Environmentally friendly architecture is an increasingly large focus, and ‘Green Architecture’ is an industry buzzword that praises developments with minimal impact on the earth. With the recent Met Office report stating that summer temperatures could rise 5.4°C in the next 50 years, climate change is a bigger concern than ever. Here at JDW, we believe that each of our projects should be completed in the most environmentally responsible manner possible. Below are some of the ways that we believe architecture can take action on climate change.

Selecting the right location

Architects must ensure that their proposed plans are not detrimental to local wildlife. All developments are carried out in compliance with the regulation in place to preserve habitats and numbers of protected species.

Particularly for residential developments, it is advantageous if local infrastructure is already in place. If local shops, schools and doctors’ surgeries are within walking or cycling distance, residents can be less reliant on pollutant car usage. For large scale residential developments, the capacity of local amenities must be taken into consideration.

Saving water and energy

To reduce the ongoing environmental impact of the development, measures can be taken to reduce the water and energy usage. Fixtures can be designed into the building to reduce the flow of showers or taps, reducing the volume of water used as well as lowering running costs.

For more efficient heating systems, proper wall insulation can help remediate the temperature in hot or cold weather. Well placed windows can allow for maximum use of natural light, not only reducing electricity demand but also naturally heating rooms. Geothermal heating and solar panels can also be considered as more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional central heating.

These measures are less harmful to the environment, as well as more cost-effective for the building users in the long term.

A responsible construction process

To ensure the environment is prioritised throughout the entire process, architects must ensure they collaborate only with contracted companies who share their values. Building teams must dispose of any waste materials correctly, making sure they do not pollute waterways or the local area, and taking care not to disturb local wildlife.If you would like to learn more about our stance on architecture and its environmental impact, please call our team on 01633 245020 or get in touch here.