What Makes Self-Sufficient Buildings A Sustainable Design?

The way we design, construct, and inhabit buildings is changing, with a greater integration of robotic and autonomous systems. Autonomous buildings are designed for stand-alone routines and the highest energy efficiency. This paper introduces a groundbreaking approach to creative energy design, disrupting existing literature by introducing a 5Z concept for clean energy autonomous building (AB) sustainability.

Autonomous buildings are designed to be operated independently from infrastructural support services such as the electric power grid, gas grid, and municipal water. Four key trends driving zero carbon buildings include decarbonization, electrification, efficiency, and digitalization. These trends work together to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development, climate change, health, and wellbeing. Energy autonomous buildings rely on clean ambient sources and can help create extreme low-carbon (LC) buildings.

There are ample opportunities to improve materials used in construction, introduce circular design principles, and enhance value for end-users. Autonomous buildings generate their own energy from renewable sources, store it in batteries, and use automation technology to manage their systems. This leads to energy independence and reduced reliance on traditional energy sources. Advocates of autonomous buildings describe advantages such as reduced environmental impacts, increased security, and lower costs of ownership.

Sustainable design optimizes site potential, minimizes non-renewable energy consumption and waste, and uses environmentally preferable products. Autonomous buildings are a key part of sustainable urban development that seeks to combat climate change. By drawing on diverse data streams within this ecosystem, it will be possible to design autonomous buildings that enhance value for end-users.

How are green buildings a sustainable design?

Green buildings offer numerous benefits, including reducing environmental impacts by using less water, energy, and other resources, using renewable energy sources and eco-friendly materials, and reducing emissions and waste. They can also generate their own energy and increase biodiversity. The building sector has the largest potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing green building measures also brings economic benefits for developers, business owners, and occupants.

Developers benefit from higher property values due to optimized resource utilization and better-performing, longer-lasting buildings. Additionally, better buildings are more attractive to business owners and occupants due to environmental benefits, improved comfort, efficiency, and lower operating costs. The green building industry and job creation continue to grow, and studies show that people working in green buildings experience benefits in areas such as work performance and sleep quality.

What is a self-sustainable building?

Self-sustaining buildings are designed to meet their water and energy needs through the capture and reuse of rainwater, as well as through the generation of power from renewable sources.

How can buildings be designed to be more sustainable?

Sustainable building construction involves using efficient materials, such as recycled materials, avoiding on-site waste, and minimizing water run-off. Effective landscaping works with the building’s natural surroundings, retaining vegetation and requiring minimal maintenance. Socially sustainable buildings are designed to address occupants’ and visitors’ needs, providing a healthy, comfortable, safe, and secure environment that is easily accessible and well-suited to its surroundings.

What are the 3 pillars of sustainability in construction?

AtkinsRéalis is a company that focuses on integrating cultural sustainability with economic, environmental, and social pillars to ensure a holistic approach to sustainable development. The company aims to merge ingenuity, knowledge, and technology to uplift communities and drive a safer future. AtkinsRéalis recognizes that employees seek companies that prioritize people and the environment, fostering a sustainable career path.

How smart cities can bring sustainability?

Sustainable smart cities are designed to minimize health impacts due to climate change and pollution by incorporating renewable energy technologies into daily life. These cities are ideally located in areas where energy efficiency can be maximized, reducing dependence on non-renewable sources. By reducing energy use, improving air quality, and using sustainable transportation and housing, cities can reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and improve the quality of life.

Smart city technology includes components such as smart grids, smart sensors, devices, and homes. It can start with artificial intelligence and end with environmental indicators measuring sustainability. The concept offers several benefits, including citizens using systems that sense economic data and quality of life, governments processing environmental data to determine pollution levels, and city assessment tools allowing for sharing of technological knowledge between professionals.

Smart city strategies can be highly efficient for addressing environmental problems and maintaining the quality of life if applied properly, focusing on social and economic aspects of city life, not just fast urban development.

What makes a sustainable building sustainable?

A sustainable building is designed to conserve water, materials, and energy from creation to end use. It consumes around 17% of water resources, 40% of total electrical flow, and 25% of wood harvesting. A greener structure operates more efficiently, provides a healthier occupant environment, and reduces associated costs. Green buildings are designed, renovated, or reused to promote conservation and efficient use. They typically aim to protectoccupant health, improve employee productivity, reduce energy consumption, conserve water, and limit environmental impact.

The economic benefits of a sustainable building are significant, and the long-term savings make up for the initial investment. Some eco-friendly building solutions, such as photoluminescent egress safety products, are affordable and energy-saving. Green buildings can be created through various approaches, either during initial design or post-construction.

What is self-sustaining design?

Self-sustainability refers to residential or commercial projects that can sustain themselves without much outside intervention. This can be achieved by retaining and enhancing natural features of the land, designing landscape water bodies to increase rainwater collection and act as a recharge zone, treating sewage and recycling water for gardening, irrigation, car washing, toilet flushing, and infiltrating excess water through recharge pits, and encouraging garbage segregation through designated areas for different types of waste.

Kitchen wet waste can be treated in-house or within the society using an Organic Waste Converter, while manure can be sold to external agencies or used for gardening and irrigation. Dry waste can be either handed over to municipal authorities or sold off to external agencies.

What is the difference between green building and sustainable building?

A green building is a sustainable structure that focuses on environmental sustainability, implementing practices and processes as incremental steps towards it. It can be built sustainably, incorporating renewable energy, natural ventilation systems, and reducing carbon footprints. However, a green building can be built without sustainability, and a sustainable building can operate without green initiatives.

It is essential to consider the distinction between a green building and a sustainable building when deciding which to aim towards. Both types of buildings can contribute to a sustainable and green environment.

What are the 7 components of a green building?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies seven key components of a green building: environmentally friendly materials, energy efficiency, renewable energy, indoor air quality, water efficiency, waste reduction, smart growth, sustainable development, and toxics reduction. These components ensure a building that is not only environmentally friendly but also healthy for its inhabitants. The first component is the use of sustainable building materials, which reduce waste, are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and sustainable. These materials are recycled and reused, producing minimal waste, making them safe for both the environment and humans.

How do you make a building sustainable?

Sustainable design is a holistic approach that optimizes site potential, minimizes non-renewable energy consumption and waste, uses environmentally friendly products, protects water, improves indoor air quality, enhances operational and maintenance practices, and creates healthy and productive environments. It balances cost, environmental, societal, and human benefits to meet tenant agencies’ mission objectives and functional needs.

Sustainable design positively impacts all phases of a building’s life-cycle, encouraging compromise and tradeoffs. It is an integrated, holistic approach that helps meet tenant agencies’ mission objectives and functional needs.

How are smart buildings sustainable?

Smart buildings use digital technologies to optimize energy consumption, improve air quality, increase thermal comfort, and ensure safety. Equans is at the forefront of this revolution, integrating digital functions throughout a building’s life cycle, from planning to maintenance. Launched in May 2022, Equans Digital is driving this revolution by improving performance, optimizing usage, and achieving energy and CO2 efficiency.

This initiative represents a paradigm shift in infrastructure management, demonstrating that optimal performance is achieved through the seamless integration of smart technologies and tailored action plans.