Build them green: Eco-friendly Buildings from All Over the World
At the risk of sounding like a heroine in a sappy war movie, “We are running out of water, air and land darling!” Yep, as dramatic as that sounds, it’s a real worry in the world now. We have used to up too much of the resources and now are facing dire consequences in near future a.k.a global warming, depleting energy sources, land and water resources, pollution in the air etc. Looking at how talks on environment have failed, it is high time to step up our own efforts at saving our home. And what better way to start then with making homes that are eco-friendly?
Quite a number of buildings being commissioned are amazing, even without being eco-friendly. These new structures are going to be self sufficient, run on renewable power, recycle and use resources efficiently and have other such feature. Let’s look a few unique architectures that are out there and earning their eco-friendly tag to the world.
CH2, Melbourne
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Council House 2 is a landmark in itself, even without its green tag. Centrally located, the 10-storey building has six Green Stars (from the Green Building Council of Australia ) to its credit and cost a whopping 50 million Australian Dollars to build. But it’s got a lot to show for! Because of its eco-friendly features (compared to a traditional office building of its scale) CH2 cuts down C02 emissions by 87%; electricity usage by 82%; gas usage by 87% and water usage by 72%.
So how does this innocuous building do all that? First, it has super cool features that allow it to use the air, water and sun to control the environment inside the building, rather then the current practice of air conditioning in conventional buildings. The building even has different operating modes for summer and winter and even day and night. So in summer, the western part of the building is shaded by design to keep it cooler, while in winter the design allows enough warmth and sunlight to flood the building to give it natural heat. The roof has a garden, as well and solar panels charge the cells that power the building and the ventilation systems that control natural airflow inside the building. The windows are opened at night to purge the building of the hot air, which reduces the need for additional cooling. The building materials used are recyclable and the fact that all its indoor plants are healthy bears testament to the building’s eco-friendliness.
30 The Bond, Sydney
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Australia can boast of having a 5 star ABGR-rated (Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme) green building as well, thanks to 30 The Bond in Sydney. Built in a smaller scale then the CH2, this headquarters of the Lend Lease features chilled beams for cooling, external shades to control heat and sun rays, and rooftop gardens. As a result, the building cuts down 30% on CO2 emission.
BMW Welt, Munich
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The BMW Welt building in Munich is just as sleek and good looking at one its cars. The building is solar-heated and naturally ventilated, taking away the need for artificial cooling and heating. The unique conical design of the building actually creates air currents and wind pressure, which is then channeled by individually controlled vents. This method is used to clear the air in the actual car manufacturing area of all exhaust fumes. The intricate system measures the quantity of the exhaust fumes and balances the fresh air intake accordingly.
Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
A library is always a good thing in any community. An eco-friendly library is, of course, a rarity and a matter of pride. The Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas has a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum rating, which means it’s especially eco-friendly. It features a rooftop garden that absorbs CO2 emissions, catches rainwater to water plants and has a highly efficient cooling and heating system. Considering this was done on a revamp of the old building, there is still more to be expected of this innovative building.
Kurilpa Bridge, Brisbane
Being green is not limited to just buildings and living spaces. The Kurilpa Bridge across the Brisbane River, which is the longest foot bridge in the world, is lit up entirely using solar power.
Howe Dell primary school, Hatfield UK
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Howe Dell primary school in Hatfield, UK has the distinction of being one of the greenest buildings in UK. And what better place to start then in a school where the green ideals can be instilled in young minds! Rooftop gardens, rainwater recycling, IHT system and recycled building materials – this structure has it all.
The school building boasts of a first of its kind – the IHT system which stands for Interseasonal Heat Transfer. The tarmac playground absorbs heat from the sun in summer and is stored underground to be released in winter for heating the school. They key to this amazing technology is a system of water pipes used throughout the structure.
The school took eight years and quite a lot of pound sterling to build, but according to the Council it’s worth every penny. The building boasts of solar panels, photovoltaic panels, skylights for natural light, and insulated walls and windows that keep heat loss to a minimum and reduces the heating bill.
There are of course a horde of other would-be’s that will compete for the coveted Green ratings in another few years. These include the Cor in Miami, Bank of America Tower in New York, India Tower in Mumbai, Burj al-Taqa in UAE, Civic Tower & Transbay Tower in San Francisco, Masdar, DuBiotech & Vertical Village in Dubai, Khanty Mansiysk Tower in Siberia, Crystal Island in Moscow etc. Looks like for all these eco-friendly buildings, cutting edge means back to the nature.
By Maria Belgado
For more about green architectures around the world, check the links below
CH2: How the Building Works
15 of The Greenest Buildings in The World
Manitoba Hydro Unveils Final Design for Energy Efficient HQ
Too cool for school: Britain’s most eco-friendly building
Eco Towers for Hamburg by Greeen! Architects
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Tags: eco-architecture, green architecture, green buildings, top green buildings
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Great looking buildings. What I hope is that good quality, affordable housing will also be made with environmental concerns in mind. Eco-housing designs should also save on utilities bills and not have a too high price tag to begin with. Public housing should definitely be made this way as well, as it is already in some places.