Sustainable Buildings Initiatives

    Focusing architects design into a sustainable direction is the most obvious way to go for the future of architecture. With earths existing conditions, storms are spiraling into more and more devastating events that we will have to plan out and prepare for. 

    Retrofitting is one of the best ways to deal with this. It encompasses many sustainable ideas;

1. Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, that causes more pollutants, keeping existing structures can be beneficial. The structure remains, and there are no materials that are wasted and thrown away, and there is no need for import. The structure keeps its historical value, allowing for generations ahead to learn and adapt.
2. Adding new ventilation systems will provide comforts to the tenants. Instead of building a completely new building. only adding a new ventilation system can prove to be enough. Especially when combined with a passive solar or wind gathering system, with minimal impact on the environment.
3. Re-sealing and maintaining the building to prevent air from escaping will help maintain inside temperature. Buildings arent meant to stand around for ever; but that doesn't mean they are to be torn down and rebuilt. This is why maintenance is so important. Majority of older buildings could improve massively with window seals if not new windows altogether, vestibules to prevent from wind escaping, and solar shading when necessary.
   

    With demolition to create new buildings, waste isnt the only thing we must worry about. Materials used tens of years ago can also prove to be dangerous if impacted. My biggest worry would be asbestos - is left alone, it currently has no drastic negative effects on the people in its surrounding. It will only be once the asbestos-containing walls are torn down, once it is exposed into the air, that can cause massive health risks. 

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    Cities laws, codes and ordinances are a great way of maintain this. With the pandemic, we are seeing a change to the ventilation, window openings and square footage of homes in the codes. I am looking forward to seeing how the world can change for the better, and am appreaciative of the city taking steps in the right direction.

• How significant are build structures to climate change?
  Structures are one of the greatest producers of pollution. This makes structures extremely significant to climate change. Whether it is the construction of new buildings and mixing concrete, existing buildings and pollution from climatization, or the demolition of buildings and throwing its leftovers into heaps that pollute our earth more. If a building is designed incorrectly, it can have a massive domino effect on the surroundings and the ones residing within. A building that leaks air conditioning wastes energy. The process of deriving the fuel; source, transporting the fuel, using the fuel and creating polluting byproduct is useless if all of this effort goes right out the door - quite literally. 
  
  
• Can you design an airport and “declare” yourself against climate change?
  Yes. And i say this mainly because Airports will not cease to exist. Even with efforts to educate people on the negative effects airplanes have on our environment, this type of transportation will not be discontinued. So for the meantime, the best steps are to take what is currently existing, and make it as efficient as possible.