Many environmental problems are global in scale and demand international responses. However, they are rooted largely in the behaviour of people and organisation at the local level. Environmental problems are systematic in nature, and the complex, linked chain of cause and effect generally mean that it is the accumulation of small scale environmental transgressions that produce environmental risks of global scale. Human beings since the dawn of civilisation have increasingly altered the balance of nature to suit our purposes such as for settlements, agriculture and industry. Increasingly we have replaced the natural landscape with an urban or built environment. In the pursuit of sustainable development we have, however, realised that our development and economic endeavours must take the environment into consideration, if not, nature or the environment has its way of reminding us through incidences such as the smoke haze that has effected our region and photochemical smog that has enveloped some industrial cities. - With regard to buildings, good building and property management has long recognised the need to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of development on wildlife and natural habitats. Furthermore, for most people the greater part of their time is spent in an environment determined by the quality of building design and maintenance.
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- Apart from the outside environment imposing itself on to buildings, buildings too effects the environment. The interaction of buildings with the environment are as such:
6.1 Buildings are huge energy users. Most power generation produces 'greenhouse gasses' such
as carbon dioxide which contribute to global warming and diminish our natural reserves of
fossil fuels. 6.1.1 The majority of energy consumed in buildings is for air conditioning (either cooling or
heating) and lighting. We can help reduce energy consumption through proper
orientation of the building taking into consideration of the sun and breeze aspects.
Limiting direct sunlight coming into the building, providing adequate insulation as well
creating shade can help reduce the need for extra cooling. Maximizing natural breeze
around the building can also help reduce the need for extra cooling. Especially for
large buildings the temperature inside the building is unevenly distributed. Large
amount of energy could also potentially be saved if independent thermostats or even
independent units are in place to regulate the temperature in different sectors of the
buildings. 6.1.2 With regard to lighting there are various energy saving devices available such as long
life bulbs and sensors which automatically switches the lights on and off automatically
when someone enters and leaves a room. Where allowable the use of natural lighting
should also be exploited to reduce the need for additional lighting. The options to use
alternative sources of energy should also be considered, for example, in water heating
the use of solar energy has become widespread.
6.2 Many products and building materials have unexpected properties which harm the
environment. Examples include chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), halons and methyl bromide which
accentuate depletion of the ozone layer.
6.2.1 CFCs are used in air-conditioning, halons are used in fire protection system and
methyl bromide for fumigation. Due to their effect on the ozone layer the production
hence consumption of these substances are being phased out therefore effecting you
choice of systems as well as influencing design to accommodate their requirements. It
is recommended that alternative substances be selected and since there is no single
alternative selection depends on application as well as health and safety
considerations. Alternatives for CFCs for example include HFC-134a and HCFCs; for
halons alternatives include carbon dioxide, dry powder and water mist; and for
fumigation a common alternative to methyl bromide is phosphine. If the use of ozone
depleting substances is deemed essential it is recommended that the substances be
properly handled, for example containment and reclamation of released methyl
bromide and practice recovery and recycling in the maintenance of air conditioning
and fire protection systems.
6.3 Our management of buildings and the operational activities carried on within them often lead
to the depletion of natural resources. The production of building materials may involve
environmentally damaging extraction methods, resulting in the loss of land, minerals, forests
and other resources which cannot be renewed or replaced. And many of the products we use
at work depend on exploitation of increasingly scarce natural resources.
6.3.1 Where available alternative materials should be used. Increasingly there are new
products in the market made of recycled products especially plastics as building
materials. These products are increasingly being used to replace the traditional use of
wood. In some circumstances these alternative products tend to be more durable.
6.3.2 Unnecessary earthworks should be avoided through careful sitting of buildings. Land
clearance or vegetation removal should be organised and selective i.e. grading only
those part of the site where construction will occur. Inevitably, due to land clearance
activity and removal of vegetation erosion and sedimentation occurs. Construction of
sedimentation traps and temporary sedimentation basin can help control the effects.
As much as possible the natural drainage patterns and topography of the site should
also be preserved because changes in drainage pattern as a result of changes in
topography may increase run-off aggravating erosion and potentially impacting
downstream areas with sedimentation and flooding problems. Maintaining the natural
landform also helps to blend the building with the natural environment.
6.4 The careless generation or disposal of waste during construction and operation of a building
can be a major cause of environmental pollution, ranging from litter to serious chemical
contamination of land or water.
6.4.1 A waste management plan could be introduced to help identify the sources and types
of waste generated. The waste management plan should also identify the proper
disposal procedure for the different types of wastes. It also helps identify areas where
waste could be reduced, for example by maximising use of paper (using both sides)
and possibly introduce recycling schemes.
6.4.2 Common household cleaning products which are also being used in building such as
toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners, furniture polish, rug and upholstery cleaning
products may have either one or more of the following properties - corrosive, toxic,
irritant, flammable. Therefore we must ensure necessary precautions are taken into
account in their storage, use and discharge. Where available the use of
environmentally friendlier products should be considered. Specialised chemicals such
as photographic chemical are also known to be corrosive, toxic and an irritant, hence,
should also be properly handled according to the instructions on the label.
6.5 There is still an urgent need to protect and enhance the quality of the physical and built
environment, in urban and rural areas. For most people the greater part of their time is
spent in an environment determined by the quality of building design and maintenance.
6.5.1 In the tropics human comfort in buildings is primarily achieved through the control of
indoor temperature, humidity and adequate provision and proper utilisation of space.
However there is also growing concern on indoor environment quality. A healthy
indoor environment is one which promotes the comfort, health and well being of the
building users.
6.5.2 For instance, in our hot and humid climate, air conditioning is considered a necessity
but if the air-conditioning systems is not well maintained it may contribute to 'Sick
Building Syndrome'. Over time, dust and other debris accumulate in the network of
ducts that carries air from the cooling coils in to the building, even when the most
efficient filters are used. The accumulated debris encourages microbial growth which
could include viruses; bacteria; fungi algae; pollen and other plant derived materials;
protozoa; arthropods; insects and their excretion - (known as viable pollutants) Apart
from the way buildings are constructed, the advent of modernity i.e. in terms of the
types of building materials, furnishing, equipment and chemicals present in buildings
can potentially emit pollutants. These indoor environment pollutants which are a
concern to human health may also have properties which react with media that archive
buildings are supposed to preserve. So called non-viable pollutants include fumes and
gasses from office supplies, equipment, clothing. carpeting, textile fibres, skin cells,
hair and the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems itself.
6.5.3 Adequate maintenance and ventilation may help reduce the accumulation of the
pollutants. Indoor air quality monitoring if deemed necessary could also be introduced
since the majority of the pollutants are airborne.
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