Introduction to Sustainable Design - Simplified Design of Reinforced Concrete Buildings - page 318

Figure 12-3 Climbing forms result in more efficient construction.
An area that is not currently given much attention is the idea of how robust a structure is. Once a building
is in place, it is best to keep it functioning—because this maximizes the output we get from the materials
and resources invested in creating the structure. “The most sustainable building is the one that's still
standing.” These ideas can be collectively referred to as “resilience,” which includes robustness, durability,
enhanced disaster resistance, and longevity (Ref.12.4). Concrete is strong to resist all kinds of forces, from
wind, flood, and earthquakes. And it is non-combustible so that it maintains structural integrity during a fire
to allow safe egress.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
People spend about 90% of their time indoors. The aesthetic quality of an interior space plays a big role in
occupants' well-being. Measures of the indoor quality include air, light/lighting, temperature, and noise.
Fresh air is important for everyone, and a small segment of society that is sensitive to chemicals has
additional special needs. Here concrete is beneficial because it is an inert material with no off-gassing.
Concrete's structural capacity allows placement of openings as frequently as needed to provide good interior
day lighting throughout the space. And its mass is helpful for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures
and providing privacy (sound attenuation) between different rooms.
There is not one “right way” to build sustainably. It is most effective to think of this as a process more than a
goal or an end point. This introduction has outlined some of the key areas and common topics addressed by
many of today's green rating systems. We have described many ways that concrete is already being used to
advantage. New techniques will likely be discovered or invented as we move forward. Just as building codes
evolve as we learn from both innovations and failures, so, too, should sustainable design methods evolve to
incorporate the latest information that makes our buildings… simply better.