Sustainable Design Initiatives

Introduction

Favoring green, sustainable design is becoming more prevalent in the commercial real estate industry.

The growing interest of developers to incorporate more sustainable design elements into their projects has resulted in numerous initiatives, including LEED certification and pilot programs for green building practices.

What Constitutes Sustainable Design?

Sustainable design is a multifaceted field, which focuses on the integration of the built environment with its surrounding natural ecosystem.

Sustainable design is both a professional discipline as well as a philosophy that attempts to create affordable living spaces for all people while considering their effect on the environment.

It requires professionals in this field to consider all three pillars of sustainability when planning out projects: environmental responsibility, social equity, and economic feasibility.

The Goal of Sustainable Design

The goal of sustainable design is to create and maintain a balanced, symbiotic relationship between space and nature. This means that developments should not only be healthy places for people to live, but also meet the needs of the ecosystem in which they are built.

Conserve Natural Resources

Sustainable design recognizes that the earth’s resources cannot be limitless and strives to develop efficient ways to conserve them so that these valuable assets can continue to be used in future generations.

Save the Environment

One of the primary goals of sustainable design is to minimize an individual’s carbon footprint to help reduce the effects of climate change.

By reducing one’s reliance on energy through strategies like building orientation, improved insulation, use of solar panels, and efficient lighting fixtures, sustainable design helps to conserve valuable natural resources that can be used by future generations.

Build Friendly, Safe, Comfortable Spaces for People

Not only does sustainable design strive to preserve the environment, but it also focuses on improving people’s lives by expanding their living space.

Better utilization of materials during construction, more efficient operational procedures post-construction, improved indoor air quality, and enhanced occupant health and comfort levels are all important factors in creating a comfortable work environment that is conducive to productivity.

Principles of Sustainable Design 

Site Potential Optimization

One way sustainable design can reduce waste and material depletion is through site potential optimization, which is the utilization of natural features like existing topography and solar exposure to maximize efficiency.

Using organic layouts rather than ones with highly regimented geometric shapes allows developers the chance to work around the natural flow of a property’s surroundings. 

The incorporation of biophilic design elements into architecture also significantly increases energy conservation and occupant health levels.

Reduce Energy Use

The integration of sustainable design principles into a structure results in the optimization of energy efficiency, which can lead to significant savings for both building owners and occupants.

Utilizing passive heating and cooling measures, such as orienting a building toward solar exposure or using shading devices to minimize heat transfer, can substantially decrease a building’s reliance on mechanical systems like air conditioning units.

Implementing active systems that directly utilize natural resources like wind turbines or geothermal pumps can provide substantial returns over time.

Maximize Energy Production

Sustainable design goes beyond just reducing energy use. It also focuses on maximizing what is available through alternative means. This includes utilizing methods of renewable energy production so that the building can continue to provide power even after the grid has been shut down.

While renewable energy sources like wind, water, solar, and biofuels are becoming more popular in large-scale projects, sustainable design also strives to maximize the efficiency of mechanical systems that utilize natural resources.

For example, using an HVAC system that utilizes outside air for ventilation instead of only relying upon recirculated indoor air is beneficial because it reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed for cooling while simultaneously providing occupants with better quality air to breathe.

Maximize Material Utilization

Using larger amounts of recycled materials in construction not only minimizes waste but also cuts down on material acquisition costs. Sustainable design focuses on maximizing the amount of recycled components in all phases of design and operation so that no resource is wasted or outlived in its usefulness.

Healthy Indoor Environment

Although sustainable design is beneficial for a variety of reasons, its highest priority is providing occupants with healthy and comfortable spaces to work and live.

Designing buildings that filter out pollutants from the air and collect rainwater to reduce water consumption can drastically improve indoor air quality so that occupants feel healthier and more productive.

Operation and Maintenance Efficiency

By maximizing the efficiency of a building’s operational systems, a sustainable design can increase a structure’s longevity and reduce costs associated with maintenance.

Reducing waste and optimizing energy production during each stage of operation means that less money is spent on fuel or electricity to power mechanical systems like HVAC units or chillers, which can substantially decrease long-term operating costs.

Benefits of Sustainable Design

The implementation of sustainable design practices is a wise investment to consider in any commercial property construction because it benefits the building’s occupants and owners in a variety of ways. These include:

• Reduced energy costs
• Reduced harm to the environment from waste and emissions
• Improved occupant health from increased ventilation and more healthy materials used during construction
• Longer life-cycle for building components and better overall return on investment (ROI) over time

Investing in Sustainable Design

With so many benefits to designing buildings within the guidelines of sustainable design practices, it is clear why so many commercial real estate developers are eager to embrace these types of initiatives.

The initial costs of upgrading mechanical systems or switching to more efficient building materials might seem daunting at first, but they quickly pay off over time due to reduced operational costs and healthier environments for occupants.

By leveraging eco-friendly design ideas into their plans, architects can help improve project ROI while also setting high expectations for future sustainable construction initiatives that contribute to a more resilient built environment.