Different Ways of Building Houses - Case Study Example

102 CAB BUILDING DESIGN By + Introduction House designers and architects come up with different ways of building houses. People that dwell in urban and city centers follow distinct designs and plans that have been certified by various municipalities. One of the things that the government through city councils and other relevant policy makers take into consideration is the environmental impact that is associated with structures that are put up. This paper is based on sustainability assessment and it will highlight relative environmental impact of a house structure that is built on an island. This will be a house that is built using wood and nails. Literature Review Relative Environmental and Sustainability Impact on the Structure A house built on an island followed a design that was simple in nature. This is because it involved utilization of wood and nails for the major framework. To make this a success, the house was built using different kinds of woods. It meant that trees had to be cut down and streamed into desirable shape and sizes. The house was supposed to serve various functions on the island. However, the major and a relatively general purpose intended was to provide shelter for people that would live in it. This predetermined that it had to be built and its roof put in place. As a matter of fact, the house utilized green roofing system. For this to take place, quality grass was utilized for roofing the structure on the island. The house structured in the island has a distinct roofing system as mentioned above. In this, the structure contained a flat roof that was then equipped with a layer of vegetation. This case provided light vegetation installed on a private facility that was put up on the island. Normally, green roof is installed on a variety of structure that range from industrial building made of brick and stones. It was found to be a fitting kind of design on the wooden facility that was designed and established on the island. To assure the structure its durability, green roof system on it was made up of a thin layer that was 2 inches thick (Clark, Adriaens and Talbot, 2008). Utilization of green roof on the island based structured house entailed a number of benefits not limited to the environment. For instance, it came along with reduced energy utilization, minimized air pollution, improved human health and management of storm water (Heat Island Reduction Program, 2014). In terms of reduced energy use, it was found out that green roofs absorb adequate amount of heat directed from the sun. Therefore, green roofs act great insulators thereby providing a cool environment for island dwellers, as well as the house inhabitants. Moreover, using green roofs made possible for air pollution to be reduced. This also reflected on the reduced gas emission by lowering requirements for air conditioning (Heat Island Reduction Program, 2014). Green roofing system was an initiative that enhanced human health and comfort through the reduction of heat transfer that could pierce directly to the island wooden house. This is a way of enhancing comfort within the room as it filters pollutants that are associated with rainfall. Above all these, installation of rooftop vegetation is relatively cheaper compared to other ways of reducing harsh environmental impacts of environment. Because of the above-described materials used in building the house on the island, environment was affected. In one way, cutting down trees had a negative impact on the environment. This is because clearing a portion on the island meant that a substantial number of trees and natural habitat had to be cleared to get space for constructing the house. As a result, organisms that had trees as their habitats were done away with and their lives put in danger. Their niches and ecosystems were destroyed thereby leaving them to struggle for alternative ecosystems and habitats. Additionally, construction of the house on the island destroyed the topography of the environment and reduced its potential by half (BBC News, 2008). For that matter, it negatively impacted the environment and all that is found within the areas. Impact of the Construction and the Demolition of the Design Construction of the above -described house on the island result on distinct impacts. As has been seen, there is a substantial loss of organisms and their natural habitats. It is a clear example of environmental degradation that ultimately impacts the environment in a negative way. On the contrary, demolition of the structure is quite beneficial to not only human beings but also to organisms in nature. For instance, when the building is brought down for one reason or the other, it means that the natural materials used will decompose and allow organisms to find their preferred environment and favorable habitats. Low-Carbon Technology The above structure considered the use of low carbon technology that involved absorption and cooling (The Building Regulations, 2006). This technology was used in the structure as it utilized head in the place of electricity to generate cooling effect. Additionally, this structure had a technology regarding cellulose installation from the inside. The technology supports the use of wood and its products for insulation that results in a better house that is comfortable and worth dwelling in while on the island (Great Britain, 2010). Discussion It is through the use of good designs and architecture that individuals create a desirable environment for all living organisms. In this case, application of wood and nails as raw materials foe the construction of a house n an island ensured that benefits were realized. As described above, this activity was associated with immense advantages regarding the technologies applied. It was vital in improving the environmental quality through e utilization of low impact materials like wood for the construction of the house. The house was made of permeable, recyclable and non-toxic materials. Furthermore, use of these materials greatly minimizes utilization newer materials because of the renewable nature of the materials that were used for the construction. It was evident that utilization of low impact materials trimmed down Carbon dioxide emission (Brebbia, 2013). Conclusion It is important to consider low carbon technologies while building houses on the island. As the discussion above has depicted, wood is an environmental friendly material for the construction of houses and structures on the island. It has been seen as an easier method of construction houses that is ultimately easy to demolish above construction, its demolition is simply and brings about many benefits to the organisms in the environment and different habitats. References Brebbia, C. (2013). Eco-architecture IV: harmonization between architecture and nature. Southampton, WIT Press. Great Britain. (2010). Low carbon technologies in a green economy: fourth report of session 2009-10. Vol. 2, Vol. 2. London, Stationery Office. Nature loss "to hurt global poor", BBC News, May 29, 2008. Clark, C., P. Adriaens, and F.B. Talbot. 2008. Green roof valuation: a probabilistic economic analysis of environmental benefits. Environmental Science and Technology 42(6):2155– 2161. Heat Island Reduction Program, (2014). Green Roofs. Washington, DC. US: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/admin/comments.htm The Building Regulations, (2006). Low or Zero Carbon Energy Sources: Strategic Guide. 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