Tag: adtopic-2020-climate-crisis | ArchDaily

How Could a House Work in a Post Climate Change Scenario?

José Tomás Franco — Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Climatic conditions are changing around the world, and with more extreme temperatures and limited resources, architectural and urban solutions must also change. How could our homes look and function effectively in a post-climate change scenario? Analyzing in detail the forecasts of these climatic variations, the architects of W-LAB have developed a Low-Tech habitat proposal for humid, hot, and arid climates, incorporating bio-materials, transportable solutions, and configurations that promote life in small and resilient communities.

Embodied Energy in Building Materials: What it is and How to Calculate It

Eduardo Souza — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

All human activities affect the environment. Some are less impactful, some much, much more. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the construction sector is responsible for up to 30% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Activities such as mining, processing, transportation, industrial operations, and the combination of chemical products result in the release of gases such as CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, halocarbons, and water vapor. When these gases are released into the atmosphere, they absorb a portion of the sun's rays and redistribute them in the form of radiation in the atmosphere, warming our planet. With a rampant amount of gas released daily, this layer thickens, which causes solar radiation to enter and and stay in the planet. Today, this 'layer' has become so thick that mankind is beginning to experience severe consequence, such as desertification, ice melting, water scarcity, and the intensification of storms, hurricanes, and floods, which has modified ecosystems and reduced biodiversity.

How Can Architecture Combat Flooding? 9 Practical Solutions

Lilly Cao — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Flooding is a significant problem for buildings all around the world, including architectural treasures like the Farnsworth House that have been plagued by the issue time and time again. In particular, one-third of the entire continental U.S. are at risk of flooding this spring, especially the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and Deep South. In April of 2019, deadly floods decimated parts of Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Iran as well, resulting in a low estimate of 1,000 deaths while tens of thousands more were displaced. While architecture cannot solve or even fully protect from the most deadly floods, it is possible – and necessary – to take several protective measures that could mitigate damage and consequently save lives.

Why Should We Invest in Mitigation Instead of Reconstruction? Chile's Resiliency is a Good Example

Nicolás Valencia — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Chile is a country used to natural disasters as much as to the reconstruction process. However, the frequency of these cycles has increased over the years. According to the Ministry of Interior (Homeland), 43% of all natural disasters recorded in Chile since 1960 happened between 2014 and 2017. In fact, the government is already involved in several reconstruction processes across the country.

White Paint Can Cool Down Our Heating Cities

Daniela Porto — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 04:00:00 +0000

The climate has changed, and we have been left grappling with the consequences: high temperatures, flooding, drought and much more. As the world shifts (or tries to shift) to ways to mitigate the crisis, the architecture and construction industry finds itself in a particularly important position whose choices can create real impact. Some of these choices can include innovative products that offer real solutions to complex problems, such as the cooling down of temperatures in highly dense cities.

The Facts about Architecture and Climate Change

Niall Patrick Walsh — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The "Climate Emergency" continues to embody a renewed worldwide focus on tackling climate change. While there is no "one solution" to the multifaceted challenges brought about by this crisis, there is an onus on every citizen, in both a personal and professional capacity, to apply their skills and actions in addressing the profound pressures on the natural world.

Architecture and Climate: 6 Techniques for Emergency Shelters

Susanna Moreira — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:30:00 +0000

According to data from CRED (Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters) and UNISDR (UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction), in a report released in 2016, the number of disasters related to the climate change has duplicated in the last forty years. The need for temporary shelters for homeless people is, as well as an effect of the climate crisis, is also one of the consequences of the disorderly growth of cities, which leads to a significant part of the world population living in vulnerable conditions due to disasters.

Is It Possible To Turn Plastic Waste Into Affordable Housing?

Lilly Cao — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:30:00 +0000

For decades, companies have relied on disposable plastic packaging to bag and contain products worldwide. Today, the staggering detrimental effects of this plastic dependence are well-known: since the 1950’s, over 9 billion tons of plastic have been produced, only 9% of which was recycled; around the world, one million plastic bottles are bought every minute and two million plastic bags are used every minute; and per the Plastic Pollution Coalition, by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight. Moreover, plastic is a petroleum product, and its production only further contributes to the devastating climate effects of mass fossil fuel use.

Not All Parks Should be Green: 10 Tips to Design Landscape Infrastructure

Nicolás Valencia — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 07:30:00 +0000

Does it make sense to design green parks in desert cities such as Casablanca, Dubai, or Lima? Ostensibly it does because they contribute freshness and greenness to the urban environment. In exchange, however, they disrupt native local ecosystems, incur high maintenance bills, and begin a constant struggle to ensure water availability.

What is Sustainability Anyway?

Dima Stouhi — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 03:30:00 +0000

“Sustainability is like teenage sex. Everybody says they’re doing it, very few people are actually doing it. Those who are doing it, are doing it badly," once Joseph Romm said.

Edward Mazria With Some Good News About Combating Climate Change

Martin Pedersen — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 03:30:00 +0000

The news about real action on climate change tends to track toward the gloomy. It is easy to despair, given the severity of the problem and the time left to properly address it. But there is progress being made in the built environment—just not nearly fast enough to offset emissions elsewhere. In recent years the sector has added billions of square feet of new buildings, but seen energy consumption for the entire sector actually decline. A good chunk of the credit for that accomplishment can go to architect Edward Mazria and his dogged advocacy organization, Architecture2030. Mazria and his team, along with collaborators all over the world, keep doing the unglamorous work of revising building codes, working with mayors, governors, elected officials in Washington (and officials in China), forging new alliances, all while deftly working around the climate obstructionists currently occupying the White House. Recently I talked to Mazria, who spoke from his home in New Mexico, about his take on where we stand. Some of the news, alas, is pretty good.

Urgent Issue: 10 Strategies to Decarbonize Architecture

Lilly Cao — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 06:35:00 +0000

The concept of “decarbonization” has been in vogue recently in political speeches and global environmental events, but it has not yet gained enough attention in the field of architecture to profoundly change the way we design and construct the world of tomorrow. Buildings are currently responsible for 33% of global energy consumption and 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, indicating that architects must play a significant role if we are to stop or reverse climate change. With carbon acting as a universally agreed upon metric with which the greenhouse gas emissions of a building can be tracked [1], one of the most important ways through which this goal can be achieved is therefore the decarbonization of buildings.

Dr. Strangelove’s Strange Environmental Lesson for Architects

Christopher L. Cosper — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 03:30:00 +0000

This article was originally published on Common Edge.

How Are Construction Materials Produced and How Does This Contribute to the Climate Crisis? Our Readers Answered

Fabian Dejtiar — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 11:00:00 +0000

How does architecture contribute to the current climate crisis?

From Australia to AEC Industry Action

Marcel Harmon — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Unless you’re living in a news or social media bubble, it’s unlikely you’ve missed seeing the devastating effects Australia’s climate change exacerbated wildfires and drought have had on the continent. One of the images that still sticks with me is that of the young boy, mask over his face, steering his family’s boat as they flee a large bushfire – flames and smoke enveloping the entire scene within an apocalyptic reddish-orange glow.

Can Architecture Solve Our Crises?

Ben Willis — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 07:30:00 +0000

It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either.” —Rabbi Tarfon

If Plan A is to Mitigate Climate Change, What’s Plan B?

Martin C. Pedersen, Steven Bingler — Sat, 29 Feb 2020 07:35:00 +0000

This article was originally published on Washington Post, courtesy of Common Edge.

People Power: 19 Public Buildings that Generate Renewable Energy

Julia Daudén — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The global climate crisis is one that requires discussion in many areas of life, from planning for containment to the prevention of consequences. One of the main factors in this debate involves our means of energy production that, historically, were responsible for severe damage to the environment. This was due to the lack of concern to seek renewable and sustainable sources to generate electricity, and also the lack of technology. In general, traditional methods of electrical energy are ones that produce waste, release atmospheric and water pollutants, and use non-renewable resources.