A carbon-neutral building defines by its ability to reduce energy consumption significantly. Therefore that combined with the low dependence on carbon energy sources to meet. Which reaming demands in other words it is a self-sustained building. Isn’t it wonderful? Not only it’s saving the environment but also improving our living conditions.
What is carbon neutral architecture?
A country’s profile shape by the construction industries and the marvelous buildings built under them. But the harsh truth is that all the buildings have a “carbon footprint”. A building’s carbon footprint is defined by the amount of co2 (carbon dioxide) it produces during its operation and activities. The co2 released is harmful to the environment as it is responsible for global warming. To ensure that the building design does not harm the environment. And has the smallest negative impact possible on the environment, we must educate ourselves, as well as clients and consultants. An architect’s main goal should be to achieve long-term value through architecture.
Designing for carbon neural building
To design a carbon-neutral building initiative should be made to include passive design strategies such as daylighting, natural ventilation, and solar energy. To protect the interior of the building from the harsh environment. The high-performance building envelope should be designed. Which is a perfect solution to resist air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer. Spaces should have energy-efficient HVAC systems along with lightning and appliances as these also contribute to the carbon footprint. Installation of onsite renewable energy like solar plants is mandatory to reduce the dependence on non-renewable energy.
What contributes to a building’s carbon footprint?
Many factors contribute to a building’s carbon footprint, some of them are obvious and some of them are not quite obvious. The building survives on natural recourses like fossil fuels. And to compensate for this requirement alternative methods are using with the help of renewable resources. For so long we have focused on fossil fuel-based energy’s impacts on global warming. However, now it understands that by 2050 the embodied carbon of materials in buildings will account for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. The construction materials such as concrete, steel, and aluminum associate with carbon emissions. The embodied carbon is responsible for all the processes from extracting the materials, producing, installing, and transporting materials for the purpose of construction.
Also, Read: Top 5 Examples of Sustainability in modern architecture forms in the world
Examples of Carbon Neutral Architecture
1. Hotel Bauhofstrasse
The hotel Bahnhofstrasse is a hotel in Ludwigsburg, Germany. It’s designed by a German architecture studio name von m and accomplishes a carbon-neutral hotel. That is designed with the help of wooden modules clad in white shingles. According to the studio, the city’s planning department made it essential for the hotel to become a showcase project as the 1st co2 neutral building in Ludwigsburg.
The materials used for this building were mainly wood modules but only the building’s base and staircase made of concert. The entire load-bearing structure also made of wood. All the materials ordered locally and the modules were connected in a time span of 5 days on-site.
Interior
Computer-controlled cut modules are similar to container-like modules assembled in the form of walls, floor, and ceilings of the rooms. Also, they were factory-made. The interior of the building has exposed concrete surfaces and unpainted cross-laminated tinder boards.
The hotel has 55 guest rooms decorated in neutral colors like beige and sheer white curtains and grey carpet.
2. The Floating Office Rotterdam
The floating office Rotterdam design by the Dutch architect’s powerhouse company in Rotterdam for the golden center on adaptation that will be carbon neutral. However, the office said to anchor at the Rijnhaven port on the mass river as an example of “climate-resilient office design”. So if the water level increases due to floods then the office will float. The complete structure is making up of timbre, has solar panels on the roof. And also a water-based heat exchange system installed so that it can ensure that it self-sufficient and carbon neutral in operation.
To keep the building cool the roof will be covered with vegetation. A lot of importance given to human comfort. And they have tried to set an example of economic sense as building like the floating office is not only a solution to tackle climate change but to how naturally it can adapt with nature as well.
Also, Read: 10 Plants for vertical Building Facades of India.
3. Paradise example of Carbon Neutral Architecture
The paradise building designed by UK based architecture studio named Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. However, the building has six stories and constructed with cross-laminated timber, which will be carbon negative. The timber-framed building contains 5,500 square meters of office space. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios calculated that the concealed carbon contained in the timber is sufficient to make up for the carbon emissions generated during the construction process as well as the first 60 years of the building’s operation.
4. Powerhouse Telemark
The powerhouse telemark building designed by Snohetta in the city of Porsgrunn, Norway. This building designed to produce more energy than it will consume over its lifespan. Also, the building is densely insulating and has a large photovoltaic canopy covering its angular roof. And the south-facing façade generates about 256,000 kilowatts of energy each year. The angular roof helps in maximizing the amount of solar energy the photovoltaic can harvest and creates a light-filled space inside.
For maximum insulation, the building is clad with a mix of wooden panels. That provides solar shading and Cembrit façade panels (a large fiber cement sheet). The Cembrit panels reserve thermal heat during the day and slowly emit heat during the evening. However, this helps to passively heat and cool the building, in association with a system that uses geothermal wells dug 350 meters below ground. According to Snohetta, the building built in response to “climate change”. Also the building industry’s contribution to global carbon emissions, along with the goal of offering a “sustainable model for future of workspace”.
5. Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology example of Carbon Neutral Architecture
Being the first of its kind the A-Block building expansion of an educational firm. Which design by an architectural firm named dialog in Scarborough. Which is about a 20 min drive from downtown Toronto. Also, the whole building design with cross-laminated timber, being engineered wood made from laminated timber sections, using locally sourced Canadian timber. In addition, to make the building carbon negative, photovoltaic solar panels are installed on its roof and produce enough energy on-site being one of the first-ever mass timber, net-zero carbon, higher-education facility.
Also Read: “Every patient a window” Ng Teng Fong and Jurong Community Hospital, Singapore
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