Sustainable Design: Definition and Importance

Summary

This video explores the concept of sustainability, defined by both the Brundtland Report and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It highlights critical issues such as resource depletion, population growth, and climate change, emphasizing the role of sustainable building design. With buildings consuming 40% of energy and emitting 43% of carbon dioxide in the U.S., the video stresses the importance of sustainable architecture. It discusses rating systems like BREEAM and the Green Building Challenge, which help measure and guide sustainable design practices for the future.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sustainability is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Report, 1987).
• 😀 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines sustainability as achieving economic prosperity while protecting natural systems and providing a high quality of life for people.
• 😀 Sustainability is a growing concern due to issues like the depletion of finite resources, third-world development impacts, exponential population growth, global climate change, and pollution absorption challenges.
• 😀 Buildings in the U.S. are responsible for around 40% of total energy consumption and 43% of carbon dioxide emissions, highlighting the need for more sustainable building practices.
• 😀 The U.S. construction industry contributes about 5% to the country's GDP, with approximately 35,000 new commercial buildings being built or remodeled every year.
• 😀 By 2030, it is predicted that 75% of the building stock will be newly constructed or remodeled, offering a significant opportunity to shape future sustainable design.
• 😀 Historically, style and initial cost were prioritized in building design, rather than sustainability. This mindset needs to change for more environmentally responsible development.
• 😀 Sustainable design involves using minimal resources over a building’s lifetime while ensuring it meets the needs of the occupants responsibly.
• 😀 Various rating systems for sustainable design have evolved over time, including the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) from the UK and the Green Building Challenge framework (GBCAF).
• 😀 The Green Building Challenge framework, launched in 1998, was developed to be adaptable for local conditions and is used by countries like Brazil, Italy, and Korea to assess sustainable building practices.
• 😀 The need for standardized tools and metrics to measure sustainability in building design has grown as the importance of responsible architecture and environmental impacts has become clearer.

Q & A

What is the definition of sustainability according to the Brundtland Report?

Sustainability is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

How does the US Environmental Protection Agency define sustainability?

The EPA defines sustainability as the ability to achieve continuing economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet and providing a high quality of life for its people.

Why is sustainability a concern at this time?

Sustainability is a concern due to factors like the depletion of finite resources, third world development impacts on ecology and resources, exponential population growth, global climate change, and the growing inability of environmental sinks to absorb waste and pollution.

What percentage of total energy consumption is attributed to buildings in the United States?

Buildings use about 40% of the total energy consumed in the United States and emit approximately 43% of the carbon dioxide released.

What role does the construction industry play in the US economy?

The construction industry comprises almost 5% of the United States' gross domestic product, building about 35,000 new commercial buildings and remodeling a similar number each year.

What did Eduard Maas RIA predict about the US building stock by 2030?

Eduard Maas RIA predicted that by 2030, 75% of the US building stock would be composed of new or remodeled buildings.

What is the key starting point for sustainable building design?

The key starting point for sustainable building design is the design process itself, which must focus on using minimum resources over the lifetime of the building while meeting the needs of its occupants.

What makes a building sustainable according to the transcript?

A sustainable building is one that uses the minimum amount of resources over its lifetime, consistent with the responsible needs of its occupants.

Why was there a need for a rating system for sustainable design?

There was a need for a rating system because many claims of sustainable design were made, but some were disputed. A consistent measuring stick became necessary to evaluate sustainability.

What was the first rating system for sustainable building design, and when was it created?

The first rating system for sustainable building design was the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), which was published in the United Kingdom in 1990.

What is the Green Building Challenge (GBC), and how has it influenced international rating systems?

The Green Building Challenge (GBC) was published in 1998 and provided a framework for an international rating system. It influenced countries like Brazil, Italy, and Korea to develop their own regional rating tools based on the framework.