Sustainability_Project

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1-Accumulation of toxic gases in the atmosphere. 2. Indiscriminate felling of trees in large forests. 3. Contamination of waters, rivers, lakes and seas. 4. Summarizing, Irrational exploitation of resources.

These are causes of the deterioration of our planet earth, and consequently, global warming.

It is no secret that the world is going through a very difficult moment from the point of view of global warming. This is caused by the pollution produced by our daily activities and lifestyles based on old models of production.

Many areas of knowledge have been dedicated to look for ways to return to a healthy planet, and the design area isn´t an exception.

Sustainable Design is the conscious use of recyclables and non-contaminable materials, it means to have respect for the environment at the time of constructing buildings and to recycle a lot of material to turn it into its original state or to create new objects.

Architecture and Urban Planning are related to sustainability. In architecture, the goal is the creation of buildings which are capable of generating their own energy and reduce the consumption of water and energy with the use of natural light and effective systems for heating and cooling. In Urban Planning, the purpose is the reduction of pollution generated by cars, buildings and factories.

There are some principles that determine sustainable design: Low-impact materials, Energy efficiency and Quality and durability. Each one allows the creation of ecological patterns to create designs environmentally friendly.

A green building is an environmentally sustainable building, designed, constructed and operated to minimize the total environmental impacts.

Well designed green buildings will save money, increase comfort and create healthier environments for people to live and work, using improved indoor air quality, natural daylight, and thermal comfort.

Energy use by depleting natural resources as well as CO2 emissions is one of our most important environmental impacts. Volatile energy markets, rising energy costs and increasing environmental awareness about issues such as global warming make energy efficiency and conservation a high priority.

Beitou Public Library

The first green building in Taiwan, the architecture housing the Beitou Public Library has been awarded as the candidate for the Green Building’s Nine Indicators Certificate from Ministry of the Interior based on its outstanding sustainable design. Through the persistent effort of the design team, the library architecture integrated natural view and Beitou hot spring into the overall design. Its design also features the high and low windows in elevated mezzanine, allowing the circulation of 'floating air current,' which will keep the interior temperature down via the air exchanger. Other noteworthy characteristics include the deep balcony that will keep the sun sway; vertical wooden railings to absorb the heat wave and reduce the power usage; the light weight ecological roof powered by solar energy that will consume only 20% of the energy during a midsummer day.

Nowadays is necessary to adopt new mechanisms of production and reusing of material used to reduce waste that damages the environment. By becoming aware of this new lifestyle, we not only improve our unfolding every day, also, we give back to our planet the healthy condition it had a while ago.