Buildings are part of the major causes of environmental problems and are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. They account for 40% of the end-user energy consumption, 40% of solid waste generation and 12% of fresh water use worldwide. Hence, the need for green buildings can be a good step in mitigating climate change by reducing the energy used in buildings and securing a more sustainable future urgently.
A green building is a construction output with a lifetime of operation which assures the possible sustainable environment while representing the most efficient and least disruptive use of land, water, energy and other resources.
Green buildings use environmentally responsible materials and they are resource efficient. As part of the inhabitants of green buildings, humans have come out with ways to mimic the natural systems in our environment. This is called Biomimicry.
Termites have been around since antiquity. Besides causing damage, they have always been a sign of hard work. Eastgate Shopping Mall, Zimbabwe is a unique complex not only in Zimbabwe but also internationally. The building heats and cools through natural means and it has proved to be highly effectively. It uses energy than similar buildings in the country. It was modelled on the self-cooling termite mounds which cool and heat using energy from the surrounding natural environment. This was one of the first and significant biomimicry infrastructure design to be used in the world.
The mounds are naturally warmer particularly at night, so the warm air rises through the chimneys while pulling cooler air from underneath the chimneys into the building which creates the natural cooling effect.
So, the cool air is trapped in the concrete blocks so that it can be transferred into the building during a warmer day, the concrete acts as a thermal store. Eastgate Shopping Mall, Zimbabwe also mimicked the cactus plant with its large surface of thorns, the shopping mall has plants on its walls to cool down its inside temperatures as well. Surprisingly, the designer considered our Zimbabwe culture by incorporating the Great Zimbabwe quality with concrete and went on to use traditional stool making designs. The designer made sure that most of the materials needed were obtained locally in order to reduce transportation costs which would affect the environment negatively through automobile emissions. Eastgate Shopping Mall was designed to be an effective green building, thanks to the Architect Mick Pearce.
Green buildings do not consider energy efficiency only, they also consider water usage within them. Buildings consume more than 20% of the world’s available water and this is too high for our goal of promoting water efficiency. With the aim to improve water efficiency, buildings are now incorporating technologies in order to reduce water usage through following shower-heads restrictions, utilizing dual-flash valves on water closets and many more. Furthermore, the use of alternative water sources to reduce domestic water usage is advised. This gives a chance for the grey water (waste water that comes out of households) to be reused again instead of using potable water.
It is of great importance that communities start building with a green initiative and approach so that we live in a healthy environment and also preserve it for the future generations. It starts with you!
