Sustainable design and use of environmentally friendly materials,
Have you seen pictures of futuristic cities with flying cars, clean streets and cool tall buildings?
Many cities suffer from overcrowded streets, increased air pollution, and problems with affordable housing.
But there is a way for cities to become the fantastic futuristic places we used to dream about.
By using sustainable design, cities can ensure that they improve the quality of life of current and future residents.
It may not include flying cars (yet) but it does mean that cities can be planned for future generations. Let’s take a look at how it’s possible, the principles, and more.
Definition of sustainable design
Urban sustainability is a method of city planning that improves social, economic and environmental conditions to ensure the quality of life and well-being of current and future residents.
Sustainable designs are the concepts, plans and methods of implementing urban sustainability.
The need for sustainable design arises from the pressures on cities through urban growth and the effects of climate change.
Cities are experiencing population growth due to rural-urban migration and natural increase.
Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from rural areas to urban centers with increased access to jobs and services, while natural increase is a higher birth rate than death.
Benefits of sustainable design
The benefits of sustainable design include reducing carbon emissions, building cities that are resilient to shocks to the environment, economy, or society, and creating new opportunities for cities to grow.
Some cities that have moved to sustainable design models have seen a decrease in air pollution, an increase in land value (particularly around public transport stops), and increased opportunities for social participation.
However, each city faces different challenges in implementing sustainable design, and this can be due to a combination of factors from political, economic and social interests that oppose the changes,
Such as the geographical location of the city, or the lack of funding and expertise to achieve this.
Public participation is a critical first step in the city design process.
In particular, sustainable design must take into account the interests of the residents in the city to successfully
target and achieve its objectives.
Environmentally friendly building materials
With the inevitable increase in housing crises and global climate change, it is more necessary than ever to reduce our energy consumption and choose building materials wisely.
Environmentally friendly building materials are a kind of materials that do not harm the environment, whether in production, use or disposal and can be easily recycled.
And the use of environmentally friendly materials is very beneficial in the long run, as building a green home significantly reduces carbon emissions and saves energy, which leads to saving money on energy bills.
The most environmentally friendly building materials:
recycled steel
Recycled steel is a kind of material that does not lose its properties when recycled.
Did you know that steel is the most recycled material in the world?
More steel is recycled annually than plastic, paper, aluminum and glass combined.
Its benefits:
By using recycled steel in the construction process, you know for a fact that it will be strong and durable, and it’s a huge energy cost savings too.
sheep’s wool;
Sheep’s wool is an all-natural, eco-friendly material that can regrow quickly, and the wool is popular for its use in warm blankets and warm sweaters.
But it also makes a great home insulator, as its fibers form millions of tiny air pockets that trap air.
Usually, you can see wool embedded in ceilings, walls, or attics.
Its benefits:
Easy to source, and it is excellent energy-saving material.
Reclaimed, recycled or sustainable wood
It is probably one of the most used types of building materials, and for a reason.
It’s aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and feels like nature indoors.
Reclaimed or recycled wood has a much lower environmental impact than harvesting new wood.
However, if you are sourcing fresh wood, it is essential that you get it from a sustainably managed forest.
Besides its use in home construction, it is also an excellent material for natural looking floors or exposed beams.
No wonder it has become one of the most used battlements in eco-friendly architecture.
Its benefits:
Being surrounded by a natural material such as wood greatly increases the overall well-being.
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