Minds On

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What does is it mean to be sustainable?

What do you think of when someone uses the word sustainable?

Sustainability

Sustainability means living within the limits of available resources. These resources may include Earth’s natural resources and/or the economic and human resources of a society.

Explore the following images and descriptions. As you are exploring, attempt to create your own definition of sustainable design. Record your ideas as you are exploring and then put together your definition.

Record your definition of sustainable designs in a method of your choice.

If possible, share your definition with a partner.

Action

Get ready, get set…

What is sustainable design?

Sustainable design is the idea of designing a product that attempts to reduce its negative impact on the environment. Sustainable design also considers the health and comfort of those living in the structures and attempts to improve the lives of those living or working there. The building designs you explored in the images and descriptions from the Minds On section are each examples of sustainable designs.

The overall goals of sustainable design are to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy environments.

Return to your definition in the Minds On section. How close was your version of the definition?

Use the ideas explored in sustainable design to respond to the following questions.

For each sentence, select the missing word.

The importance of sustainable design

When designing sustainably, the designs help to meet the needs of those who will be using these products while protecting the environment. These designs are considered sustainable because the designers are also thinking about the needs to future generations.

  • Sustainable design considers using products that are not harmful to the environment.
  • Sustainable design considers how to use renewable energy but also to find ways to manage and use less water and energy, relying on solar and wind energy.
  • Sustainable design considers reducing the transportation of materials, producing less waste and how to manufacture the products.

Reflection

Return to the Minds On images and descriptions one more time. Can you imagine how each of these structures were designed sustainably?

Sustainable materials

What kind of materials could be used to design and create these sustainable buildings? Explore the following tabs to learn more about some sustainable materials.

Timber, or wood, is the material with the lowest environmental impact. A building made of timber is strong, can be constructed quickly. A wooden frame of a house being built.

Straw bale buildings are designed and created using agricultural waste that is brought from local areas. Buildings using straw bales are up to three times more fire resistant than other materials and are well insulated. A straw bale wall under construction.

Sustainable energy solutions such as solar roof tiles help reduce the amount of non-renewable resources are being used as energy sources. By creating solar roofs, the panels catch a lot of sunlight. A series of solar panel tiles on the side of a roof.

The use of bamboo is becoming more popular as construction materials. It is fast to produce and inexpensive. Bamboo is used to construct rooves, walls, floors, and decks. The inside of a multi-story bamboo building.

A green roof, or living roof, is filled with plants. It is created using soil and waterproof casings. It is durable, lasting for 4o years. It can be considered an air conditioning because it traps cool air and it purifies the air. A green roof with a variety of short mosses and grasses growing.

There is no shortage of plastic being produced. Over 300 million tons of plastic is produced each year. Plastic takes around 1 000 years to decompose so it needs to be recycled.

In the past few years this has become a popular construction material. Plastic concrete is being created as a building material. It helps reduce pollution caused by plastic as well as greenhouse gas emissions through the burning the plastic.

Plastic can also be used to make windows, insulation, flooring materials and pipes.

Construction materials created from recycled waste plastics.

There are two renewable energy sources that can be used for plumbing systems.

One option is rainwater tanks. Rainwater tank systems include collecting rainwater, storing it in a tank and then using it as the water system in the building.

A second renewable option is a solar power water tank.

A solar water tank converts solar energy to hot and running water.

A rainwater collection tub sits underneath a drainpipe and next to plants.

Reflection

Which of the sustainable building materials you explored in the previous tabs could be found and used in building designs in your city, town or community?

Record your ideas in a method of your choice.

Designing a sustainable building

Who creates these sustainable building designs?

An architect is someone who designs, plans, and supervises the construction of a building.

Architecture is an art form that works together with science to design and create places where people live, work, eat, and play.

An architect is important at every stage of construction from the design to the completion of the project.

In the design phase, the architect needs to consider the following rules:

  • building rules
  • safety rules
  • planning rules
  • laws that protect the local environment

When designing a sustainable building, the architect has to consider how to limit the impact humans have on the environment.

Considering the impact on the environment includes:

  • the choice of building materials
  • the design of choices such as heating, cooling, waste, and plumbing systems
  • how to integrate the building into the natural landscape
  • how to implement renewable resources

Use your understanding of the role of an architect to answer the following true or false questions.

Go!

Designing your sustainable building

Imagine you are an architect who is entering a provincial competition for funding your own sustainable building design.

What makes your design special? What makes it sustainable?

Create a plan for your building design.

Record your plan using a method of your choice.

In your building plan, be sure to include:

If you need inspiration, re-visit the Minds On images and descriptions, and each activity in the Action section to help you.

Consolidation

Putting it all together

Now that you have planned your design, you will create blueprints of your building as part of the competition. A blueprint is a design plan, or a technical drawing of a plan to build a building. For your building, you will decide what is included in the front of your building and on top of your building.

Before beginning, explore the following images and descriptions.

Creating your blueprint

Create your blueprint, or your plan for a sustainable building, using one of the following options.

Materials

Materials

Possible materials you might need for this learning activity:

  • a blank sheet of paper or graph paper
  • drawing materials such as pencils or crayons
  • an electronic tablet for drawing
  • a recording method
  • any other art materials you like to use

Student Success

Exploring digital creation options

When you are considering digital creation options, explore the variety of digital applications available!

Safety

Always be sure to do your safety checks before you do an activity.

Before you begin, check:

Now it’s your turn to create! Choose one of the following options to try out!

Option 1: Description

Possible materials you might need for this option:

  • a recording method

Record a detailed plan of your blueprint. Include details about what you would include in the front entrance of your building. What is included in the plan for your building’s roof? What are the diverse sections in your building? Which materials would you use? How would the materials be laid out in your design? Include detailed information about the area and perimeter of your design. Be as specific as possible.

Include any details that would help the audience understand the landscape around the building as well. Be sure to consider the scale of each portion of the building and its size in relation to the environment surrounding it.

Option 2: Digital

Possible materials you might need for this option:

  • an electronic tablet or computer for drawing or digitally creating

Use a digital program to create your blueprint. Start by planning what kind of building you will create. How will you use the sustainable design elements discussed in the learning activity? Decide if you are using a specific kind of building material or a sustainable system.

Digitally create your piece using your plan! Remember to include details that create the message you would like to communicate.

Option 3: Materials

Possible materials you might need for this option:

  • a blank sheet of paper or graph paper
  • drawing materials such as pencils or crayons
  • any other art materials you like to use

Create a Blueprint Grid in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Blueprint Grid

Press the Activity button to access the Blueprint Grid.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Sketch out two detailed plans of your blueprint to display the front entrance of your building, and the overall layout of your building. Include details about what you would include in the front entrance of your building. What is included in the plan for your building’s roof? What are the diverse sections in your building?

Which materials would you use? How would the materials be laid out in your design? Include detailed information about the area and perimeter of your design. Be as specific as possible.

For your front entrance sketch, include any details that would help the audience understand the landscape around the building as well. Be sure to consider the scale of each portion of the building and its size in relation to the environment surrounding it.

For your layout sketch, include each room in your blueprint. Calculate the perimeter and area of each room. Be sure that the rooms are to scale, meaning a room that is twice the size as another room should reflect that in the calculations. For example, if the bedroom is 1/3 of the size of the kitchen, the measurement would be a bedroom area is 9m2 and a kitchen area is 27m2.

Becoming a sustainable designer

Reflecting on your design and your choices, answer the following questions:

  • What is the area of your design that best shows your sustainability choices?
  • What was the part of this creative design that surprised you the most? Why?

Reflection

As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.

I feel…

Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

If possible, create a model of your front view or a diorama of your aerial view using materials of your choice.