Climate Change, Building Design and Construction - Essay Example

157194 RESEARCH PROPOSAL: CLIMATE CHANGE, BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INTRODUCTION: Combating climate change has been one of the greatestgoals of this generation. It is unfortunate that human discoveries, advancements, technological innovations, stupendous scientific creations and enhancement of knowledge all culminated into an unimaginably destructive climate change and ecological imbalance of the Globe that has become a Sword of Damocles on the World today. Most of the technologies are now focussed upon curtailing this problem, if not eliminating it, so that the least damage could be caused to the Eco System and climate change could be reversed to status quo ante. No doubt this looks almost impossible with the raging technologies of today and no government willing to reduce it even by an iota, nevertheless it remains one of the fond dreams of our generation, to re-attain utopia. PURPOSE STATEMENT The research will aim to provide intensive information regarding Building Design and Construction as against climate change. Scientists are predicting future environment and weather extremities and it is highly important to be prepared for potential changes. With future Sea level rise, flooding might be precipitated and if so, there is a need for protection. All EU Countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and agreed that they are responsible for 14% of World emissions and that the reduction of same is an EU responsibility. Ambitious new targets should be set to conserve all possible energy, working through adaptation. The buildings we live in could be very different in future to adapt to changes in weather, uncertain rainfall, global warming, storms and wind. Homes and offices have to alter their design, construction and usage of material according to these highly relevant issues. There is an element of truth in saying that the buildings of medieval days were highly suitable for the climatic conditions prevailing in a particular region, because they had evolved over centuries with common sense and practicality and were the most suitable to that region. With climate change, any region's climate is not conventional any more and buildings have to be designed and built according to changing needs. Hence, this is a significant research area which would be very useful for future of buildings renovation and creation included. RESEARCH QUESTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A lot of uncertainty exists in this field as the climate changes are uncertain and unpredictable. The question of future buildings is based upon the research conducted in this area regarding future building designs, materials and methods of construction. I would like to concentrate on the design, raw material and construction of a 'Green Building' according to norms dictated by existing research information in all three fields. I will find ways and means of applying research into practice and look for as much information as possible, already available in scientific sectors of various countries, in an effort to combine it and make it suitable for practical use. As future weather conditions are not region-particular, but unpredictably universal, information from all quarters, economic, material industry, energy, solar studies, geography, climate surveys, history, archaeology, architecture, sociology, culture and heritage included, become necessary and relevant. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Research will be done on material available from studies, research work, papers, journals, books, electronic media, mass communication, architectural reports and surveys, material production company reports and in-house research centre reports etc. Study has to be extended to Government policies, guidelines, Council regulations, norms and rigidities of City building creation that might provide hindrance and limitations for 'Green Buildings'. This will extend to practical matters like roof tile testing for their durability and power of withstanding elements, their overlap, pitch or slope, measurements and how they suit to the best possible weather predictions. Un-tiled roofs also could be in danger and flat roofs face their own problems with upstands on the edges having to be increased from the British standard of 150 mm to 200 mm due to excess rainfall. Quick shedding of rain water is crucial according to old ways. Now there is a suggestion that perhaps they should be allowed to retain water, possibly through roof gardens, so that buildings could absorb precipitation and this is only one part of building design. It is important to know the material changes that might become necessary for future buildings and how this change could be achieved. Design of the building, according to green policy regulations, is as important as the use of the building for which design and material would have contributed immensely in one way or other. RESEARCH METHOD AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The building commissioning plan, facility performance evaluation, reduction of heating and cooling, protection and conservation of water, high efficiency refrigeration, energy saving cooking, energy efficient appliances, suitability of material and placement of windows, low-power mode office equipments, energy management of building, integrated building design, energy sources like off-grid photovoltaic systems, cogeneration systems all become part of the assessment and will be evaluated against the traditional ways of building to check the cost, inconvenience, money saving in a length of time, long term energy saving and the disaster management capability of new designs, materials and construction. Many tools will be applied for the purpose such as general strategies to address climate change in construction while exploring various important aspects of construction and connected research. Studies that assess the possible effect of climate change on construction, research material for further building design and research done in field of various materials for construction will form the basis of my research, which will be a compilation of all facts and figures available in each one of these fields with arguments for and against. The most practical and cost-efficient method will be highlighted as such. This work will explore the suggested changes in design, material, construction and assess such studies according to the practical needs of the construction industry, taking climate change as the measuring phenomena. LITERATURE REVIEW Scientists are in agreement that Earth's climate has been affected adversely by the constant increase of human activities in total disregard of ecology. Human activities are absolutely detrimental to the environment resulting in warmer climate and temperature rise, in the last 12 years. Carbon Dioxide levels are reported to be 30% higher than in pre-industrial revolution days and the Polar Ice Cap is melting at the rate of 9% per decade and according to NASA, the Arctic ice thickness has decreased by 40% since the 1960s. "It is the greatest environmental change that is facing the world today. Global temperatures will create a chain reaction, involving unprecedented weather patterns, rising sea levels, combined with very frequent extreme weather conditions" http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/mg19325923.500-international-climate-angst-is-growing.html Climate change is not an issue. It is an ongoing battle in modern times and the awareness, in spite of comments against climate change, is growing into enormous proportions. "INTERNATIONAL momentum to combat climate change is growing, even in the gas-guzzling, notoriously sceptical US. At a meeting on Capitol Hill last week, legislators and officials from 13 countries including, crucially, China and India, agreed a plan for combating global warming once the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012". http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/mg19325923.500-international-climate-angst-is-growing.html Carbon dioxide variations over the last 400,000 years, showing a rise since the industrial revolution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change#Variations_within_the_Earth.27s_climate It is a well-known fact that climate change and extreme circumstances are harming all existing buildings and it is imperative to create new buildings with built-in mechanisms to face such a challenge. I feel that sustainable design and construction should combine forces to create sustainable agendas as key issues and risks are interconnected. "There is an unresolved bifurcation of sustainable construction between the planning system and the construction industry in the UK, with broad policy guidance aimed at urban planners and detailed technical issues addressed to construction service providers" says Ian Cooper in his paper on Sustainable Construction, the Policy Agenda. Research in the construction area is an ongoing research, endless and innovative. Initial attempts at practical answers should happen now as the first answer to global climate change. The construction industry has to create or renovate buildings with built in environmental strategies that are "attractive, durable, functional, accessible, comfortable, healthy to live in and use, promoting the well-being of all that come into contact with it - resource efficient, in particular with respect to energy, materials and water, favouring the use of renewable energy sources and needing little external energy to function, making appropriate use of rain and ground water and correctly handling waste water" according to Rydin et al, Sustainable Construction and Planning The Academic Report. DISCUSSION There exists an element of social research here, because of the subject's close proximity to society. We are talking about Human dwellings and workplaces therefore this research could not be complete without consultation with society. It is necessary to explore the reactions to construction change suggestions from connected people. It will be possible to encourage them to part with their suggestions and these suggestions are always worth looking into, because ultimately they are the end-users of this research, who will either live in 'designed for future' buildings or work there. Hence, this study has to evaluate findings in terms of social psychology. "There was general consensus that a significant gap exists regarding analyses of different actors' behaviour, attitudes, perceptions and responses to policy drivers and to sustainable construction concepts and practice. Social psychology research was identified as potentially offering important insights into how technologies are received and used, what other changes in behaviour result, how sea changes become embedded and how policy drivers are perceived by the actors concerned" says Rydin and Vandergert, Sustainable Construction, The Social Science Research Agenda. This statement shows the importance of collecting society's reaction to such a study and project. People will offer more information connected with the end-use of buildings like passive solar energy, solar water heating, geo-thermal heat pumps, energy efficient lighting techniques, design for energy conservation, maximum natural day light and ventilation, because they are the real users. CONCLUSION No region is immune to the consequences of global climatic change resulting in extreme weather conditions. Construction projects have to consider damage to building fabric, cladding and damage by wind, gale, roof drainage and slope instability. The Private Sector is accused of doing little in this direction and do not consider associated risks of ground movement, wind loading and rain penetration. There is no doubt that it is important to have sustainable construction and building design is the key factor. The use of steel enables minimum disturbance and maximum durability. Buildings have to be designed for maximum life and minimum operational cost. National policy guidelines stress on re-using existing materials, design for minimum waste, aim on lean construction and need to work on continuous improvement, minimising energy in construction, minimise energy in use of building, work without pollution, enhance and preserve bio-diversity, also water resources, while respecting people, their views and immediate environment. These should be the core principles of design and construction. We spend 90% of our lives in buildings and in a country of weather extremity like the UK, it cannot be anything else and hence, quality of life and productivity depends upon buildings. The construction industry which commands 10% of GDP, that is 80 billion according to 2002 statistics, has an unavoidable environmental responsibility. Buildings consume one half of energy in Britain. The study will focus upon encouraging the best possible practice in construction under the circumstances, combining minimizing the expenses and maximizing the benefit. It will also focus on aspects such as reducing cement sector emissions, mining and manufacturing environmental effect, reduction of chemical processes, lessening energy use by better planning whilst constructing, reducing weather related impacts, trying to reduce business or educational disruption due to severe Winters with ensuing health problems and how all these could effect design and construction of buildings. Rising power prices, reducing raw materials, reducing delay-related expenses, trying to control construction in as less space as possible, encouraging sustainable habits will all be looked into in terms of already existing research. In addition, switching to lower carbon fuels, identifying alternative raw material such as lower clinker-content cement, all possible ways of arresting CO2, adhering to EU regulations, using tools of CO2 protocol, working with competent authorities who could advice on CO2 emission, increasing fuel efficiency, finding alternative fuel will be looked into, because buildings account for half of all greenhouse emissions and it is absolutely necessary to research on possible ways of designing and constructing to throw a challenge of Mankind to the climatic change. SCHEDULE 1. Collection of data available from various studies, papers, books and research material: First two months, till .2007. 2. Visits to industries, mines, foundries, factories connected with raw material.Next two monthstill 2007. 3. Interaction with builders, contractors, designers: Next two months.till..2007. 4. Collection of data from various construction agencies: Next two monthstill..2007. 5. Casual discussions and information collection from end-users..Next two monthstill..2007. 6. Putting together data, analysing, writing up and submission..next two monthstill.2007. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Cooper, Ian, Sustainable Construction, the Policy Agenda, The LSE Centre for Sustainable Policy and Governance, Cambridge, July 2006. 2. Rydin, Yvonne et al, Sustainable Construction and Planning the Academic Report, The LSE SusCon Project, Cambridge, July 2006. 3. Rydin, Yvonne and Vandergert, Paula, Sustainable Construction, The Social Science Research Agenda, The LSE SusCon Project, Cambridge, July 2006. ONLINE SOURCES: 1. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070318.wclimatee0318/BNStory/Science/home 2. http://www.planetsave.com/ps_mambo/The_News/Climate/U.S._objects_to_key_points_at_climate_change_meeting_200703198611/ 3. http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/crosscutting/climate.html 4. http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/mg19325923.500-international-climate-angst-is-growing.html 5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change#Variations_within_the_Earth.27s_climate 6. Read More