Built, Natural and Earth.
I was inspired by the colors of my own blog site to write an article on the most common topic these days in the built environment. Everyone talks about how any project that is proposed will help in keeping the environment safe, about being eco friendly, about using sustainable materials and a lot more.
Being Green is easy in our day to day lifestyle. But how do we and how can we help in being green in architecture. Being Eco friendly in architecture is being in harmony with nature by taking measurements on ecological grounds such as concerns with location, site and orientation.
In the built environment, going green should begin by been environmentally conscious in design techniques, styles and by saving energy at each phase of construction from the beginning of extraction to transportation of goods, usage of sustainable products, to the process of assembling and finally the ease of recycling and reusing at the end of the building life. Saving energy can be implemented in the maintenance of a building and its uses too, such as lighting, heating, cooling and many more. This can be done by increasing the ability of a building to generate its own energy.
Today technology plays a huge role in helping us to maintain or provide an eco friendly environment. The various types of technologies that have risen in the built environment are inexplicable but significant savings can be achieved by passive energy systems such as natural ventilation and winter solar heat gain.
Renewable energy is created from natural resources such as sunlight for solar energy, wind for wind power, water for hydro power and more. Other common ways of creating renewable energy is by recycling and reusing.
The development of Eco-Architecture is rising because natural resources are becoming extinct especially fossil fuels and also because nature has to be kept balanced and preserved. Eco-Architecture is helping in providing creative solutions instead of using mechanical systems that are problems of discomfort to nature.
Green Architecture generally uses sustainable materials such as wood, tiles and brick that are either second hand, recycled or found nearby. When new materials are used, the main focus is on materials that can be reproduced and harvested with minimum impact on the environment. In structures, saving or reducing energy can be optimized by using insulated door, windows and walls. Big, open windows can increase natural light and air to the space. Outdoors, using packed gravel on driveway and parking lots instead of concrete can replenish on water resources. These are a few examples on sustainable materials that maybe used in Eco-Architecture.
There are many eco-friendly architectural structures around the world. For example: In Sri Lanka the Kandalama Hotel design by Architect Geoffrey Bawa has won many awards for been the most eco-friendly hotel in the world. The upcoming Dynamic Rotating Tower in Dubai designed by Dr. David Fischer will generate its own power because it will have wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor making it a true green power plant. 
In conclusion, Eco-Architecture or being Green helps in making better use for resources such as water and energy. It helps in causing minimal impact on the environment, helps focus on renewable energy and promotes natural air circulation and use of natural light. And finally it helps to create a better environment for man on earth, for us!
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