How do you design sustainable and resilient construction?

1 Assess the context

Before you start designing, you need to understand the context of your project, such as the location, climate, site conditions, regulations, codes, and stakeholder expectations. You should conduct a thorough site analysis, identify the potential hazards and risks, and evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of your project. This will help you define the project goals, scope, and performance criteria, as well as the opportunities and constraints for sustainability and resilience.

2 Apply the principles of green building

Green building is a holistic approach to design and construction that aims to minimize the negative effects and maximize the positive effects of buildings on the environment and human health. It involves using energy-efficient, water-efficient, and low-impact materials, technologies, and systems, as well as optimizing the indoor environmental quality, comfort, and functionality of the spaces. Some of the widely recognized green building standards and rating systems are LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, and WELL.

3 Integrate passive design strategies

Passive design strategies are techniques that use natural resources and processes to achieve thermal comfort, natural ventilation, daylighting, and shading in buildings. They can reduce the dependence on mechanical and electrical systems, lower the operational costs and emissions, and enhance the occupant well-being and satisfaction. Some of the common passive design strategies are orientation, insulation, thermal mass, glazing, window design, solar control, natural ventilation, and daylighting.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?