Page 67 - Green Builder May-June 2020 Issue

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SMART CITIES

Clearing the air. Factories and cars
taken out of service due to
COVID-19 has given India its clearest
view of the Himalayas in decades.
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

the reduction of air pollution. These things certainly emphasize the THE NEED FOR GREEN BUILDING
relationship between the past, regular level of human activity and During this current time period, there is a growing, pent up demand
our current situation, and it raises awareness of how it does have a for construction, including residential construction. People have
direct effect on our environment. postponed remodeling, additions and new home projects, and have
delayed and will continue to delay construction of all building types.
RISING AWARENESS After the current restrictions due to the coronavirus begin to be
This pandemic is raising everyone’s awareness of the reality of lifted, there will be:
how an invisible health issue can bring everything to a halt. That 1. Increased interest in health-related design and construction,
is likely to translate into an increase in the overall importance including health security and health monitoring. This will include
of health-related issues in green building as we go forward. This selection of products and building materials, and all methods of
will be reflected in everything from product selection to reduce construction.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VoCs), to increased awareness and 2. More designs of houses and buildings with spaces that accom-
importance of well-designed HVAC systems. Designers and building modate online-at-home for social, educational and work reasons.
user will have a higher level of consideration of the ventilation of This will include home offices and ADUs (accessory dwelling units)
buildings and whether “outside air” around their building is really 3. Raised interest and awareness, on the part of clients, in the Circular
the “fresh air” that was assumed in the design of homes and build- Economy relative to the use of recycled products in design, con-
ings in the past. This will result in consideration of higher levels of struction and living, in new houses and buildings. This will include
design and filtering in new HVAC systems, as well as supplemental the plan for recycling of building materials at building remodeling,
devices in buildings to detect and remove certain specific types adaptive reuse, and demolition.
of particles, and a finer degree of particles of air pollution that do One thing is certain: smart green building will become more
affect human health. important than ever as we move ahead. GB
No one knows for certain exactly what the future holds or how long
a recovery may take. It may be very different in various geographical Terry Beaubois is an architect with 40 years of experience in residential,
locations. Because the economy was shut down on purpose to fight commercial, industrial and public buildings. He is the CEO of BKS:
the spread of a virus, the coming recovery may be quite different Building Knowledge Systems, LLC. (www.bksco.com/tbagbm) He may
from past recoveries that were due to mostly economic reasons. be contacted at tbeaubois@gmail.com

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