Sustainable architecture requires natural resources to reduce polluting emissions

The architectural design With a sustainable approach, it has made its way among professionals in the field, not only as a trend but as a necessity.

During his participation in the Eighth Edition of the Owens Corning Forum, Juan Pablo Serrano, founding partner of the firm Serrano Monjaraz Architects, stressed that the industry has evolved and is now in a decarbonization process.

Figures from the United Nations Organization (UN) indicate that 67% of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the lifestyle of human beings; Therefore, carrying out sustainable actions would reduce these pollutants between 40% and 70% by 2050.

In this context, Verónica González Zavala, founder and director of the VGZArquitectura office, indicated that the first step for a architectural design Efficient is to recognize the site to intervene to understand its context and the natural elements that surround it.

The expert calls this initial recognition passive technology, which allows the creative process of a building to be a response to the conditions of the land.

Use of eco-technologies

One of the main natural elements to take into account in the architectural design and in the efficiency of real estate, it is the sun.

“It is no longer only seen as a supplier of light and atmosphere, but also of energy. In a country like Mexico, where we have 95% solar irradiation, it is criminal not to take advantage of it”, explained Verónica González during her speech at the Helvex 2022 Meeting.

The partner of Serrano Monjaraz Arquitectos agreed that photovoltaic panels transform sunlight with an efficiency of 30% of energy that can be used with more than 90% efficiency.

water problem

There are more and more news reporting that Mexico City is going through a water crisis that affects the daily life of the inhabitants of the capital with frequent cuts in service and shortages.

“Basically what happens is that twice as much water is removed from the subsoil as infiltrates. And many times we believe that a house cannot make a difference, but the responsibility belongs to everyone, and if we change our approach we will be able to reach real solutions”, assured Verónica González.

The specialist highlighted that VGZarquitectura has developed architectural projects hydrologically sustainable in which this natural resource is used up to three times within a home.

“In a house to the west of the City we installed ecotechnologies, in this way we capture rainwater that is immediately made drinkable in a cistern to use it in 100% of the property. (…) We know that the better architecture for the environment it is the one that is not done, but if we are going to do it, let’s see how to integrate it so that it is less invasive”, he concluded.
samanta.escobar@eleconomista.mx