There’s never been a better time to go green. Whether it’s making sure you’re always recycling, taking reusable bags to the grocery store, or injecting your architectural vision with eco-friendly building designs, there’s always something you can do to help preserve the world around us.
Architects have a unique opportunity to do this, as the buildings they design will have a profound impact on the environments they’re constructed in. While even pre-established buildings can be outfitted with eco-friendly design features, why not cut-to-the-chase and make your next project eco-friendly from the very beginning?
Not only is it easier than ever to curate eco-friendly building designs, but doing so can enhance the aesthetic sensibilities of the finished product and cut down on costs in the long run.
What Features Define Eco-Friendly Building Designs?
As valuable as eco-friendly designs are, it’s not always easy to tell what makes something truly eco-friendly. Thankfully, we’re here to help with that! Here are just three (of the many) features that are synonymous with eco-friendly buildings:
An Emphasis on Environmentally Friendly Building Materials
Environmentally friendly building materials come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it’s a house made entirely out of recycled plastics or three-story buildings in New York constructed out of timber, there are countless opportunities to design and build eco-friendly buildings.
According to Forbes, there are even bricks in development filled with synthetic microorganisms that will be able to sense and react to their surroundings and “extract resources from sunlight, water, and air.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
People care about sustainability, and since that trend shows no signs of waning, new and more environmentally friendly building materials are destined to hit the market sooner rather than later.
Renewable Energy Sources
You can’t think about eco-friendly building designs without also considering renewable energy. If you’re in the process of bringing your architectural vision to life, why not implement some renewable energy sources into it? Not only will these save money for the building, but they can also improve the lives of everyone who occupies the building.
For example, maximizing the use of natural light via large windows can have a tangible impact on the overall health of the people inside. As a 2015 study says, “light exposure, or the lack thereof, during work hours may have effects beyond the workplace that impact sleep duration and quality, which may then have further effects on other health factors.”
And since renewable energy sources will lead to your building consuming less energy, water, and other resources, the Green Business Bureau says that “its resale value will be higher” and the businesses that operate within the building may even experience a boost in their brand’s credibility in the eyes of consumers.
Eco-Friendly Window Film
If you’re looking for a simple and visually exciting feature to add to your eco-friendly building designs, then window films might be the answer. Not only can window films—like those offered in our Digital Window Graphics product line—be customized to whatever style and size you want, but they can also be manufactured out of recycled materials.
Eco-friendly window film is a fun and dynamic tool for you to make use of in your eco-friendly building designs. They’re totally customizable, easy-to-install, and can go a long way toward maximizing the stylistic flair and eco-friendliness of your architectural vision.
