers and you know it's clearly

gonna help you

when you start working professionally

um

and i think uh the best thing about the

students from manuscripts is like when

you are

probably have the access to maybe

something similar in college like you're

forced to do it because you know you

have to ask graduate and get your degree

but in minus 2x people whoever like

whoever has taken this course has taken

it because they wanted to because they

want to improve themselves they want to

be better so like i've always found that

the students really really want to learn

and you know it's nice

to have that experience as a mentor when

like your students are really interested

in

learning and you know sustainability is

an elective in

the

bim course and you know

it's nice that

it is an elective because

sustainability is a big part of the

ac industry and everybody should have

some knowledge about it so it's nice

that 1s2x prepares all these students

very holistically for

the real world and for the industry

excellent

well i just want to thank you alshan for

your wise words and your advice i agree

i think that the efforts that are being

made

not only by 1s2x but also from

professionals like you

that actively go and delve into the

research of sustainability and how to

merge

and the practice of architectural

resistant ability i think is very

important

not just in india but i think that we're

all over the world we need more than

than ever

these efforts

and recognizing how

we are harming as well with our

professional but

profession sorry

but also the ways that we can help that

we can uh

try to fix you know at least for the

next generations to come

so

do you have any parting words that you

want to add at the

after this interview

um

well i think i just

uh

say that you know look at

the

bigger picture and

the impact that you're creating to the

environment it's not always about

how

you are saving money if you're being

more sustainable or how your health

might improve because you're being more

sustainable think about

the environment and everybody as

a whole because

like as things get worse as the climate

change happens it's not the rich people

that are going to suffer it's going to

be

the poor people that are going to

just

be kinder

[Music]

yeah

excellent i agree totally

um so yeah this was the interview with

abshan rechman once again i thank you so

much for your time i think that

everything you said and shared was very

valuable and i hope that the readers

that will be checking this interview

later in the website as well in video

will be able to

pick on the ways that they can improve

their profession

uh so yeah thank you so much for

watching and thank you option for your

time

thank you so much bye bye

[Music]

you