Designing Buildings in an Adaptation to Climate Change - Term Paper Example

CASE STUDY QUESTION 2 By Name Institution Lecturer Course Date Case Study Question 2: How Can we Better Design and Construct Building in an Adaptation to Climatic Change and in Response to the Growing Housing Needs of a Rapidly Developing Melbourne? Design and Construction for Adaptation to Climatic Change There is sufficient evidence showing that climatic change is indeed real and that the impacts of the climatic changes that have already occurred are significant enough to be felt. Climatic changes are still occurring and its impact are still being felt, which requires changes in the design and construction of buildings in response to the changes. Buildings are designed to last for at least 50 years while serving their intended purposes. On this note, it is very crucial that building designs not only focus on current climatic conditions but be based on climatic changes that are expected to occur during the lifespan of the building. Therefore, this call for the projection of possible changes that are expected to occur with respect to climate. Design for the adaptation to climatic changes requires architects, building designers, engineers and constructors take into consideration and recognise that it is very likely there will be significant changes in climatic and weather conditions throughout the lifespan of the building. There are four types of climatic adaptations according to Commonwealth of Australia (2007). Anticipatory or proactive adaptation is based on anticipated climatic changes such that it takes place before the actual climatic change occurs with the aim of preventing or minimizing the negative effects of the anticipated climatic change. In other words, it is pre-emptive. For example, building designs that anticipate flooding in the future prevent deaths and destruction caused by flooding when it occurs. Planned adaptation results from a deliberate policy decision to take an action in response to current or expected climatic changes in order to maintain the desired state. Planned adaptation may take place in the form of adjusting building codes and regulations. Reactive adaptation is the totally opposite of anticipatory/proactive adaptation because it occurs after the actual climatic change has occurred. For example, new building regulations that arise after a severe flooding case provide reactive adaptation measures. Finally, spontaneous/autonomous adaptation is a blend of the other three types whereby climatic changes trigger adaptation mechanisms (Commonwealth of Australia 2007). Climatic Changes in Melbourne: Past and Expected In Australia, the average temperature has increased by about 0.90C since 1950 (Australian Building Codes Board [ABCB] 2010). This has been associated with a decrease in the frequency of cold days and nights and a consequent increase in the frequency of hot days and nights (Commonwealth of Australia 2007). Summer and autumn rains have increased while winter rains have dropped significantly (ABCB 2010). Another climatic change that has occurred is the increase in the intensification of storms, wind speeds and cyclones (Commonwealth of Australia 2007). Hail events have decreased significantly in Melbourne although flooding has increased especially during summer due to high rains (ABCB 2010). Increase in the frequency and intensity of bushfires have also increased especially during hot and dry seasons (Commonwealth of Australia 2007). Global warming is real and its effects are already being felt. Although there are efforts worldwide to contain this global climatic problem, it is unlikely that the effects of global warming will be reversed. Therefore, the above climatic changes are expected to intensify with time, for example increase in summer rainfall. Therefore, there is a dire need to come up with and implement adaptive measures to climatic changes. Designing and Constructing Buildings in an Adaptation to Climatic Change It is possible to design and construct buildings that can adapt to climatic changes through proactive and planned adaptation with some bit of spontaneous adaptation considering that it might not be possible to predict future changes perfectly. In order to decide the design and construction features to add/remove to ensure that building adapt to climatic changes throughout their lifespan, correct prediction of all possible climatic changes is a must. Table 1 below outlines measures that policy makers, building designers and constructors can take in order to ensure that buildings in Melbourne adapt to possible climatic changes based on changes so far experienced. Increase in summer rains and decrease in winter rains alongside increase in floods intensity 1) Design for rain water collection and storage during summer for use in winter. This will also reduce flooding 2) Storm water control to avoid flooding of houses 3) Design for water reuse to reduce water demand during winter (short rains) 4) Raised buildings to prevent flooding 5) Use of water-resistant materials for construction 6) Vulnerable services should be constructed as high as possible 7) Avoidance of areas prone to flooding such as lowlands. Increase in storms, wind speed and cyclones’ intensity 1) Design for high wind loads 2) Increased fastening of roof structures to prevent winds from blowing away roofs 3) Design for wind blocking and control such as planting of trees or erection of high and strong perimeter walls around residential buildings 4) Reduction of wind surface area especially for tall buildings. Circular/curved walls reduce wind loads through the reduction of wind surface area as well as providing smooth exit ways for wind as opposed to flat walls (rectangular or square floor plans) Increase in average temperature, increase in the frequency of hot days and nights Reduction of solar gain through adequate insulation and/or use of reflective roofing materials Design for natural or artificial ventilation to provide adequate ventilation Design for natural lighting to reduce use of electric lighting that adds thermal load. This may call for increase use of glass for walls to let in adequate lighting Design and Construction in Response to the Growing Housing Needs of a Rapidly Developing Melbourne Population Growth and Increased Demand for Housing Facilities For over ten years, Melbourne has earned the first position as the Australia’s capital city experiencing fastest population growth (Victoria in the Future 2014). In 2013, Melbourne’s population was estimated at 4.3 million, which is expected to have grown to about 7.7 million people by 2051 going by the current population growth rate (Victoria in the Future 2014). For the last 13 years, the population of Melbourne has doubled. This means that every year, there is a need to increase housing facilities to accommodate new residents. Despite rapid increase in population and consequent need to increase housing facilities, land is constant, which calls for building design and construction practices that facilitate for the increase in housing facilities while leaving enough space for other facilities such as expansion of roads to accommodate increased population. Building Design and Construction to Meet Increasing Population Planned adaptation in the form of building policies and regulations seems to be the way forward to ensure that current buildings meet housing needs for the next at least fifty years. In order to fully utilise the space available while at the same time ensuring that houses meet future housing needs, there is need to invest in storied apartments and small units as opposed to stand-alone homesteads that accommodate only a few people per unit area of land. This calls for zoning where only buildings and building designs that can accommodate at least 20 families are approved. This zone should be near working places to ensure that a majority of people live close to their workplaces, which will in turn reduce transport requirements. Consequently, there will be no high pressure to expand transport facilities, which will lead to economical use of available land. Buildings and building designs should be at least four-storey buildings with taller buildings being encouraged. This means that buildings should be approved only if their design can facilitate vertical expansion even if owners may not be in a position to construct tall buildings initially. Consequently, in case there is need to expand housing requirements, there will be no need to bring the building down in order to design a taller building. Instead, vertical expansion of existing buildings will facilitate expansion of housing requirements. Tall and high capacity buildings are associated with high risks of collapse especially if construction is done poorly, design is not adequate and/or if substandard materials are used. Consequently, designers must be very critical to consider all possible loads now and in the future while contractors must be cautious to use approved practices and materials to ensure safety of buildings. Conclusion By combining recommendations for adaptation to climatic changes and adaptation to growing needs, it is possible to better design and construct building in an adaptation to climatic change and in response to the growing housing needs of a rapidly developing Melbourne. Bibliography Australian Building Codes Board 2010, An investigation of possible building code of Australia (BCA) adaptation measures for climate change. Canberra ACT: ABCB. Commonwealth of Australia 2007, An assessment of the need to adapt buildings for the unavoidable consequences of climate change. Report to the Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Canberra ACT: Australian Greenhouse Office. Victoria in the Future 2014, Housing choice and affordability- plan Melbourne. [Online] Retrieved from [Accessed April 7, 2015]. Read More