Sustainable Design technology for buildings (as well as many other industries) is mature and undergoing vast implementation. While new technologies will keep getting developed, it’s widely felt, and I agree, that as humanity, we do possess the technology capable of delivering global sustainability. While emphasis on development of new technologies is important, we need to understand how well we are doing with the technology presently at our disposal.
In this context I have a growing realisation that the delivered sustainability related performance never really matches up with our design expectations. I feel that the reasons for this maybe hidden in the way we think. A couple of issues stand out in my mind.
a) Complexity vs. Simplicity
Our designs are becoming more and more complex due on the high level of performance and multiple criteria of performance we seek. Thus in essence the house today performs the same function as 100’s of years back but the level of complexity of its design has gone up. Hundreds of parts are required to make it deliver the comfort we require today. Greater the number of parts, means greater the chance of some breaking down. Even running the house will soon require a computer!
Interestingly the revolution in digital CAD technologies is adding another layer of complexity to buildings. While the spirit of experimentation is valuable, its impact on services, materials and maintenance is huge and presently not fully understood. There is an efficiency in simplicity that must not be forgotten.
b) Disconnectedness Vs Inter-connectedness
A lot of the actual design decisions are taken based on a few visible, but disconnected parameters. Short term cost and aesthetics generally rule the discussion. While interdisciplinary team meetings are becoming more popular, there are no usable and agreed thinking methodologies that come to the aid designers. Major decisions, if not all decisions, should be evaluated in the knowledge of their interconnectedness to other issues.
For example, consider that a question like how many windows be opened in a particular external wall, effects the thermal, solar, ventilation, indoor air quality, noise, structural loading, and comfort of the space apart from aesthetic and light. In fact there may be a need to question, should we open a window at all on this wall and if yes then what is the impact on the rest?
Satellite Image of Lena River Delta . Source Wikipedia
c)Limited Knowledge Vs Complete Understanding
I have noticed certain over confidence in present status of understanding and technology. Our understanding of the earth as a system is growing; however it’s no where close to warrant, us tinkering with its systems. Hence reducing the impact to minimum is a better strategy rather than saying in lieu of a certain avoidable impact we will compensate with so and so measures of protection elsewhere. This type of thinking is encouraged by the point based structure of our building rating systems and also by unproven scientific concepts easily available online.
We need to accept that since our understanding is incomplete, our best bet is to support earth systems and embed our designs inside them.
I feel if we can check the way we think and evaluate design decisions will enable us to deliver sustainability.
Author: Harsh Thapar ( architect. environmentalist. sustainability expert)