How can we analyze the environmental impact of buildings? What strategies could be developed to improve people's quality of life and achieve a harmonious relationship with the environment? Year after year, more questions are added to the design decision-making process of thousands of architects around the world. They seek to take action and implement policies that improve the environmental performance of their buildings, reducing energy and resource consumption while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions and waste production.
On this path toward sustainable architecture, a major challenge arises: according to the World Green Building Council, buildings and the construction industry as a whole are responsible for 36% of energy consumption, 38% of energy-related carbon emissions, and 50% of global resource consumption. This footprint is estimated to double by the year 2060.
