What is Sustainable Architecture?

The combination of building design and construction

that examines all aspects of the building process
that will effect and be effected by the environment.

Sustainable Architecture

The History of Sustainable Architecture

The origin of the green architecture movement stems back to the green
political movements during the 1970s and 80s.

Consists of buildings designed,

built, renovated, operated, or
reused in an energy efficient
and economic manner.

What are some benefits of sustainable architecture?

What are the benefits of
Lower electric and utility costs
sustainable design?
Environmentally effective use of building materials

Key events include the energy crisis of the 1970s, the

formation of the Greenpeace organization in 1971, as
well as conception of the Green Party in European and
United States governments during the 70s and 80s.

Enhanced health and productivity

Long-term economic returns
Reduced environmental impact

These events were causing people to become

more educated on the effects our industrial
society was having on the environment.

Who is involved with sustainable architecture?

The main player is the USGBC or the United States Green
Building Council, which was founded in 1993.

LEED Standards
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The LEED Standards consist of six different components:

It is a group of people in the design/building

industry who set voluntary standards on
architecture and construction techniques to
ensure efficient and clean building practices.

1. Sustainable Sites
2. Water Efficiency
3. Energy & Atmosphere

LEED Standards, begun in 2000.

4. Materials & Resources

5. Indoor Environmental Quality
6. Innovation and Design

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Erosion and sediment control

Wastewater technology
Water use and efficiency

Land development
Transportation impacts
Conservation of natural resources
Storm water management

Interesting Energy Facts

Energy and Atmosphere

Building performance

If the United States replaced 500 million

incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs,
we would be an energy exporting nation.

HVAC
Ozone Protection

By replacing one incandescent bulb with a

fluorescent bulb, it offsets the burning of 528
pounds of coal, which in turn prevents one ton
of carbon dioxide from being released into the
atmosphere.

Power from sustainable energy sources

Materials and Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Air quality
Monitoring Carbon Dioxide

Storage and recycling

Reuse of existing buildings
Construction waste management

Ventilation
Low material emissions (paint, finishes, carpet, etc.)
Thermal comfort and daylight

Use of regional materials

Use of rapid renewable materials (bamboo, adobe, straw
bale, rammed earth, etc.)

The average person spends about

90% of their time indoors and
indoor air qaulity is about 4 times
worse than outdoors.

Innovation and Design

Arguments against Sustainable Architecture

Green materials cost too much and this makes it impractical.
LEED Certification is too expensive, therefore there is no point
taking time to follow the guidelines.
Materials used in green design dont have the quality of
standard building materials.

High standards of excellence in the LEED Rating System

Uses environmental practices not addressed in LEED

Sustainable Architecture Resources

Sustainable Buildings

United States Green Building Council - www.usgbc.org

Emerging Green Builders Iowa State Organization
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The Power is Yours!

-Captain Planet