Sustainable Architecture

Several proposals have been made from environmental management in favor of construction, in order to motivate a friendly architecture. 

The biggest problem that architecture assumes these days, is its relationship with the environment, because, through the execution of numerous projects, these have had a great impact on the environment where we live, giving way to contribute in what it is known as global warming.

Currently, one of the biggest problems in the world is environmental pollution. In the field of architecture, this has a great impact, because the construction works that are carried out produce a large amount of waste that, in the long run, affects the environment. In addition, many of the materials used are manufactured with raw materials obtained through the exploitation of resources, which damage the environment in which we live. 

Contribute for friendly architecture 

To speak of friendly architecture is to refer to eco-friendly construction, which focuses on choosing the best location to carry out a project, in order to avoid destroying an ecosystem and making the most of the use of natural resources, such as wind and energy. solar. According to Núñez, the aim is for the building to be integrated into the existing space. 

Coellar Heredia affirms that in Sustainable Architecture, technological systems must be included in the project, without conditioning the aesthetics or spatial quality of the architecture. Therefore, the concept of sustainability addresses all phases of an architecture project, from its conception and development, to its execution. This, in turn, makes a lot of sense because if you want to generate a sustainable architecture, you should not set aside the parameters that an architectural project must have, both from its planning to its execution, but, considering that, in the case of raw material, much use will be made of new technological systems that allow the generation of clean energy that does not affect the environment. 

Coellar also considers the importance of an ecological education in architecture schools, so that architects apply the concepts and are aware of environmental problems, in order to develop new projects with a vision for the future, taking care of our environment. 

The construction of buildings is producing great impacts on the environment, due to the consumption of natural resources such as energy, materials, water, etc .; producing emissions and waste. Therefore, the design must be efficient and the construction must reduce environmental impacts. Now buildings are true living organisms that have to be efficient in every sense, to harmonize with the people who inhabit them and thus think of measures that we can apply for an optimal life in the future. 

Choice of materials 

The choice of materials when building is decisive. In general, steel, copper, glass, steel, wood, polymers, among others, are used and the way they are obtained involves the destruction of energy and habitat. The physical assembly of the building, for example, consumes a great deal of energy. This harvest of fossil energy emits CO2 and conventional atmospheric pollutants, in addition to contributing to the extraction of resources and the associated loss of habitat; Hence, alternatives are recommended to optimize construction materials, such as: 

Solar paint. - It is a paint that, in addition to giving color and protection to surfaces (walls, doors, pavements, etc.), has the ability to react to sunlight to produce clean and sustainable energy. There are two types of these paintings: one that produces electricity and that was studied and developed already a decade ago; and, a new version that reacts with the water vapor present in the air, thanks to the action of the sun's rays and is capable of generating hydrogen. 

Synthetic tiles. - Similar in appearance to clay, plastic tiles differ from those by being much lighter, weighing less than 10 percent of what those of classic materials weigh. Likewise, they present better resistance to compression, tolerates significant variations in temperature, provides better support to the transit of people and has greater resistance to saline environments. For this reason, the use of this material can be beneficial for the construction sector, especially in the coastal area, because this type of tile has great resistance to saline environments and, in the same way, in the mountains, whose material easily adapts to the changing climate of the Andes area. 

Ecological bricks. - They are those bricks that reuse the ash from coal, used plastic, that convert environmental humidity into water or that use natural materials such as hemp or straw. Therefore, if we opt for this alternative, we would be able to optimize the use of conventional brick for one that is more environmentally friendly and, in turn, has a more affordable cost than a normal brick.

Construction and environment 

The architect Fabricio Carrión, considers that the executions of architectural works have a great impact on the environment, due to the large amount of waste and debris that they generate; cement as such, for example, is a material that is used in most construction works and its use is in high demand. 

In some countries, plastic is being used in construction, because the aim is to improve environmental quality. For the architect Fabricio Carrión, he considers that, in such a case, the plastic from the recycled bottles could be used, but not for a structural purpose because it is not known with certainty if its resistance will be adequate to be used in a project. . However, worldwide, this type of renewable alternatives are being used in a highly demanded way today, at least in the field of construction where quite interesting technological solutions are beginning to be given. 

The engineer Rocío Salinas considers that, if renewable alternatives are used in the construction field, the environmental conditions would improve notably because there would no longer be a great exploitation of natural resources to create construction materials. Coinciding with this idea, the architect Fabricio Carrión says that the contribution of science towards changes in architecture must continue to advance more and more and, in the same way, solve the different problems that arise, in this case, seeking solutions in favor of the environment.

By: José Saquicela / Arquitectura (UDA)