Sustainable Structures

Sustainability has become more of a societal focus, and therefore has become a major consideration in the design of modern structures. Check out these world-class examples of green buildings:

1. K2 Housing Project

   K2 Housing Projects is a green apartment complex in Victoria, Australia with a 200-year life span. The structure, consumes no non-renewable energy, as generates renewable energy, has been deemed the most sustainable public housing by the Victorian Government.

   

   http://www.designinc.com.au/

2. One Angel Square

   Located in Manchester, UK, One Angel Square is an office building designed with sustainability in mind. Using underground concrete earth tubes, the building is heated and cooled using significantly less energy than traditional sources. The building also harvests and recycles rainwater.

   

   By David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0

3. The Crystal

   Opened by Siemens in London in 2012, the Crystal is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings. The structure generates its own energy using solar power and ground source heat pumps. It was the first building to earn accreditation from LEED and BREEAM.

   

4. Pearl River Tower

   Pearl River Tower generates wind and solar energy. The 71-storey tower was also designed to harvest daylight, all of these engineered features contribute to the structure’s high energy efficiency status.

   

   By Bradwilkins – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

5. Manitoba Hydro Place

   Manitoba Hydro Place is a 22-storey building that uses 70% less energy than comparatively sized office buildings. The structure uses passive systems, including natural daylight solutions and south-facing winter gardens, to reduce its carbon footprint.

   

   By 1ajs – Own work, CC BY 3.0

6. RSPB Environment and Education Centre

   The RSPB Environment and Education Centre was designed with sustainable development and environmental performance in mind. It uses natural ventilation, and maximizes on daylight to reduce energy consumption, moreover it uses photovoltaic panels to generate enough energy to power the structure.

   

   http://www.vhh.co.uk/our-work/rspb-envrironment-and-education-centre

7. The National Trust Headquarters

   The National Trust Headquarters in Swindon is a 76,500 square foot sustainable office space. Designed to minimize the use of artificial light and maximize the use of daylight, the National Trust Headquarters has won numerous green and innovation awards.

   

   By Roger Cornfoot, CC BY-SA 2.0