As COVID-19 hit unprecedented numbers of infected citizens, an unlikely effect began to take place. Many people began to move houses, and people who lived in tightly-packed cities especially. According to a team of researchers, over 15.9 million people have moved during the coronavirus, according to USPS data they collected in 2021. This is a large number, and with this move also came more houses being built in rural communities. A newer type of work became readily needed: Green architects.
Climate change has continued to pillage every country on Earth. In my home country of the United States, thousands of fires this summer kept me indoors in the state of Idaho. Floods occurred in the East, and other natural disasters. As people begin to become more aware of their effect on the ever-changing planet, people are beginning to build and create houses that are more sustainable for the environment. Green designers and environmentally-friendly builders are being sought after.
This career path is perfect for people who want to positively affect their surroundings and keep the environment at the top of their list for protection. People with majors in ecology, sustainability, architecture, design, and more, are trying their hand at helping create more sustainable houses. Green architecture can be defined as, ¡°an approach to building that minimizes the harmful effects of construction projects on human health and the environment. The "green" architect or designer attempts to safeguard air, water, and earth by choosing eco-friendly building materials and construction practices,¡± (ThoughtCo, 2019).
Green architects are able to make unprecedented decisions for this blooming career path. As they create and design buildings, they usually consider including the following:
- Ventilation systems designed for efficient heating and cooling
- Energy-efficient lighting and appliances
- Water-saving plumbing fixtures
- Landscaping with native vegetation and planned to maximize passive solar energy
- Minimal harm to the natural habitat
- Alternative renewable energy power sources such as solar power or wind power
- Non-synthetic, non-toxic materials used inside and out
- Locally-obtained woods and stone, eliminating long-haul transportation
- Responsibly-harvested woods
- Adaptive reuse of older buildings
- Use of recycled architectural salvage
- Efficient use of space
- Optimal location on the land, maximizing sunlight, winds, and natural sheltering
- Rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse
Only time will tell if this career sticks around, but as renewable energy is more incentivized, I can safely say after researching that green architecture is highly beneficial for a green future.
