What is a sustainable building and how does it differ from a traditional one?

A sustainable building goes far beyond disruptive architecture, moving closer to a practical building that meets a series of environmental certifications.

Sustainability, architecture, and avant-garde design are concepts that our minds seem accustomed to associating. The concept of avant-garde art linked to sustainable architecture has its roots in the post-World War II reconstruction period and took off in Western culture during the 1960s and 70s. Numerous examples emerged throughout the world, laying the foundation for what we might now call sustainable buildings.

Almost everyone remembers those extravagantly shaped houses that seemed more like something out of a science fiction film than reality, and which helped fill airtime on the news. And who can fail to associate sustainability and architecture with those extravagant tree houses, so prevalent in environmental documentaries, where the inhabitants practice the most purist form of ecology, managing to change our perception of the ideal harmony between design and respect for nature? However, this disruptive architecture, practical in many cases but not applicable to the reality of the average citizen living comfortably in an urban area, is quite far removed from what we might consider a sustainable building today.

And the truth is, as much as we might all like to live in that spaceship bound for zero carbon footprint, or in a self-sufficient forest, our reality is more mundane, and in it, a sustainable building looks more like an office tower than the cube houses of Rotterdam. One only needs to look at the conditions that regulatory bodies, such as the Spanish Green Building Council, founded in 1998, consider sustainable.

Among these concepts are those more familiar to us in our daily lives, such as air quality, which, with its toxic gas indicators, is a major topic of discussion; the luminosity of windows and glass, as well as their low emissivity (allowing light in while minimizing heat); and green spaces, so necessary as the lungs of our cities. All of this lays the foundation for a sustainable building and is fundamental to achieving the goals of this type of architecture. Let’s explore it further.

8 keys to certifying a sustainable building

He Green Building CouncilThe regulatory body authorized in the United States and which grants LEED certification, a globally recognized sustainability standard, sets out the key points for certifying a sustainable building

1. Sustainable sitesProtect or restore the habitat in which each building is located, revitalizing and reusing abandoned or disused areas, such as former industrial or commercial areas.

2. Indoor environmental qualityPromote ventilation that fosters thermal and acoustic comfort, reducing the use of heating and air conditioning; as well as proper natural lighting, avoiding the excessive use of unnecessary lighting points.

3. Materials and resourcesUse recycled, renewable, or certified green materials.

4. Innovation in designFocus the design towards a building proposal based on new proposals to save resources and promote sustainable consumption.

5. Regional priorityAdapting the building to the needs and problems of the environment.

6. Location and transportationThe building’s location, avoiding construction in natural environments, reducing car travel times and promoting public transport and physical activity.

7. Energy and atmosphereOptimize the energy consumption of buildings, demonstrating a percentage of energy savings andthe use of clean and renewable energy.

8. Responsible water managementPrioritize water reuse, allowing for efficient use, controlling the irrigation system in green areas, and promoting moderate consumption.

Compliance with these aspects means that, through a sum of points, buildings are certified with the LEED Certified seal (from 40 to 49 points), LEED Silver (from 50 to 59 points), LEED Gold (from 60 to 69 points) and LEED Platinum (more than 80 points).

How can we prevent the misuse of energy?

Much of the importance of a sustainable building lies in its ability to properly manage electricity consumption. To illustrate, we must remember that 40% of energy consumption in cities occurs in buildings.

The key to this efficient consumption lies in optimizing consumption through monitoring and analysis of energy usage, as well as implementing relevant Energy Saving Measures (ESMs). Want to learn more? This video will answer your questions: