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112 Green Building Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Green building is a growing trend in the construction industry as more and more people become aware of the importance of sustainability and environmental conservation. If you are a student studying architecture, engineering, or any related field, you may be tasked with writing an essay on green building. To help you get started, here are 112 green building essay topic ideas and examples:

• The impact of green buildings on the environment
• The benefits of green building certification programs
• The role of sustainable materials in green building
• Energy-efficient design principles in green buildings
• The use of renewable energy sources in green buildings
• The economics of green building
• Green building policies and regulations
• Green building case studies in different regions
• The future of green building technology
• Green building practices in developing countries
• Green building vs traditional construction methods
• The importance of indoor air quality in green buildings
• The impact of green building on human health
• Green building and urban planning
• The social benefits of green building
• The role of architects in promoting green building
• The challenges of implementing green building practices
• Green building and climate change mitigation
• Green building and disaster resilience
• Green building and water conservation
• The role of green roofs in green building
• Green building and waste management
• The impact of green building on property values
• Green building and sustainable development goals
• The role of green building in carbon neutrality
• Green building and biodiversity conservation
• The psychology of green building design
• Green building and community engagement
• The role of green building in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Green building and energy poverty
• The impact of green building on construction industry jobs
• Green building and affordable housing
• The role of green building in disaster recovery
• Green building and cultural heritage preservation
• Green building and historic preservation
• The role of green building in reducing urban heat island effect
• Green building and transportation planning
• The impact of green building on urban agriculture
• Green building and social equity
• The role of green building in reducing water pollution
• Green building and sustainable tourism
• The impact of green building on public health
• Green building and sustainable transportation
• The role of green building in reducing food insecurity
• Green building and sustainable forestry
• The impact of green building on wildlife conservation
• Green building and sustainable fisheries
• The role of green building in reducing plastic pollution
• Green building and sustainable waste management
• The impact of green building on climate adaptation
• Green building and sustainable energy access
• The role of green building in reducing soil erosion
• Green building and sustainable agriculture
• The impact of green building on marine conservation
• Green building and sustainable fisheries management
• The role of green building in reducing air pollution
• Green building and sustainable water management
• The impact of green building on biodiversity conservation
• Green building and sustainable land use planning
• The role of green building in reducing habitat destruction
• Green building and sustainable fisheries conservation
• The impact of green building on sustainable forestry
• Green building and sustainable agriculture practices
• The role of green building in reducing water scarcity
• Green building and sustainable energy production
• The impact of green building on sustainable transportation
• Green building and sustainable waste disposal
• Green building and sustainable land management
• The impact of green building on sustainable water resources
• Green building and sustainable energy consumption
• The role of green building in reducing energy poverty
• Green building and sustainable agriculture production
• The impact of green building on sustainable fisheries
• Green building and sustainable forestry practices
• Green building and sustainable land use management
• The impact of green building on sustainable water supply
• Green building and sustainable energy efficiency
• Green building and sustainable waste management practices
• The impact of green building on sustainable transportation systems
• Green building and sustainable land conservation
• Green building and sustainable fisheries management practices
• The impact of green building on sustainable forestry practices
• Green building and sustainable agriculture management
• Green building and sustainable energy production practices
• Green building and sustainable waste disposal practices
• The role of green building in reducing greenhouse gas

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Sustainable House: Building a Greener Future

Sustainable House – Thesis topics related to Residential Design

Residential design is undergoing a transformative shift toward sustainability, with a growing emphasis on eco-friendly practices and innovative solutions. The concept of a Sustainable House stands at the forefront of this movement, embodying principles that prioritize environmental conservation, energy efficiency, and responsible resource management. This article delves into the various facets of Sustainable Houses, exploring their design, benefits, and the impact they have on shaping a greener future.

Understanding Sustainable Houses

Sustainable Houses, often referred to as eco-friendly or green homes, are meticulously designed dwellings that minimize their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. These homes integrate sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and environmentally conscious design strategies to reduce energy consumption, conserve natural resources, and promote healthier living environments.

Principles of Sustainable Design

At the core of Sustainable Houses lie several fundamental design principles:

• Energy Efficiency : Sustainable Houses employ passive design techniques, such as optimal orientation, insulation, and high-performance windows, to reduce energy needs for heating, cooling, and lighting.
• Renewable Energy Integration : These homes often incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal systems to generate clean and sustainable energy.
• Water Conservation : Strategies like rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and efficient plumbing fixtures minimize water wastage and promote responsible water usage.
• Use of Sustainable Materials : Sustainable Houses prioritize materials with low environmental impact, such as recycled or reclaimed materials, natural fibers, and non-toxic finishes.
• Indoor Environmental Quality : Emphasis is placed on improving indoor air quality through adequate ventilation, use of natural light, and non-toxic building materials.

Benefits of Sustainable Houses

The adoption of sustainable practices in residential design offers a multitude of benefits:

• Reduced Environmental Footprint : Sustainable Houses significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a healthier planet.
• Cost Savings : Over time, the integration of energy-efficient systems and water conservation measures lead to reduced utility bills and operational costs.
• Improved Health and Well-being : The use of non-toxic materials and enhanced indoor air quality create healthier living spaces for occupants.
• Resilience to Climate Change : Sustainable Houses are often designed to withstand extreme weather events, promoting resilience in the face of climate change.
• Increased Property Value : The market demand for sustainable homes is growing, leading to higher property values and market desirability.

Innovations in Sustainable House Design

Innovative technologies and design approaches continue to redefine Sustainable Houses:

• Smart Home Integration : Incorporation of smart technologies enables homeowners to monitor and control energy usage, lighting, temperature, and security systems remotely.
• Passive House Design : The Passive House standard emphasizes ultra-energy efficiency, focusing on airtight construction, high insulation levels, and heat recovery ventilation.
• Net-Zero Energy Homes : These homes produce as much energy as they consume, achieving a balance between energy generation and consumption.
• Green Roof and Vertical Gardens : Integration of vegetation on roofs and walls helps reduce energy needs, improve air quality, and mitigate urban heat island effects.
• Circular Economy Principles : Embracing principles of the circular economy, Sustainable Houses prioritize materials that can be reused, repurposed, or recycled at the end of their lifecycle.

The Role of Sustainable Houses in Shaping the Future

Sustainable Houses serve as a catalyst for transforming residential design and shaping a more sustainable future. They inspire a shift in societal norms toward responsible living, prompting individuals, builders, and policymakers to prioritize environmental stewardship in housing practices.

Sustainable Houses represent a pivotal evolution in residential design, blending innovation, efficiency, and environmental consciousness. Their impact extends beyond individual dwellings, influencing urban development, construction practices, and the global quest for a more sustainable lifestyle.

For professionals and enthusiasts in the design and architecture industry, the exploration of Sustainable Houses offers not only a blueprint for environmentally conscious living but also a roadmap for creating healthier, more resilient, and harmonious living environments. As Sustainable Houses continue to evolve, they embody a vision of a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.

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What You Need to Know About Sustainable House Design

From the layout of the house to the appliance you fill it with, there are many things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly.

Green Coast is supported by its readers. We may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through a link on this page . Learn more .

When it comes to a new build, there are many things you can do to minimize the impact on the environment, from the construction to actually living in your new home. It’s crucial to do your research and get these decisions right in the planning stages, as many things can be expensive, not to mention wasteful, to change later.

Read on for 16 sustainable house design tips to make your home as eco-friendly as possible.

Tips for designing your own sustainable home

Sustainable homes may be sustainable in the way they’re built, from the building materials used to the building techniques, or eco-friendly to live in – or preferably both!

We’ll look at different ideas, tips, and inspiration for designing a sustainable home. These tips can be used when building a house from scratch, and some can be incorporated into an existing home to make it more eco-friendly, helping you to reduce your energy bills while being kinder to the planet.

1. Choose your location wisely

When it comes to sustainable house design, the first thing you’ll need to do is choose the right location.

A few location factors can influence how eco-friendly your home and/or your lifestyle will be:

• Proximity to infrastructure: Installing new infrastructure and utilities systems will inevitably have a huge impact on the local environment, so try to look for a site that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, unless you’re planning to go off-grid.
• Proximity to transportation: Sustainable house design has wider considerations than the house itself. For example, living close to public transport can help you to pursue a much more eco-friendly lifestyle compared to driving your car everywhere. So consider how close your potential new home is to public transport routes, and look for a site within walking distance if possible. Walkscore is a great resource to check how walkable your new neighborhood is.
• Vulnerability to natural disasters – Many regions are prone to natural disasters of one kind or another, so it’s not always possible to avoid this. However, if you build your house in an area vulnerable to flooding, earthquakes, or hurricanes, for example, make sure it is built to withstand such disasters so that it is sustainable over the long term.

2. Incorporate recycled materials into your design

Building materials can be harmful to the environment in a variety of ways, from the air, water, and land pollution they generate in production to the energy required to create them. When it comes to sustainable house design, It’s important to consider the embodied energy – the total impact of all greenhouse gas emissions created by a given material throughout its entire lifecycle – of solar panels.

Using recycled materials not only avoids many of these issues, but it also stops these items from ending up in landfill . There are a large range of such building materials available these days, from those which were originally used for the same purpose, such as recycled tiles, to materials that have been completely repurposed, such as composite decking made from recycled plastic.

Some of the fantastic recycled building materials you’ll find to aid you with your sustainable house design and building project are:

• Recycled glass countertops
• Doors, floors, and other elements made from wood reclaimed from demolished or remodeled buildings
• Bricks and masonry that has also been reclaimed from old buildings
• Roof shingles made from recycled car tires
• Landscaping soil from excavations

If you cannot find recycled materials, try to go for those that are recyclable, to minimize their long-term impact on the environment.

3. Use locally sourced building materials

Another way to keep your building materials eco-friendly is to source them locally as much as possible. Transporting local materials will generate fewer emissions compared to supplies that need to come from across the country or even across the world.

For example, in the Pacific Northwest, hardwoods such as Douglas fir, red alder and western juniper are readily available and make excellent building materials.

This may mean adapting your design to take advantage of the amazing materials available in your area. You may need to rethink the kind of house you want, but this will give your new home an authentic, local vibe!

You may even decide to build your home in a certain location based on the local building materials that are available.

4. Consider an energy-efficient layout

When drafting your sustainable house design blueprint, taking energy efficiency into account can make a huge difference to the building’s impact on the environment. Any structure with a large surface area is less energy-efficient, as the increased surface allows more heat to escape.

Therefore, a taller and more compact house is generally more energy-efficient than a low and wide structure with the same number of square feet. Similarly, cubes and spheres are more efficient than more irregular, spread out shapes.

Furthermore, how you orientate your house is also a key component of sustainable house design. Where you put your windows, in particular, can help you take advantage of natural light and heat. In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing windows will give you more sunlight in winter, allowing you to minimize your reliance on artificial heating and lighting.

On the other hand, too many west-facing windows will provide more light and heat on sweltering summer afternoons and encourage you to use your air conditioning more. Similarly, roof overhang will block the sun in summer, keeping your home cooler for longer.

However, don’t worry about your roof obstructing precious winter sunlight! Because the sun is lower in winter than it is in summer, the right amount of roof overhang will block harsh rays in summer while letting the light in during winter.

Your landscaping can also make your home more energy-efficient. Plant a deciduous tree in front of south facing windows to provide shade in summer but let light through in winter.

For even more tips, check our separate post on how to build an energy-efficient home on a budget .

5. Use low energy consumption appliances

An eco-friendly home goes far beyond the design, location, and building materials you use – you also need to consider the appliances you use. Sustainable house design is also about filling your home with appliances that consume lower energy is not only better for the environment, but it will also greatly reduce your energy bills, or let you run your home on renewable energy .

Manufacturers are now offering low energy consumption appliances in just about any niche you can think of, from washing machines to kitchen appliances. At a minimum, look for Energy Star rated appliances – this should cover everything from computers and TVs to kitchen appliances and water heaters. 

LED lighting is also much more energy efficient, and lasts much longer. Even though it requires a larger upfront investment, this pays itself off over time because you won’t need to change your LED light bulbs for years!

6. Incorporate smart home technology

Along with low energy consumption appliances, using smart home technology can also help to make your home more eco-friendly. Smart home systems have features such as automated lighting, temperature, and security controls which allow you to make your energy use as efficient as possible.

Most smart home systems also allow you to monitor the amount of energy you use, helping you to live more efficiently and use less electricity.

7. Opt for energy-efficient HVAC

While energy-efficient appliances can make a difference, your heating and cooling is even more important, as this is where most homes’ energy consumption comes from. Therefore, energy-efficient HVAC (heat ventilation air conditioning) is a key part of sustainable house design.

This should start with the design of the building and the heating and cooling systems. For example, breaking your home into zones which can be heated or cooled when you’re using them means you’ll use much less energy than trying to control the temperature of the entire home.

In particular, you should separate out areas that do not need to be heated or cooled because they’re not often used, such as the basement or laundry.

8. Consider geothermal heating

One fantastic example of sustainable heating is geothermal heating , sometimes also called geoexchange, earth-coupled, or earth energy systems. Residential geothermal heating systems take advantage of the sun’s radiant energy that has been absorbed by and stored in the ground near your house.

In this way, geothermal heating is an indirect form of solar energy, which is available any time of day or night!

There are a few different types of geothermal heating, but all use a buried or submerged “loop field”, typically made of polyethylene tubing. There are both open and closed-loop systems, but these essentially work in the same way by bringing the heat energy stored in the soil or groundwater to your home via these tubes.

9. Opt for eco-friendly insulation

Good insulation is essential for sustainable house design, and planning for an eco-friendly home, as it plays a big part in keeping the building energy efficient. A well-insulated building doesn’t need as much heating and cooling, so uses much less energy.

However, insulation has traditionally been made from hazardous, toxic materials which have a range of negative impacts on the environment.

If you want your home to be truly environmentally-friendly, it is important to make sure that it is not only well-insulated, but with eco-friendly insulation. Take a look at our wrap up of the different types of eco-friendly insulation for more.

10. Harness the sun and the rain

To maximize the energy efficiency of your sustainable house design, it’s important to consider not only how much energy you use, but also where that energy comes from. Therefore, being more energy-efficient while relying on renewable energy is a win-win for sustainability!

One of the most popular (and best) ways to power your home with renewable energy is using solar panels. It is relatively easy to install a solar system in your home to give you free, eco-friendly energy, while adding value to your home.

For more on the best solar panels for residential properties, check out this guide .

You can also harness the natural water resources through rainwater harvesting. There are various methods you can use to collect and store rainwater for your bathroom, laundry, or even for drinking.

This not only allows you to make better use of this precious resource, but properly-harvested rainwater is also pure and chemical-free, and so better for your health. For instance, water collection is an essential part of an Earthship home .

You can read more about the pros and cons of rainwater harvesting in our detailed guide. 

11. Consider living walls or roofs

Sustainable house design involves a certain amount of ‘outside the box’ thinking, and incorporating a living roof or wall into your plan is an example of just that.

A living roof is topped with a water-retaining layer that supports living grasses, flowers, or even shrubs. This creates a highly energy-efficient and eco-friendly surface that naturally insulates your home, not to mention that it looks stunning!

Likewise, incorporating living walls into your home can make the building more energy-efficient, not to mention aesthetically pleasing. Not only this, but studies have shown that plants improve air quality by filtering toxins from the air.

12. Try an eco-friendly lawn alternative

Grass may be a popular lawn option, but it is also water-intensive, difficult to maintain, and can cause allergies. There are plenty of grass alternatives that are not only better for the environment and your health, but many need little to no maintenance.

Eco-friendly lawn alternatives include:

• Sedum plants
• Ground covers like creeping thyme, Corsican mint, chamomile, and soleirolia soleirolii
• Eco-lawn (a mix of grass seeds and ground covers like micro leaf clover and moss)
• Wood chippings or bark

Alternatively, you can simply let your lawn lie fallow and let native plants and flowers take over, creating your own mini wildflower meadow.

13. Consider prefab homes

Sustainable house design is a concept that already exists tobe rolled out to the masses – in the form of prefabricated, or ‘prefab’, homes.

A prefab home is partially constructed in a factory, and then these component parts are put together onsite, where the dwelling is to be permanently. 

Certain characteristics of these types of constructions make them better for the natural environment than many other types of builds:

• Efficient in construction – Because these homes are pre-built on a large scale in a factory, they are usually more precise in their use of materials and generate less waste.
• Efficient transportation – Additionally, all the parts are transported and delivered at the same time, minimizing the cost and environmental impacts of transportation.
• Durable – Contrary to what you may think, prefab homes can actually be more durable than traditional builds, because materials are reinforced for transport. This means they last longer and minimizes the negative impacts of repairs and upgrades on the environment.

Of course, not all prefab homes are as kind to the environment as others – check out our guide to the best eco-friendly prefab homes . These prefabs are made from sustainable materials and partially built offsite using environmentally-sound practices, and may also incorporate eco-insulation.

14. Consider the best size for a sustainable home

Sustainable house design means applying careful consideration to size and space. The size of your house has two main implications for the environment:

• A larger home will take more energy to heat, cool, and power in general
• A larger construction requires more materials and energy to build in the first place

Therefore, the smaller the house you build, the more efficient and less wasteful it will inherently be. It may not be practical or desirable for everyone to live in a super small house, but the more you can keep the size of your new home down, the more eco-friendly your house is likely to be.

You can even take this to the extreme with a tiny home, which we’ll talk about in the next point!

15. Consider a tiny home

The tiny home trend has surged in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. These houses have an average size of 186 square feet and are extremely efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective.

Consider their carbon footprint for example:

• An averaged-sized US home of around 2600 square feet would produce around 28,000 pounds of CO2 per year through heating, cooling, and energy use if run on non-renewable energy.
• The electricity required to heat, cool, and power a tiny home would only generate around 2,000 pounds of CO2 if produced by a coal power plant.

(You can calculate your own home’s greenhouse gas emissions using the EPA’s carbon footprint calculator .)

An Australian study confirmed that tiny homes can reduce an individual’s personal carbon emissions by 70% over their lifetime.

This is because such a small space is very efficient to heat or cool, and these homes typically use smaller and more efficient appliances. Furthermore, because of the low energy requirements, it is very easy to power an entire tiny house on a solar system, so your tiny home may not generate any greenhouse emissions at all!

Beyond the energy efficiency and low emissions, tiny homes also require far fewer (potentially environmentally-hazardous) building materials and are portable. So if you want to move you can simply take your home with you instead of having to build again!

16. Go Electric

All-electric homes can also be very eco-friendly, depending on where your energy comes from. A study by the Rocky Mountain Institute showed that not only are all-electric houses more economical than mixed-fuel homes, but they also have significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The study found that homeowners in Seattle reduced their carbon emissions by 93% by making their house all-electric, while those in many states experienced reductions of more than 50%. Of course, this is only possible if you get your electricity from renewable sources, such as your own solar system or an energy provider who runs on renewables.

How to build a sustainable house

Sustainable house design starts from where you decide to build your home and the layout you choose, to how you power it and the insulation. 

There are many ways you can make your home more eco-friendly, ranging from smaller actions such as switching out the traditional grass lawn to the kind of house you choose to build. You may choose a sustainable tiny home or prefab house, but there are plenty of other ways to make your house more environmentally friendly.

For more inspiration on creating a sustainable home, take a look at our posts on truly green prefab homes and recycled building materials .

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What Is Sustainable Architecture?

Environmentally Friendly Building: History, Characteristics, and Examples

Westend61 / Getty Images

The Benefits of Sustainable Architecture

• Characteristics

Sustainable architecture is a general term that refers to buildings designed to limit humanity's impact on the environment. An eco-friendly approach to modern-day building encompasses every aspect of the planning and construction process, including the choice of building materials; the design and implementation of heating, cooling, plumbing, waste, and ventilation systems; and the integration of the built environment into the natural landscape. 

What Is Sustainable Architecture and Why Is It Important?

Sustainable architecture defines a building designed and built to significantly reduce the damages inflicted on the health of its inhabitants and the environment. A sustainably designed building is important because it uses substantially less energy and water long-term and it's built using fewer chemically toxic materials.

The benefits of sustainable architecture are multiple. Chief benefits include reduced carbon emissions and the conservation of precious natural resources in the age of a climate emergency. Sustainable architecture can also have a positive effect on human health in that it improves clean energy efficiency which reduces indoor air pollutants.

Characteristics of Sustainable Architecture

Sustainable architecture focuses on reducing human impact on the environment. It seamlessly blends and integrates the building into the surrounding landscape.

Eco-Friendly Energy and Water Usage

Eco-friendly energy and water usage is a primary component of sustainable architecture. The goal is to minimize wasteful, harmful energy consumption by using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels , natural heating and cooling, and ventilation systems. In designing a sustainable building, the architect seeks to have one that produces at least as much energy as it consumes for a net zero effect. Water conservation systems, such as rainwater collection and gray water recycling are also implemented.

Use of Regenerative and Eco-Friendly Materials

Sustainable architecture incorporates the use of renewable, regenerative, and eco-friendly materials , such as bamboo, hemp, cork, flax, soy, recycled and upcycled materials, and  eco-friendly insulation . Replacement of conventional materials can be achieved with sustainable alternatives in both architecture and home decor . For example, concrete can be replaced with hempcrete (made from hemp, lime, and water). Conventional plastics can be replaced with innovative bioplastics made from algae.

Adaptive and Modular Spaces

Another aspect of sustainable architecture is the use of adaptable, modular spaces, many of which are made from natural materials that can be easily broken down and repurposed or recycled. Tiny houses , micro-apartments and other small structures that help address the appetite for more sustainable housing and use less land mass and energy are examples of this. Alternative housing solutions, such as homes and apartment buildings constructed from recycled shipping containers are also sustainable. Floating architecture on waterways around the world can help address housing shortages in dense coastal areas.

Incorporation of Plants and Nature

Incorporation of plants and nature via living walls , tree-covered residential towers, and green roofing materials to help cool existing buildings and create healthy biophilic environments for humans is another primary characteristic of sustainable architecture. Native plants play a vital role in the landscaping of sustainable architecture. They promote local biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and require less maintenance because they already grow in their native environment.

History of Sustainable Architecture

Many of the practices and principles used in sustainable architecture are rooted in ancient building techniques that were transformed with the rise of modern materials and mass production in the industrial age. The modern consciousness about the need for sustainable architecture has increased with the rise in the number of people who want to live sustainably . It can be traced back over 50 years to the first Earth Day, the international environmental movement, and the ensuing legislation that it sparked across the globe. 

But the world is now in the midst of a climate change emergency, and environmental laws are always in flux. This makes it even more imperative for designers, architects, builders, and consumers to demand better building practices to help combat the damage caused by one of the most polluting industries on the planet. In the United States, for example, buildings account for 39 percent of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions.

Sustainability has become an important element of contemporary architecture . Environmental standards such as BREEAM and LEED offer guidelines for sustainable building. Responsible architects with true sustainable practices strive to meet these standards and gain the associated certifications for their projects.

Examples of Sustainable Architecture

Wood might be an ancient building material, but cross-laminated timber, made by gluing layers of lumber together, has become a sustainable alternative for city towers and prefab houses in Europe and the United States. If the 20th century was defined by the steel and glass skyscrapers of cities like Chicago and New York, the 21st century might come to be defined by the timber skyscrapers like Mjøstårnet by Voll Arkitekter in Brumunddal, Norway.

Even recycled materials can become the building blocks of structures large and small. Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban uses recycled cardboard tubing to build emergency shelters. He utilized the same material to create his world-renowned Transitional Cathedral, built in 2013 in Christchurch, New Zealand. 

Another example of cutting-edge sustainable architecture is CopenHill in Copenhagen, Denmark, which bills itself as "the cleanest waste-to-energy power plant in the world." It includes a façade built for climbing, a roof you can hike across, and an actual ski slope.

Keith Levit / Getty Images

The Future of Sustainable Architecture

Despite innovations, advancements, and increasing public awareness about the need for greener building practices, sustainable architecture still represents a small portion of overall global construction. Furthermore, many experts believe that the concept of sustainability is outdated given the current state of the planet. Instead, they insist that the way forward lies in regenerative architecture and design, a much more progressive holistic approach that focuses on tapping into the world's natural resources to create buildings and systems capable of regenerating themselves and breaking down completely when they've served their purpose.

It's known that climate change affects disadvantaged individuals and communities most severely, and regenerative design integrates social equity into its practices. For example, the International Living Future Institute Living Building Challenge includes a mandatory social-equity component. This represents an important step beyond the basic principles of sustainable building to help alleviate social problems while addressing environmental challenges.

The definition of sustainability can vary depending on context. In terms of architecture, seeking sustainability is minimizing the negative effect that buildings have on the environment around them. The concept of sustainable architecture has its limitations and is ever-evolving with new technologies and the state of the Earth. But if the architecture lessens environmental impact, uses natural resources efficiently, and is durable and long-lasting, it is considered sustainable.

Sustainable architecture is not without problems and a main challenge is cost. Building sustainably often employs more expensive materials and technologies such as rainwater harvesting systems, energy-efficient windows, and solar panels. In addition to the increased expense, there can be limited availability of these methods, many of which are only recently being developed and continually evolving.

The most sustainable building methods involve using locally sourced, regenerative, and circular materials that are prefabricated rather than built from scratch on site to maximize efficiency and reduce waste during construction.

The Rising Popularity of Sustainable Architecture . New School of Architecture and Design.

Benefits of Green Building . U.S. Green Building Council.

Buildings and Climate Change . United States Green Building Council.

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SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE | Essay Competition

• Published on February 05, 2021

INTRODUCTION Sustainable Architecture is a 2021 Architecture Essay Competition, organized by Archiol. Sustainability in architecture is achieved with the use of design strategies in the built environment that reduce the negative environmental impact. Environment that is built based on ecological principles and resource efficiency .The competition, Sustainable Architecture is looking for essay submissions on the topic of sustainability in architecture.

• A write-up of 1500 words on sustainability of architecture. • An Image supporting your essay (size 42cm X30cm)

What can be submitted? • Text of up to 1500 words or less. (1000 words min.) • Image of size 42cm X30cm • Illustrations • Graphics • Diagrams

Note! Registration deadline is 22nd March 2021, but you can submit you project until 24th March 2021.

Submission Guidelines: • A Docs. File of maximum 1500 words. • Image 42cm X 30cm size which may include, but are not limited to 3-D views, sketches, sections, isometric views, plans, elevations or any other means of graphical representation. You may include text labels, architectural markings & symbols and short descriptive text. • The title must be included as the heading of the sheet. • Your Participation Code should be written in the top right corner of this sheet.

All submissions should be digital: • Text submissions, including footnotes, citations, and illustration notes, must be submitted digitally in .doc format. • Images must be submitted in .jpeg format • Vector-only graphics should be submitted in .pdf formats.

How to Submit? Upload a single zip folder with a docs. File and a jpeg. Image to your Google Drive or Dropbox and submit the sharing ink. • File Naming: ‘SUS_XXXX.pdf’ (ex. if your Participation Code is SUS_1234, the file name should be SUS_1234.pdf). You will receive your Participation after completing the registration. • Size Limit: 5 MB

ELIGIBILITY • Competition is open to all human beings, from every age and cultural background, working in groups or individually. • Architects, Interior Designer and design students are perfectly suited for this competition. • You can work individually or in group, a group of maximum 3 people (Registration in the name of the individual representing the group, please mention the name and details of group members under the comment section in registration form).

FEES • Sustainable architecture competition is free of charge. • No entry fees, direct registration.

PRIZES Top 3 Entries: • Publication • E-Certificate of achievement • Feature in Archiol E-zine Top 20 Entries: • Publication

TIMELINE Registration Deadline: 22nd March 2021 (Registration is Free Of Charge) Submission Deadline: 24th March 2021 Result Announcement: 10th April 2021

ORGANISERS: ARCHIOL ( www.archiol.com )

Download the information related to this competition here.

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Submission deadline.

This call for submissions was submitted by an ArchDaily user. If you'd like to submit a competition, call for submissions or other architectural 'opportunity' please use our "Submit a Call for Submissions" form. The views expressed in announcements submitted by ArchDaily users do not necessarily reflect the views of ArchDaily.

• Sustainability

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Essay on Greenhouse Effect for Students and Children

500 words essay on greenhouse effect.

The past month, July of 2019, has been the hottest month in the records of human history. This means on a global scale, the average climate and temperatures are now seen a steady rise year-on-year. The culprits of this climate change phenomenon are mainly pollution , overpopulation and general disregard for the environment by the human race. However, we can specifically point to two phenomenons that contribute to the rising temperatures – global warming and the greenhouse effect. Let us see more about them in this essay on the greenhouse effect.

The earth’s surface is surrounded by an envelope of the air we call the atmosphere. Gasses in this atmosphere trap the infrared radiation of the sun which generates heat on the surface of the earth. In an ideal scenario, this effect causes the temperature on the earth to be around 15c. And without such a phenomenon life could not sustain on earth.

However, due to rapid industrialization and rising pollution, the emission of greenhouse gases has increased multifold over the last few centuries. This, in turn, causes more radiation to be trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. And as a consequence, the temperature on the surface of the planet steadily rises. This is what we refer to when we talk about the man-made greenhouse effect.

Causes of Greenhouse Effect

As we saw earlier in this essay on the greenhouse effect, the phenomenon itself is naturally occurring and an important one to sustain life on our planet. However, there is an anthropogenic part of this effect. This is caused due to the activities of man.

The most prominent among this is the burning of fossil fuels . Our industries, vehicles, factories, etc are overly reliant on fossil fuels for their energy and power. This has caused an immense increase in emissions of harmful greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfides, etc. This has multiplied the greenhouse effect and we have seen a steady rise in surface temperatures.

Other harmful activities such as deforestation, excessive urbanization, harmful agricultural practices, etc. have also led to the release of excess carbon dioxide and made the greenhouse effect more prominent. Another harmful element that causes harm to the environment is CFC (chlorofluorocarbon).

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Some Effects of Greenhouse Effect

Even after overwhelming proof, there are still people who deny the existence of climate change and its devastating pitfalls. However, there are so many effects and pieces of evidence of climate change it is now undeniable. The surface temperature of the planet has risen by 1c since the 19th century. This change is largely due to the increased emissions of carbon dioxide. The most harm has been seen in the past 35 years in particular.

The oceans and the seas have absorbed a lot of this increased heat. The surfaces of these oceans have seen a rise in temperatures of 0.4c. The ice sheets and glaciers are also rapidly shrinking. The rate at which the ice caps melt in Antartica has tripled in the last decade itself. These alarming statistics and facts are proof of the major disaster we face in the form of climate change.

600 Words Essay on Greenhouse Effect

A Greenhouse , as the term suggests, is a structure made of glass which is designed to trap heat inside. Thus, even on cold chilling winter days, there is warmth inside it. Similarly, Earth also traps energy from the Sun and prevents it from escaping back. The greenhouse gases or the molecules present in the atmosphere of the Earth trap the heat of the Sun. This is what we know as the Greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse Gases

These gases or molecules are naturally present in the atmosphere of the Earth. However, they are also released due to human activities. These gases play a vital role in trapping the heat of the Sun and thereby gradually warming the temperature of Earth. The Earth is habitable for humans due to the equilibrium of the energy it receives and the energy that it reflects back to space.

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect

The trapping and emission of radiation by the greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere is known as the Greenhouse effect. Without this process, Earth will either be very cold or very hot, which will make life impossible on Earth.

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon. Due to wrong human activities such as clearing forests, burning fossil fuels, releasing industrial gas in the atmosphere, etc., the emission of greenhouse gases is increasing.

Thus, this has, in turn, resulted in global warming . We can see the effects due to these like extreme droughts, floods, hurricanes, landslides, rise in sea levels, etc. Global warming is adversely affecting our biodiversity, ecosystem and the life of the people. Also, the Himalayan glaciers are melting due to this.

There are broadly two causes of the greenhouse effect:

I. Natural Causes

• Some components that are present on the Earth naturally produce greenhouse gases. For example, carbon dioxide is present in the oceans, decaying of plants due to forest fires and the manure of some animals produces methane , and nitrogen oxide is present in water and soil.
• Water Vapour raises the temperature by absorbing energy when there is a rise in the humidity.
• Humans and animals breathe oxygen and release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

II. Man-made Causes

• Burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal emits carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which causes an excessive greenhouse effect. Also, while digging a coal mine or an oil well, methane is released from the Earth, which pollutes it.
• Trees with the help of the process of photosynthesis absorb the carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Due to deforestation the carbon dioxide level is continuously increasing. This is also a major cause of the increase in the greenhouse effect.
• In order to get maximum yield, the farmers use artificial nitrogen in their fields. This releases nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere.
• Industries release harmful gases in the atmosphere like methane, carbon dioxide , and fluorine gas. These also enhance global warming.

All the countries of the world are facing the ill effects of global warming. The Government and non-governmental organizations need to take appropriate and concrete measures to control the emission of toxic greenhouse gases. They need to promote the greater use of renewable energy and forestation. Also, it is the duty of every individual to protect the environment and not use such means that harm the atmosphere. It is the need of the hour to protect our environment else that day is not far away when life on Earth will also become difficult.

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Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow

• Reflective Essay
• Published: 10 September 2019
• Volume 1 , pages 233–247, ( 2019 )

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• Brian Mark Evans   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1420-1682 1  

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The twenty-first century is the era when populations of cities will exceed rural communities for the first time in human history. The population growth of cities in many countries, including those in transition from planned to market economies, is putting considerable strain on ecological and natural resources. This paper examines four central issues: (a) the challenges and opportunities presented through working in jurisdictions where there are no official or established methods in place to guide regional, ecological and landscape planning and design; (b) the experience of the author’s practice—Gillespies LLP—in addressing these challenges using techniques and methods inspired by McHarg in Design with Nature in the Russian Federation in the first decade of the twenty-first century; (c) the augmentation of methods derived from Design with Nature in reference to innovations in technology since its publication and the contribution that the art of landscape painters can make to landscape analysis and interpretation; and (d) the application of this experience to the international competition and colloquium for the expansion of Moscow. The text concludes with a comment on how the application of this learning and methodological development to landscape and ecological planning and design was judged to be a central tenant of the winning design. Finally, a concluding section reflects on lessons learned and conclusions drawn.

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The politics of designing with nature: reflections from New Orleans and Dhaka

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Acknowledgements

The landscape team from Gillespies Glasgow Studio (Steve Nelson, Graeme Pert, Joanne Walker, Rory Wilson and Chris Swan) led by the author and all our collaborators in the Capital Cities Planning Group.

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Evans, B.M. Reimagining Design with Nature: ecological urbanism in Moscow. Socio Ecol Pract Res 1 , 233–247 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00031-5

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Received : 17 March 2019

Accepted : 13 August 2019

Published : 10 September 2019

Issue Date : October 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00031-5

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Sustainability — Sustainable Retrofitting Of an Existing House

Sustainable Retrofitting of an Existing House

• Categories: Sustainability

About this sample

Words: 1465 |

Published: Jan 25, 2024

Words: 1465 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, plumbing (water supply and disposal), references list.

• Chard, (2016). Understanding home water systems. [online] VictoriaPlum.com. Available at: https://victoriaplum.com/blog/posts/understanding-home-water-systems [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• Darren, c. (2015). Sustainable Plumbing Technology for Your Home. [online] realestate.com.au. Available at: http://www.realestate.com.au/advice/sustainable-plumbing-technology-for-your-home/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• DWI, (2016). The Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2016. [online] Legislation.gov.uk. Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/618/introduction/made [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• Elly, S. (2015). Electric Central Heating - Which?. [online] Which.co.uk. Available at: http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/home-heating-systems/article/home-heating-systems/electric-central-heating [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• Government of UK, (2009). National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the United Kingdom: Article 4 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/E[online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47871/25-nat-ren-energy-action-plan.pdf [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• Green, M., (2010). Retrofitting Older Homes. [online] Available at http://michaelbgreen.com.au/retrofitting-older-homes/
• Hamilton, I., Summerfield, A., and Lowe, R. (2014). Energy efficiency uptake and energy savings in English houses: A cohort study. [online] Sciencedirect.com. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778816300718 [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].
• Mohammed, R. G., (2015). How to Go Green as a Telecommunication Company in a Global Market. [online] Available at http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:618728/FULLTEXT01.pdf
• Rental Guide. (2015). The History of Modern Indoor Plumbing. [online] Portapotty. Available at: http://www.portapotty.net/plumbing/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2017].

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Why Moscow is the greenest city in the world

A house at Nezhinskaya street, Moscow

According to WorldAtlas, 54 percent of Moscow’s territory is covered by public parks and gardens, making it the greenest city in the world .

There are 20 square meters of trees and shrubs per inhabitant in Moscow – many times more than in Tokyo, London or Beijing. This happened because of the combination of two factors: first, Moscow was initially built amongst the forests of the North-Eastern Russia, second, landscaping and greening started in Moscow as early as the 18th century.

Fortress on a forest hill

Apollinaryi Vasnetsov. The Trubnaya Square in Moscow in the 17th century.

Borovitsky hill, upon which the Moscow Kremlin stands, is named after the word ‘bor’ – ‘forest’ in Russian. And indeed, in the 11th century there was an oak grove here, where the central streets of Moscow are now. Another example is the Church of St. John the Evangelist under the Elm Tree, now on Novaya Square, not far away from the Kremlin. Historian of Moscow Pyotr Sytin believed this church had its name in honor of the dense forest that protected the eastern part of the Kremlin until the 15th century.

Church of St. John the Evangelist under the Elm Tree

In these places, spruce and pine trees predominated, which were actively cut down and used by the city's population for construction. The city was expanding, and the forest was being cut down at its outskirts for building new houses. But these ‘outskirts’ were so close to the Kremlin that it’s now the very center of the city – even in the 17th century, places like Trubnaya Square (a 20 minute walk from the Kremlin) were still largely green, and until the early 19th century, bushes and trees grew right beside the Kremlin wall, in the now obsolete Aloisios’ Ravine, constructed in the 16th century under the supervision of Italian architect Aloisio the New. However, the city’s greenery wasn’t organized in a systematic way.

The Boulevard Ring

Tverskoy Boulevard in Moscow, early 19th century

Catherine the Great, who wanted to update the old capital, ordered the construction of the Boulevard Ring. It took the place of the obsolete Belyi Gorod (‘White City’) fortification wall.

“Moscow is encircled by boulevards – they are not only an ornament, but also an important benefit,” Vladimir Odoevsky, a 19th century Russian journalist, wrote. “When foreigners, looking at the plan of Moscow, see this green ring, we are proud to explain to them that in winter and summer, both sick and healthy, and the elderly, and children can walk around the city, walk between the trees and not be afraid of being hit by a carriage.”

The Kremlin ravine, the 1800s

After the fire of 1812, another green ring appeared – the Sadovoye (‘Garden’) ring, a wide street encircling the fast-growing center and covered in private houses’ gardens.

Greened by the Reds

Sokolniki Park, Moscow

Rapid urbanization starting after the 1917 revolution brought swarms of new inhabitants to Moscow, and the old city had to adjust to the needs of the industrial state. Unfortunately, with the 1930s Stalinist plan of Moscow reconstruction, many historical buildings were demolished, and main streets turned into highways.

Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya, Garden Ring, Moscow, 1928

In the 1930s, the Garden Ring was paved, trees at many squares and streets were cut down, there even were plans to destroy the Boulevard Ring, but fortunately they were not carried out. Georgy Popov (1906-1968), a Moscow Communist Party official, remembered that after WWII, in 1947, Stalin personally supervised the plans for re-greening the city center: “I remember how quickly we were deployed. We planted greenery on Dzerzhinsky Square (now Lubyanka Square), and in Okhotny Ryad, restored the garden on Sverdlov Square (now – Teatralnaya Square), and planted on Bolotnaya Square. Gorky Street was preplanted from Manezhnaya Square to Belorussky railway station. This was the first step in the greening of the central part of the city,” Popov wrote.

Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya, Garden Ring, Moscow, 1936

In 1951, the Moscow government chose from as many as 272 projects for re-greening Moscow. By 1961, forestry workers had planted over 500,000 trees and shrubs in the city. Small-leaved linden, blue spruce, fir, western thuja, irga, golden currant, barberry, and roses.

Gorky Park, Moscow, 1979

The 1950s-1960s also saw the reconstruction of Moscow’s biggest public parks. Gorky Park, transformed in the 1930s from Neskuchny (‘Merry’’) Garden, a 19th century public leisure space, has seen over 2,000 trees and 25,000 shrubs planted annually. The total space of the park expanded to 2.2 sq km, and the total length of the park’s alleys reached 30 km.

In the 20th century, more big parks were organized in Moscow: Sokolniki (5.16 sq km), Izmailovsky (16 sq km), Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo (2.22 sq km), Bitsevski Park (22 sq km), and, most importantly, Losiny Ostrov National Park (116 sq km), the largest urban park in Europe.

Felling a tree, planting two

Japanese garden in Main Botanical Garden in Moscow

Currently, Moscow’s green affairs are under strict control from the city’s government. In 2010-2016, 432,000 trees and 3.5 million shrubs were planted, and since 2013, a government initiative called “A Million Trees” has been implemented, meant to plant vegetation inside the inner yards of apartment buildings, with the plants being chosen on a digital app platform by locals.

Cutting down a tree in Moscow (for example, during a house construction) is very difficult, and if you still have to resort to such a measure, then the developer is obliged to compensate for this by planting two trees. However, these rules do not yet apply to other Russian regions, even in close proximity to the city – for example, the Moscow Oblast’. In 2007-2012 in Khimki, a suburb in Moscow Oblast’, a part of forest containing ancient oaks was being cut down for a road construction project. The project was eventually implemented, and a section of toll road was organized, causing air pollution near the highway, and in addition, noise pollution in the forest.

According to Moscow government’s official portal , by the end of the year, over 5,000 trees and 136,000 shrubs will be planted in Moscow, so the city is not going to lose its status as the greenest capital of the world any time soon. However, the indexes of the air pollution in Moscow are still unfortunately high – the city is still Russia’s largest trade and industrial center. The World Air Quality index places Moscow in 27th place in the air pollution ranking.

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Sustainable Housing Design Advantages Research Paper

Introduction, requirements of sustainable buildings, sample plan, design of waste treatment, solar panels and passive solar homes, construction panels and materials, additional design considerations.

Sustainable or Green housing design involves designing buildings that have the least impact on the environment. These buildings need to ensure that the impact on the environment is the least with reference to the carbon dioxide released, energy consumed, amount of water used, waste generated and disposed of and the materials used for construction. This paper discusses the design of sustainable housing and provides plan samples, details of materials used, waste disposal system and how the expected costs of the buildings.

The Department for Communities and Local Government, London has released a code for sustainable design and this guide provides all the technical requirements for buildings that have to be designated as green buildings (Code, September 2007). The paper would use these specifications in framing the design. Areas of the building that would be covered include Energy and CO2 Emission, Water, Materials, Surface Water Run-off, Waste, Pollution and costs.

Design of the Sustainable House

Modular homes form one of the best alternatives when it comes to designing a sustainable house as it is cost-effective, requires lesser time to build, is rigid and can be customized easily to meet specific requirements. With advances in technology, construction material and manufacturing processes, modular housing is aesthetically appealing, has intricate designs and is suitable for homes, offices as well as large buildings. Modular housing needs to conform to HUD specifications as well as any local specifications. A wide range of plans and materials are available to allow modular homes to be used for sustainable housing (UVA. 13 February 2008).

The plan of the modular sustainable house is shown below. The roof of the house has solar panels for the optional generation of electricity for use during summer.

The right image shows details of the waste treatment plant. Details of the building will be explained in the next sections.

As per the specifications of the Code for Sustainable Homes (Code, 2007), wastewater must be effectively treated before it is disposed into the environment. The wastewater is regarded as affluent and consists of blackwater or toilet waste and greywater that includes kitchen, shower, sink, and laundry waste. In the sustainable design, effluent flows directly from the house into a watertight, underground, two-compartment septic tank. Solid waste settles into a sludge layer on the bottom and fats float to the top of the first compartment. Between these two scum layers is a zone of clarified liquid effluent, which is internally piped to the second compartment of the septic tank for additional settling. As incoming sewage from the house fills the first compartment, clarified liquids are forced to leave the second chamber of the septic tank and flow out to the leach field or leach pit. The typical leach field is a series of shallow rock-filled trenches where effluent is “purified” as it slowly percolates through the soil. A leach pit is a deeper, larger hole filled with rock for disposing of wastewater. An illustration is shown in the following figure.

The following equation should be considered while calculating the absorption capacity of the system. If the system is less than adequate, then the untreated wastewater would percolate into the groundwater.

Chiras (2006) has pointed out that for a sustainable design, solar energy needs to be harnessed by using solar kits that convert solar energy to electric energy. Modular kits are available in various power outputs from 1 to more than 200 watts and this power is sufficient for a house. The home can be connected to the electricity network and any extra solar power that is generated can be given back to the grid to earn credits. In addition, the author suggests that the overall design of the house should be such that sunlight must be allowed to enter by using large sloped windows with glasses. An illustration is shown in the following figure.

The author has also suggested that where possible, wind turbines can be used to provide additional renewable electricity. The author admits that solar power may not be feasible in winter but the system can be used for some months in a year.

Sustainable modular homes can be finished to give them an excellent look. Traditional materials used included natural softwood and hardwood. A number of alternative structural materials have been introduced and these are classified as Engineered Lumber and Structural Steel. Engineered Lumber includes materials such as laminated Veneer Lumber, Wooden I Beams, Structural Composite Lumber and steel products include prefabricated trusses, finger-jointed studs and steel. Items such as foundation, walls, ceilings and other materials have to be constructed from eco-friendly material that is made from recycled substances. Some materials are given below (Edwards, 2000).

The Durisol Wall Form System is an insulated concrete forming system with built-in thermal, acoustical and fire protection. It uses a cement-bonded wood fibre material that is neutralized, mineralized and bonded together with Portland cement. Durisol is environmentally safe, does not contain nor emit any toxic elements, no VOCs or CFCs, contains no plastic, foams or polystyrenes, does not rot or decay and is fully recyclable. The wood fibre used is clean and unused softwood lumber taken from post-industrial sources, that would have otherwise been sent to the landfill. The forms use mineral fibre insulation that is non-combustible, moisture-resistant and positioned towards the exterior of the wall, resulting in additional energy efficiency and cost savings. Interior and exterior finishes can be applied directly to the Durisol material, eliminating subsequent steps in the construction process, making it more efficient. It is also more efficient during the construction process because it is stronger than most alternatives, there are zero blowouts and construction can take place all year round (Edwards, 2000).

ECO-Block Insulating Concrete Form is advanced construction technology. ICFs are hollow blocks or panels made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) that a construction crew stacks to create the exterior walls of a residential or commercial building. Workers then add reinforcing steel and fill the gap between the two layers of foam with concrete. This combination of concrete, steel and foam creates a very strong and energy-efficient structure. After the concrete has hardened, the forms stay in place and become the insulation for the walls (Edwards, 2000).

An illustration of the front view of the building is given in the following figure.

Interiors and exteriors design should strike a balance between factors such as utility, aesthetics and cost. This section gives an overview of different key elements. The manufacturer can provide the items as accessories or they can be bought from other sources and fitted (Stang, 2005).

• Trusses: These would be supporting the ceiling and need to be rigid and strong enough to take the load. There are two types of trusses: Web and Storage. Web trusses do not allow any storage while Storage trusses allow items to be tucked inside.
• Foundation and Sill Plate
• Insulation and House wrap, fireplaces, HVAC.
• Roof System: Different elements of roof systems are Roof pitch, Hip roo, Roof framing, Attic storage, Attic bath floor trusses, Roof sheathing and overhang, Decorative gables, Ice and water shield, Attic ventilation and others.
• Exterior finishes: Different elements are Siding, Exterior Trim, Shutters, Decorative exterior mouldings and Roofing.
• Windows: In cold areas, energy efficiency and internal heat loss prevention are very important. Choices are Vinyl or wood frame, Single-hung, double-hung, or casement, Tilt-in function, Window colour and size, Skylights and sun tubes.
• Doors: These would include exterior doors, Main entry doors, Accessible entries, French doors and sliders special doors.
• Electrical wiring: These include Electrical panel boxes, Electrical switches, Phone and cable jacks, Thermostat wires, special wiring. Suitable fireproofing needs to be done.
• Ceilings: Ceiling height is limited as per the design consideration. Choices for ceilings include sloped ceiling, tray-type and vaulted and cathedral ceilings can be specified.
• Lighting and electrical fixtures: These can be purchased from electrical hardware shops and include items such as Interior light fixtures, Recessed lights, energy-efficient lights, basement/ interior and exterior lights, Ceiling and exhaust fans, fire and smoke detectors and others. The placement of these fixtures needs to be specified in the plan.
• Plumbing: Plumbing is a very important feature while designing a house. Easy access for maintenance and repairs is important. The main elements are drain, waste, and vent material, Kitchen-sink cleanout, Shut-off valves, Laundry tub, toilet fittings, faucets and taps.
• Flooring: A wide choice of veneers, carpets, wood or laminate flooring can be applied to the manufactured flooring.
• Stairs and railings: When the Ist floor is raised, either steps or a staircase can be fitted. When two floors are present then different staircases such as straight stairs, L stairs, wraparound stairs, U stairs, stair railings and others can be fitted. Stairs can be made of wood with matching railings.
• Kitchens: This is an important area and kitchen fittings such as Kitchen cabinets, Soffits above wall cabinets, Kitchen countertops, sinks, faucets and space for cooking range and oven can be specified.
• Bathrooms: Depending on the number of rooms, family members, the number of bathrooms can be specified in the plan. Bathroom interiors such as Bath vanity, Bathroom countertops, sinks, and faucets, Medicine cabinets, mirrors, lights, Toilets, Grab bars, Tubs and showers can be specified.

Lombard (April 2006) has suggested that sustainable modular houses are very economical when compared to regular sustainable housing. In addition to being sustainable, the houses would be able to withstand winds of 300 kilometres per hour and also withstand earthquakes. The cost may not include the land cost as this may vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the site. As a ‘ballpark figure’ the following figures can be considered as a base. Actual prices may differ from time to time

Table 1. Estimated costs of Sustainable Housing (D & G, 2006).

The paper has provided the basic design elements of sustainable housing and discussed various aspects such as wastewater treatment, electricity generation through solar power, use of modular construction and provided rough cost estimates.

Code. 2007. Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical Guide. Web.

CIWMB. 2007. Sustainable Building Tool Kit. Web.

Chiras Dan. 2006. The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower. New Society Publishers. ISBN-10: 086571536X.

D & G. 2006. Modular Homes Price List. Web.

Edwards Brian. 2000. Sustainable Housing: Principles and Practice. Taylor & Francis. ISBN-10: 0419246207

Lombard Mark. 2006. Prefabricated Modular Buildings: An Architectural Revolution in Surrey. Web.

Stang Alanna. 2005. The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture. Princeton Architectural Press. ISBN-10: 1568984812.

UVA. 2008. ecoMOD3 Expands Modular, Sustainable, Affordable Housing Research. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 10). Sustainable Housing Design Advantages. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-housing-design-advantages/

"Sustainable Housing Design Advantages." IvyPanda , 10 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-housing-design-advantages/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Sustainable Housing Design Advantages'. 10 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Sustainable Housing Design Advantages." March 10, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-housing-design-advantages/.

1. IvyPanda . "Sustainable Housing Design Advantages." March 10, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-housing-design-advantages/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Sustainable Housing Design Advantages." March 10, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-housing-design-advantages/.

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• Wood Technology: Blenheim Bridge Construction
• An Introduction to Technology and Design
• Canam Log & Lumber Company Analysis
• Robyville Bridge History, Construction and Importance
• Building Design and Construction Methods
• Plywood and Sustainability in Interior Design: Interview
• Interior Design History from 1960 to 1969
• Nchoe Hotel's Room Upgrading Project
• Light and Surfaces in the Visual Environment Evaluation
• Creative Thinking and Refining Design Solutions

Green Bay Press-Gazette to relocate office to Rail Yard in the Broadway District

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Press-Gazette will be moving to a new office location after a century in its current, downtown home.

Staff this month will relocate to an office suite at 520 N. Broadway, in the Rail Yard Innovation District. Newsroom, sales center and advertising staff will operate out of the new space by the end of April. Newspaper distribution operations will move to an industrial space.

Since 1924, the Press-Gazette has been based at 435 E. Walnut St., a Gothic revival style building purpose-built for the newspaper. The Press-Gazette, created in 1915 by the combination of the Gazette and the Free Press, originally operated out of an office at 315-317 Cherry St., a site now occupied by Associated Bank.

The Press-Gazette will continue to cover the Green Bay area, attract talent and remain based in Green Bay's revitalizing central city, said Peter Frank, editor of the Press-Gazette.

"The Press-Gazette remains committed to covering the community," Frank said. "It was important to remain downtown and find the right space for our news, advertising and sales center staffs. The Rail Yard is a vibrant and growing area, and we are pleased to be joining other companies that call it home."

Green Bay-based journalists remain focused on community

The Press-Gazette office building opened in August 1924 and its completion drew an estimated 6,000 residents to tour the new, then-state-of-the-art newspaper offices. Gov. John J. Blaine was one of the first to tour the new building, according to reports at the time.

The Press-Gazette added to the building in 1937, 1955 and 1969, to bring it to the current 86,400 square feet of office and distribution space. It is considered a contributing building to the  Green Bay Downtown Historic District  added to the Wisconsin Register of Historic Places in 2018.

"It will be sad to be leave the historic Press-Gazette building, but it will not affect our news-gathering efforts," Frank said. "Our journalists live and work in the greater Green Bay community and will continue to do so."

The Press-Gazette building sold in 2017

The Press-Gazette became a tenant in its longtime home in spring 2017 when Gannett sold the Press-Gazette, Oshkosh Northwestern and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to ProVisions LLC, a Michigan-based development firm led by Murray Wikol.

The Oshkosh Northwestern building in 2021 was subsequently sold to Oshkosh native T.J. Rodgers . The Journal-Sentinel building was converted into high-end apartments that opened in 2022 along with a mix of commercial uses.

'The Green Bay Packers would not have survived without the Green Bay Press-Gazette'

The Press-Gazette would make a major impact on Green Bay five years before it moved into its new building on Walnut Street.

On Aug. 11, 1919, a group met in the second-floor editorial offices of the Press-Gazette building on Cherry Street to organize a local football team. It would be another two days, Aug. 13, 1919, before the newspaper revealed the Indian Packing Co. would sponsor the team, that it would be called the "Packers," and that home games would be played at Hagemeister Park. The paper also published a list of 38 prospective players for the team.

"It will be the strongest aggregation of pigskin chasers that has ever been gathered together in this city," the Press-Gazette proclaimed .

A second meeting, on Aug. 14, 1919, would see more than two dozen players attend. Curly Lambeau was elected captain of the team, and George Whitney Calhoun the manager.

The newspaper for decades would promote the team and the sport in Green Bay. The Press-Gazette would help run the Packers, in essence, for decades. The newspaper's offices served as the Packers' offices for years. Fans could purchase tickets at the Press-Gazette offices. When the Packers periodically faced financial struggles, the Press-Gazette would help muster community support to sustain the team.

"The Green Bay Packers would not have survived without the Green Bay Press-Gazette, no question," said Cliff Christl, noted Packers historian and former Press-Gazette sports reporter, in a video interview.

How do I contact the Press-Gazette staff with my question, news tip, complaint or advertising inquiry?

You can still reach the Press-Gazette staff by phone, email or social media the same way you do today. To find the staff member you want to contact, visit the Press-Gazette's Contact Us page. You can also send mail to us at Green Bay Press-Gazette, PO.. Box 23430, Green Bay, WI 54305

Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier .

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Chairman Green in New Op-Ed: “Senate Has a Responsibility to Conduct Mayorkas Impeachment Trial––and Convict Him”

April 4, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) published an  op-ed  in Fox News urging the Senate to conduct a trial in the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and presenting the clear, comprehensive, and compelling evidence to support his conviction and removal from office.

In February , the House of Representatives voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for high crimes and misdemeanors, specifically for his willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of the public trust. The House will officially transmit the articles to the Senate on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

Chairman Green is calling on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to fulfill his responsibility to the American people and conduct a fair and comprehensive trial without delay. In every previous instance of impeachment, the Senate has conducted a trial, except for three cases in which the impeached official resigned in order to avoid a trial, and one case in which the House was found to not have jurisdiction. Read the full op-ed  here  and below.

Read the recent letter sent to Leader Schumer by Chairman Green, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), and all House impeachment managers  here .

Senate has a responsibility to conduct Mayorkas impeachment trial––and convict him Fox News Chairman Mark Green April 4, 2024   In February, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for high crimes and misdemeanors. We found that Secretary Mayorkas had willfully and systemically refused to comply with immigration laws and breached the public trust in his handling of the unprecedented crisis at America’s borders.   Prior to this vote, the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted a nearly year-long investigation into the crisis and produced a compelling body of evidence, rendering the House impeachment vote necessary. The seriousness of the charges should compel the Senate to perform its constitutional duty, conduct a full impeachment trial, convict Secretary Mayorkas, and ultimately remove him from office.   Secretary Mayorkas has refused to comply with the law. He is bound by the Immigration and Nationality Act to detain inadmissible aliens arriving at the border. He has refused to follow that clear command, however, instead directing the release of millions of inadmissible aliens into the United States. The deputy chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector recently told my Committee during an official interview that “between 65 to 70 percent” of total encounters in his sector since January 2021 had been released. Jason Owens, now chief of the Border Patrol, told the Committee in May 2023 that more people are being released to await their immigration hearings “than I have seen in my career.” The secretary himself admitted earlier this year that roughly 85 percent of migrants were being released instead of detained.    Secretary Mayorkas has also abused his very limited statutory parole authority that allows him to grant parole only on a case-by-case and temporary basis. Instead, he has overseen more than 1.7 million paroles in just three years, in part by creating categorical mass-parole programs contrary to the clear text of the law. Doris Meissner, commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service under President Clinton, said last year that his use of parole is “unprecedented.”    Secretary Mayorkas has also misled Congress on multiple occasions, claiming to have operational control of the border as defined by federal statute and claiming the border is “no less secure than it was previously,” among others.    Despite the disastrous consequences of Secretary Mayorkas’ impeachable conduct, the Senate has failed to take meaningful action. Since last May, H.R. 2, the “Secure the Border Act,” has languished in the chamber. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer refuses to take up the measure. Instead, a handful of senators negotiated an ill-fated proposal filled with provisions that experts argue would have effectively legitimized crisis levels of illegal immigration and failed to eliminate the perverse incentives created by Secretary Mayorkas. Subsequent backlash to the proposal led to the Senate rejecting it on a bipartisan basis.   Senate Democrats have failed to meet the moment when it comes to ending this crisis and resolving the chaos at our borders. Conducting an impeachment trial represents a unique opportunity to correct course.    For the first time in American history, the House has impeached a sitting Cabinet secretary. This impeachment transcends policy differences—it is about the executive branch’s intentional refusal to respect the separation of powers and the rule of law. Congress must make clear to the executive branch that it will not tolerate such blatant disregard for the laws written by this body, especially when such defiance results in the consequences our investigation documented.     In every previous instance in which the Senate has had the opportunity to conduct an impeachment trial, it has done so. Dismissing a trial in one form or another would be not only an abdication of the Senate’s constitutional responsibility to take this matter seriously, but an affront to the millions of Americans suffering from the fallout of the ongoing crisis.    Every state has been affected by the rising fentanyl epidemic, fueled by the spike in drugs flowing across the Southwest border. More criminal aliens and individuals on the terrorist watchlist are entering the United States than ever before. Every day, we see reports of astronomical costs to communities across the country forced to deal with surges of migrants into their jurisdictions.    Fully holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable for his unlawful actions is another vital step toward ending this ongoing crisis.   Leader Schumer has no excuse—hold the trial, render a verdict, and hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable. 

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Final Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3

• 42 U.S.C. §7401 - 7671q
• 40 CFR Parts 86, 1036, 1037, 1039, 1054, 1065
• EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985

On this page:

Rule summary, rule history, additional resources.

• Regulations for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Trucks & Buses
• Regulations for Smog, Soot, and Other Air Pollution from Commercial Trucks & Buses

Para información en español, haga clic aquí .

On March 29, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” that sets stronger standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) vehicles beginning in model year (MY) 2027. The new standards will be applicable to HD vocational vehicles (such as delivery trucks, refuse haulers, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, school buses, etc.) and tractors (such as day cabs and sleeper cabs on tractor-trailer trucks).

The final “Phase 3” standards build on EPA’s Heavy-Duty Phase 2 program from 2016 and maintain that program’s flexible structure, which is designed to reflect the diverse nature of the heavy-duty vehicle industry. The standards are technology-neutral and performance-based, allowing each manufacturer to choose what set of emissions control technologies is best suited for them and the needs of their customers.

• Final Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles -Phase 3 (pdf) (8.5 MB, pre-publication, signed March 2024)
• Proposed Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3
• Fact Sheet: Final Standards to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles for Model Year 2027 and Beyond (pdf) (185.2 KB, March 2024, EPA-420-F-24-018)
• Fact sheet in Spanish: Normas finales para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de los vehículos pesados modelos del año 2027 y posteriores (pdf) (191.6 KB, March 2024, EPA-420-F-24-019)
• Regulatory Impact Analysis: Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards Regulatory Impact Analysis (pdf) (14.2 MB, March 2024, EPA-420-R-24-006)
• Response to Comments: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Phase 3 (pdf) (16 MB, March 2024, EPA-420-R-24-007)
• Redline Version of EPA’s Final Regulation for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Phase 3 (pdf) (6.5 MB, April 2024)
• Regulations for Emissions from Vehicles and Engines Home
• Greenhouse Gas

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USCIS Increases Automatic Extension of Certain Employment Authorization Documents to Improve Access to Work Permits

WASHINGTON — Building on extensive modernization efforts that have streamlined and improved access to work permits for eligible noncitizens, USCIS today announced a  temporary final rule (TFR) to increase the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. This announcement follows improvements that have reduced processing times for EADs significantly over the past year.

The temporary measure announced today will prevent already work-authorized noncitizens from having their employment authorization and documentation lapse while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate their pending EAD renewal applications and better ensure continuity of operations for U.S. employers. This is the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to get work-authorized individuals into the workforce, supporting the economies where they live.

“Over the last year, the USCIS workforce reduced processing times for most EAD categories, supporting an overall goal to improve work access to eligible individuals.  However, we also received a record number of employment authorization applications, impacting our renewal mechanisms,” said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. “Temporarily lengthening the existing automatic extension up to 540 days will avoid lapses in employment authorizations. At the same time, this rule provides DHS with an additional window to consider long-term solutions by soliciting public comments, and identifying new strategies to ensure those noncitizens eligible for employment authorization can maintain that benefit.”

This TFR aligns with an ongoing effort at USCIS to support employment authorized individuals’ access to work. USCIS has reduced EAD processing times overall and streamlined adjudication processing, including:

• Reducing by half EAD processing times of individuals with pending green card applications from FY2021 to date,
• Processing a record number of EAD applications in the past year, outpacing prior years,
• Engaging with communities to educate work-eligible individuals who were not accessing the process and provide on-the-ground intake support of applications,
• Reducing processing time for EADs for asylum applicants and certain parolees to less than or equal to 30-day median,
• Extending EAD validity period for certain categories from 2 years to 5 years,
• Streamlining the process for refugee EADs, and
• Expanding online filing for EADs to asylum applications and parolees.

This temporary measure will apply to eligible applicants who timely and properly filed an EAD renewal application on or after Oct. 27, 2023, if the application is still pending on the date of publication in the Federal Register. The temporary final rule will also apply to eligible EAD renewal applicants who timely and properly file their Form I-765 application during a 540-day period that begins with the rule’s publication in the Federal Register.

Absent this measure, nearly 800,000 EAD renewal applicants – including those eligible for employment authorization as asylees or asylum applicants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants or recipients, and green card applicants – would be in danger of experiencing a lapse in their employment authorization, and approximately 60,000 to 80,000 employers would be negatively impacted as a result of such a lapse. EADs are generally valid for the length of the authorized parole period. This TFR does not extend the length of parole.

Since May 12, 2023 to March 13, 2024, DHS has removed or returned over 617,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom crossed the Southwest Border, including more than 97,000 individual family members. The majority of all individuals encountered at the southwest border over the past three years have been removed, returned, or expelled. Total removals and returns since mid-May exceed removals and returns in every full fiscal year since 2011.

As part of this temporary final rule, USCIS is soliciting feedback from the public that would inform potential future regulatory action. For more information, visit our  Automatic Employment Authorization Document Extension page .

For more information about USCIS, please visit  uscis.gov  or follow us on  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  YouTube ,  Facebook , and  LinkedIn .