Ecologically Sustainable Development

Introduction

• This presentation discusses Ecologically Sustainable Development in the context of the Building and Design

“..and in their fascination with the information age that is increasingly prominent in the global economy, many observers seem to have forgotten that our modern civilisation like it’s forerunners, is totally dependant on it’s ecological foundations.”

(Worldwatch Institute on progress toward a sustainable economy)

• We must look after our world. It is what allows us to live. If we exploit the environment for short term gain, we will pay for it in the long term.

• Looking after the environment is looking after ourselves!

So How have we developed?…

Commodity 1900 present

Oil A few thousand barrels a day 72M barrels a day

PaperBetween 1950 to 1996 a factor six increase

281 million tons

Chemical Elements 20 92

Population 1.6 billion 6 billion+

Energy and consumption

• Australians relish a high energy and consumption lifestyle.

• Australia’s global footprint is 7.7 hectares per person.

• The world average is 2.2 hectares per person.

Greenhouse gas emission

• Excluding land use & land use change, Australia’s emissions increased by 23% between 1990 & 2001.

• Forestry was the only industry sector that had a net carbon store.

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions

-50 0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Forestry

Waste

IndustrialProcesses

FugitiveEmissions

Land Use, LandUse Change

Transport

Agriculture

StationaryEnergy

1990 Mt CO2-e 2001 Mt CO2-e

Source: Australian Greenhouse Office 2001

• We must recognise our impacts on the environment, and start living and developing more intelligently.

What do we mean by Ecological sustainability?

A definition!

• “Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

` (WCED 1987, The Bruntland Report)

In summary

• Ecological Sustainability is about living now in a way that allows others to have the same quality of life in the future.

• We are currently straining the planet.

Demonstrable impacts

We are beginning to experience some demonstrable impacts of a strained planet, such as:

1. Enhanced greenhouse effect;2. Salination;3. Unsustainable water management; 4. Depletion of Resources;5. Loss of biodiversity.

1. Enhanced greenhouse effect

• Human activities are producing greater quantities of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and others that trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere.

• This is causing global warming; an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's surface.

• This is causing worldwide changes to climate patterns.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

The Australian Greenhouse office predicts:• Increase in average temperature by 1 – 6oC by 2070;• Decrease in average rainfall;• An overall drying trend for Australia due to increased

temperatures and evaporation and changes in rainfall.

2. Salination

• Due to land clearing and creation of grazing, between 3 & 5 million hectares of land in... the (Murray-Darling) Basin will be salt affected within 50–100 years…1

• This could lead to desertification, apart from any other effects.

1 A Revolution in Land Use: Emerging Land Use Systems for Managing Dryland Salinity (CSIRO)

3. Unsustainable water management

• Australia uses water inefficiently;

• There is little water recycling or urban water collection, and we live on the driest continent!

4. Depletion of resources

• We are using resources in an unsustainable manner;

• We need to conserve resources for future generations and use more renewable resources.

5. Loss of biodiversity

As habitats for animals are used up, (development, Raw materials) to provide for human needs we are losing species of animals and plants. These are irreplaceable, and play an important role in maintaining the health of ecosystems that support all life.

So what can we do?

As designers & builders we can:

• incorporate sustainable thinking into our decision making when constructing the built environment.

ESD, building & building materials

• Buildings consume great quantities of materials, energy and other resources in their design, construction, operation and demolition.

• This has significant environmental impacts locally and globally.

Ecologically Sustainable Development, ESD

• There are three major aspects to consider when trying to achieve ecologically sustainable development:

–environmental; –social; and –economic.

• So how does this fit into designing and building an Ecologically Sustainable Built Environment?

1. Environmental

• What we design and build should have a low impact on the environment, and if possible a positive impact.

2. Social

• The communities we develop and our places to live should be safe and healthy.

• We can achieve this through good design and by use of healthy materials.

3. Economic

• The decisions we make should maintain the welfare of our current population, and bear in mind future the welfare of future generations.

• We should use materials that are renewable rather than exhausting the worlds supply of natural resources.

Principle of ESD for buildings

The Royal Architects Institute of Australia’s ESD aims are to:

• maintain and restore biodiversity;

• minimise the consumption of resources;

• minimise pollution of air, soil and water; and

• maintain health, safety and comfort of building users.

Keys to ecological construction practice

• Low construction cost;• Easy maintenance;• Healthy natural environment;• Healthy living environment; and• Low operation cost.

Adapted from Ecological Construction Practice, 2001.

H. Preisig, W. Dubach, U. Kasser & K. ViridenZurich University of Applied Sciences

Conclusion

• By considering ESD when making decisions about building we can construct a built environment that is healthy for the environment and for people now and into the future.