The Importance Of Sustainable Architecture

In a country like India which is a developing country and planning smart cities and having several different development projects on the line. Essentially, meeting this specific need requires the expertise of building professionals among which the architect is, in many occasions, the prime consultant. Therefore, Sustainable architecture becomes an important aspect in such conditions where development needs to be carried out with keeping in mind all the environmental conditions and developing along with the thought in mind of preserving the environment and minimizing the use of non-renewable natural resources and minimize toxic materials in construction. Sustainable architecture involves a combination of values aesthetic, environmental, social,

• Optimizing Use of the Sun

“Most of us rely on oil, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels to heat and cool our homes. Not only are these resources expensive and polluting, they are also being rapidly depleted. A simple and cost-effective alternative is to plug your house into the sun by either active or passive strategies. Active strategies use solar photovoltaic that turn the sun’s heat into energy. Adopting passive strategies means that you do some of the following:

Design and orient the house to minimize summer afternoon solar heat gain and optimize winter solar heat gain. In the northern hemisphere, this means orienting the long sides of the house to face south and north and creating roof overhangs and landscaping that shade the east, south, and west sides of the house.

Situate the house to take advantage of prevailing breezes during the spring, summer, and fall. Not only are these breezes valuable for cross-ventilation in the house, but they can make screened-in rooms and porches more comfortable places to

Sustainable architecture can be practiced still maintaining efficiency, beauty, layouts and cost effectiveness. There are five basic areas of an environmentally oriented design. They are:

• Healthy Interior Environment:

• Energy Efficiency

• Ecological Building Materials

• Building Form

• Good Design” (Yannas, 2013)

 Healthy Interior Environment: It has to be well insured that building materials and systems used do not emit toxic unhealthy gases and substances in the built spaces. Further extra care and measures are to be taken to provide maximum levels of fresh air and adequate ventilation to the interior environment.

 Energy Efficiency: It has to be well ensured that the building's use of energy is minimized. The various HVAC systems and methods of construction etc. should be so designed that energy consumption is minimal.

 Ecological Building Materials: As far as possible the use of building materials should be from renewable sources having relatively safe sources of production.

 Building Form: The building form should respond to the site, region, climate and the materials available thereby generating a harmony between the inhabitants and the