Sustainable and Ecological Designs of the Built Environment

This paper reviews designs of the built environment from a sustainability perspective, emphasizing their importance in achieving ecological and sustainable economic objectives. The built environment has traditionally resulted in loss of biodiversity, extinction of some species, climate change, excessive water use, land degradation, space depletion, waste accumulation, energy consumption and environmental pollution. Materials used like plastics, metals, bricks, concrete, cement, natural aggregates, glass and plaster have wreaked havoc on the earth´s resources, since they have high levels of embodied energy hence not sustainable. Additional resources are consumed during use and disposal phases. Proposed designs for sustainability solutions include: ecological sanitation and eco-efficiency systems that ensure social, economic, environmental and technical sustainability. Renewable materials and energy systems, passive cooling and heating systems and material and energy reduction, reuse and recycling can improve the sector. These ideas are intended to inform the field of ecological design of the built environment.

Authors:

• Charles Mbohwa
• Alexander Mudiwakure

Keywords:

• Ecological and sustainability designs
• environmental degradation
• ecological sanitation
• energy use efficiency.

References:

[1] Van der Ryn, S and Cowan, S. 1996. Ecological Design. Island Press,
Washington DC.
[2] Hill, R and Powen, P.A. (1997). Sustainable Construction: Principals
and a Framework for Attainment. Construction and Management
Economics, 15: 223-239.
[3] Aij. (2005). Architecture for a Sustainable Future: All About the Holistic
Approach in Japan. Tokyo, Japan. Institute for Building Environmental
and Energy Conservation (IBEC). (Chapter 2: The Vision and How to
Make and Use page 62-93).
[4] Mollison, B. (1991). Introduction to Permaculture. Tagari Publications,
Harare.
[5] Halliday, S. (2008). Sustainable Construction. Burlington, MA: Elsevier.
Chapter 3.
[6] 6. Grobler, L.J. (2002). Energy Use in Buildings: A Strategy to Reduce
their Usage. In Sustainable Buildings and Integrated Design Proceedings
9-14 September 2002, Sunny side Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Southern African Solar Academy.
[7] Birkeland, J. (2002). Design for Sustainability. A Sourcebook of
Intergrated Ecological Solutions. Earthscan, London.
[8] Du Plessis, C. (2002). The Environmental Impacts of Buildings. In
Sustainable Buildings and Integrated Design Proceedings 9-14
September 2002, Sunny side Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Southern African Solar Academy.
[9] Roaf, S., Fuentes, M. and Thomas, S. (2003). Ecohouse 2: A Design
Guide. Architectural Press, Oxford
[10] Bartelmus, P. 1994. Environment, Growth and Development. The
Concepts and strategies of sustainability. Routeledge, London.
[11] United Nations Development Programme. 2008. Human Development
Report 2007/2008 Fighting Climate Change: Human Security in a
Divided World. New York: United Nations Development Programme.
[12] Scherr, S. 1999. Soil Degradation: A threat to Developing-Country Food
Security by 2020? Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy
Research Institute. Food, Agriculture and the Environment Discussion
Paper 27. www.ifpri.org [12April 2012]. 1-63
[13] Klunne, W. E. (2002). Energy Efficient Housing to Benefit South
African Households. Boiling Point 48. www.itdg.org [accessed 05 April
2005].
[14] Otterpohl, R. (2000). Design of Highly Efficient Source Control
Sanitation and Practical Experiences. Euro Summer School DESAR,
Wageneingen June 18-23.
[15] Edwards, (B. 1998). Green Buildings Pay, Spon Press, London.