Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
by green walls, or individual plant displays, emphasize their value in drawing in
carbon dioxide and giving out human-sustaining oxygen.
6.3.2
Reducing Inputs
A second major trend in building sustainability comes from the new efforts used
to reduce the consumption of building inputs. Issues associated with water use and
energy supply have already been discussed in Chap. 5. In terms of reducing energy
use, substantial savings come from such practices as: better insulation in walls and
reduction of draughts through weather-proofing doors and windows; triple glazing
and vacuum seals in windows to avoid heat loss; while the use of infra-red tinting of
glass allows the penetration of warmth from sunlight, yet prevents the loss of heat,
is also being developed. Some municipalities also encourage the use of recycled
building material in new constructions, to reduce the amount of old material just be-
ing dumped in landfills. Other trends include the greater use of LED and florescent
lights, which are respectively up to 90 and 75 % more efficient by releasing less
heat and consuming less electricity than the incandescent lights that have dominated
the market for a century. Campaigns have also been mounted by governments to
encourage switching-off electrical appliances when they are not being used, since
the increase in electronic devices in households mean they now account for between
5-10 % of a typical bill. Also, energy inputs have been reduced in many large office
buildings by using the warmth provided by electric lights as part of the heating,
while the development of more efficient gas furnaces is also substantially reduc-
ing the energy needs of many houses. In the first decade of the twenty first century
many governments subsidized such developments, especially increasing insulation
and adding renewable energy supplies. In Canada, a country with long winters in
many parts, this support proved especially useful, but given the retrenchment of
federal government spending they were withdrawn in the budget cuts of March
2012, another example of short-term thinking. Similarly the reduction or removal
of subsidies for solar power in several countries since the economic depression of
2008 is having a negative effect on the progress of sustainability.
6.3.3
New Building Management Procedures
At a municipal level some governments and organizations have made progress us-
ing new building management methods that encourage greater sustainability and
adopt stricter energy conservation methods in their buildings. In the early 1980s
Saarbrucken became a pioneer in instituting energy efficiency in buildings. Mu-
nicipal building managers were required to monitor energy consumption and to
set appropriate levels of heating in various areas, such as 12 ﾰC for stairwells and
20 ﾰC for offices, with adjustments for different times of the day. The city also spent
the equivalent of over half a million dollars to increase insulation in its buildings,
