Green architecture, a growing construction trend

Nirwono Joga ,  Contributor ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 04/28/2008 11:42 AM  |  Supplement

As the quality of our environment worsens as a result of global warming, all parties must take part in saving the earth. Based on the concept of sustainable development, today various industrial innovations have been developed in architecture and in terms of building materials. The concept of green architecture emphasizes increased efficiency in the use of water, energy and building materials, ranging from the design and the construction to the maintenance of the buildings.

To this end, a well-thought-out and green building plan is necessary. The construction design of a house or a storied building takes into account the circulation of natural air and light.

The right building materials plays a major role in the construction of environmentally friendly buildings. The quality of building materials can affect the price. Therefore, in constructing a building, building materials must suit the budget available. The budget should be allocated right from the initial process of planning, i.e. prior to starting construction, so that spending is kept under control and the building construction will be of good quality.

A survey must first be conducted to find building materials that are suited to the needs of the building and at the same time are environmentally friendly. This will be seen by how long the construction takes, how practical it is and the results obtained.

The construction of a building must also be supported by the use of appropriate, efficient and green building materials. A number of producers have turned out new innovations that can minimize environmental contamination, reduce the use of nonrenewable natural resources by means of optimizing the use of optional basic materials and efficiently using energy as a whole.

Environmentally friendly raw materials play a significant role in maintaining the sustainability of the earth. Various technological innovations in the production process continue to be developed so that the raw material industry remains environmentally friendly. This is in line with the Kyoto Protocol agreement in reducing the impact of global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect. The building material industry plays a very important role in the production of quality, green building materials.

The concept of sustainable construction can be applied by means of using optional materials and optional fuel that can reduce the emission of CO2 so that the CO2 level is lower than the normal level in the raw material produced earlier. Optional raw materials used are also varied. Building materials also affect the consumption of energy in a building. When a building is being constructed, the energy consumption is between 5-13 percent but during the life cycle of the building, the energy consumed stands at 87 percent to 95 percent.

For the main frame of the building and the roof, wood has now begun to be replaced by light steel. Illegal logging and uncontrolled felling of trees in forest areas have led to a less frequent use of wood as a manifestation of people's concern over the issue and the sustainability of the earth. Wood has gradually begun to be replaced by light steel and aluminum in an effort to translate into reality the concept of a green building.

There are several quality levels of light steel, depending on its raw material. Steel structures for roofs and building are superior to wooden frames. Steel structures are stronger. They are not porous, are rust-proof and termite proof. They are also lighter so that they will not be a burden to the construction or foundation and can be installed on the basis of the architectural design and the civil engineering calculations. Because of the flexibility of light steel, a building that uses light steel is often called "the sexiest green building".

Bluescope Lysaght light steel of PT Bluescope Steel Indonesia is the pioneer in the construction of buildings and houses based on light steel. The quality of the light steel produced by Bluescope Lysaght, which is of an international standard and has been used in various countries, makes it a frequent choice in many building and housing construction projects in Indonesia.

To be convinced about the superiority of Bluescope Lysaght light steel products, one can visit their factory in Cibitung. In this combination of factory and warehouse, we can see the quality of Bluescope Lysaght in its imposing factory in the Cibitung industrial estate. The bold blue color of the steel is attractive and it is flexible in the sense that it can easily be shaped to suit the desired architectural design. Hence buildings using this light steel are dubbed "sexy green buildings".

In some cases, window and door frames are also made of aluminum, which is the next generation building material. ALUPLUS (aluminum plus) is one of the makers of aluminum for construction purposes. When compared with similar aluminum products, the aluminum made by ALUPLUS is superior in its high degree of recyclability. It has been proven to be non-toxic and noncarcinogenic (unlike PVC). There are no legal issues attached to its use, such as wood obtained from illegal logging and is provides better insulation against heat. Besides, there is no maintenance needed so it suits a modern lifestyle. It is specially designed for double glazing insulation to reduce heat transmission, helping to save energy and reduce electricity bills. In addition, it is available in a wide array of stunning finishes using powder coating (chromatic, wooden) and three-dimensional finish (texture being the new color).

ALUPLUS gives a one-stop service for aluminum designs. A visitor can select and order various sizes and shapes for window and door frames. These aluminum frames are made to order to suit the needs of the buyer. ALUPLUS aluminum window and door frames have proven to be stronger and more durable. They are rust-proof and will never need to be replaced. Only the rubber that holds it in place may need to be replaced. These aluminum frames will not become waste as they can be recycled. They are highly flexible for use in houses and multistory buildings in various mountain areas (country houses) and coastal areas (resort buildings).

Cement, ceramic, brick, aluminum, glass and steel are the main raw materials in the construction of a building and they play an important role in translating into reality the concept of green construction.

The building's architectural design can ensure that the temperature within it is comfortable and cool and this can also be achieved by using materials for the walls that absorb heat from the sun. Natural bricks or light bricks made in a factory from a mixture of sand, lime, cement and other materials are usually fire-resistant and can stand high stress. Their water absorbing capacity is low but they are sound-proof and can significantly absorb solar heat. The rooms inside the building will feel cooler reducing the use of air-conditioners, thereby saving energy and lowering electricity bills.

The green concept has now also entered the sanitation area. Ground water contamination has reached an alarming level. Some ground water in urban areas has been contaminated by E-coli bacteria originating from domestic waste not properly processed in the septic tank. The biological filter of a fiberglass septic tank is specially designed not to contaminate the environment.

An environmentally friendly septic tank must have a system of gradual decomposition complete with a disinfectant system. It must not take too much space, be leak-proof and corrosion-resistant. It must be easy and quick to install and must not require special treatment. Human feces have to go through a biological decomposition process and must be filtered in stages through three compartments. The contact media used disinfects the bacteria to ensure that the human waste will not contaminate the ground water and the environment.

When alternative natural power is used to generate green electricity, it is cheap and will never be exhausted. The government must encourage the use of alternative energy in buildings to avert an electricity crisis. The use of solar cell panels to help reduce the need for electrical power in a building is advantageous because there is no risk of a short circuit and thereby reduces the risk of fire. Besides, this alternative energy leads to the more efficient use of electricity and therefore cut electricity costs. Another advantage is that solar cell panels do not need intensive maintenance. These solar cell panels are placed on the roof on an angle, following the path of the sun from east to west. The capacity of a solar cell panel must continue to be expanded so that it can meet most of the electrical energy needs of a building. Green construction products will result in better buildings and at the same time this will help conserve the earth.

-- The writer is a specialist in architectural issues.

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