Redesigning Buildings - Research Paper Example

Several advancements have been realized in the fields of architecture and structural engineering. All these achievements are basically functions of incessant experiments spanning over great timeframes (Cronin 76). In the end, progress and success become inevitable. Picture Fisk aims to design buildings that can endure the effects of global warming and withstand all the environmental hazards that conventional buildings cannot. In that case, he is actively engaged in active research on achieving this objective.

Fisk is coming up with an alternative to the concrete used in most buildings. This new material which he calls AshCrete is made up of 97 percent recycled materials. It combines the strengths of aluminum mixed with citric acid and borate blended together with a chemical in the chloride family. Basically, the focus here is to use agricultural and industrial wastes as the main raw materials information of these new products. Sure enough, it can be seen that success is imminent given the wide acclaim seen from all the experts in the market.

            Well, global warming is real and it is imperative that humanity braces up for it. This demands very clear-cut policies of designing structures and addressing other environmental issues. Concrete has been widely used over the years as the major component in the construction industry. However, it must be remembered that the process of manufacturing concrete generates an estimated 9 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions (Lewis 68).

This gas is one of the main contributors to global warming. Moreover, AshCrete will also help in the reduction of the ashes that normally fly out in the manufacture of concrete. According to Fisk, the use of AshCrete is very safe as long as the silicon the ash has effectively dried up.  Other researchers are also in concurrence with this fact stating that the ashes that fly out in the manufacture of the AshCrete are normally in very minute amounts so that the heavy metals in them cannot affect the general public.

However, those involved in its manufacture must protect themselves from the harmful effects of silica. Much of the material used in making concrete comes from riverbeds and other pools of water. The manner in which the material is extracted usually does a lot of harm to the ecosystem thereby making the environment unsafe. Moreover, nobody is assured of an unending supply of this material. Buildings designed using AshCrete have very strong beams which are normally hollow inside thereby ensuring strength while reducing weight.

These spaces are then used as passages for power and water lines so that efficiency is enhanced. The hollow beams and the posts are made from a type of steel called raber which is basically obtained from crushed cars. Considering his wise invention, Frisk applied for a patent under the name GreenForms which he now owns. Landscaping is also very important in the design of these buildings. Trees, flowerbeds, lawns, and shade trees are planted around the structures so that they can absorb the sewage and wastewater emanating from the building.

Well, nothing beats this in ecological friendliness. The major driving force here is the environment. Most buildings that make up our schools, hospitals, residential houses, and other institutions are just not fit for the environments they are located in. This is the mindset that the new technology seeks to transform. Adjustments needed             The new technology does not however come at a cheaper price. It requires various prerequisites before it can be adopted for general commercial use.

First, it has to be proven that the materials cannot in any way cause long-term effects to the general users. Moreover, the adoption of AshCrete is still subject to many technological regulations seeking to find out whether ecologically safe materials can be produced on a large scale so as to sustain a rapidly growing building industry. Skeptics will also have their doubts about the idea. Considering that these skeptics are also engineers and market stakeholders, efforts must be made to concretely convince them about the durability and efficiency of this new structural advancement.

Considering that Frisk is using certain rare trees and natural materials to replace the conventional building materials, it creates the need to ensure that the supply of these trees will be assured. On the other hand, the construction industry is rapidly growing and hence a lot of emphases has to be placed on the market demand. A lot of prior analysis is needed in the use of ecologically friendly materials given that it is an entirely new field. It has also been realized that the certification process of these buildings is very slow.

The structural authorities spend plenty of time in their analysis before pronouncing a structure fit for commercial use (Heyman 88). Well, this can slightly impede fast progress. However, despite all these adjustments and challenges, the whole idea is very real and timely. It has indeed come at a better time when the ecology was certainly threatened and radical measures were therefore needed to address the situation.