Architecture to Combat Global Warming

Architecture to Combat Global Warming Introduction: Global warming is serious problem affecting our planet, if continually ignored, climate change, air quality, the environment, and over all quality of life of mankind is at serious risk. As Architects what measures can we take to prevent and adjust to a changing world? Even though it is very difficult to reverse all the damage done by global warming and get cooperation by all industries and fields, I believe it is an Architects job to lead and be the change we so desperately need. The purpose of this research report is to bring awareness not only to global warming but also look into the importance of Architecture, to combat global warming. I believe Architecture is the key to changing future infrastructure that leaves no building footprint and works with environment not against it. My report will address questions of what global warming is and its causes and effects. Also I will begin to address the role Architects play in regard to this changing environment. I provide key components Architects keep in mind in their design decisions, like skin and site placement, and give building precedents that display progressive green design. Global Warming: In order for anyone to deal with crisis of global warming, we must understand what it is and how it came to be. According to the United Nations Panel on Climate Change, climate change or global warming intensifies the greenhouse effect, a natural process that keeps the Earths climate in an agreeable range for life.Located in the Earths upper atmosphere, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases constantly absorb heat and reflect it back to the Earths surface. These greenhouse gases keep our planets temperature fairly warm and habitable for us to live. The greenhouse effect is a very important and vital part of the Earths ecosystem and balance but from the beginning of the industrial age, humans have increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide due to combustions of fossil fuels. The extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas to generate electricity, to provide fuel for transportation, and drive our manufacturing processes, results in carbon dioxide emissions. Role of Architects: Architects potentially play a huge role in reducing the rate of global warming and have an immense impact on how we run our society, our infrastructure, and our industry. In essence, they play a major role and can tremendously contribute to how we can deal and overcome the environmental crisis we are in. The practice of architecture exercises a significant influence on the physical environment in which we live. This is true not only for buildings that architects design but also of the effect their decisions have on the natural environment. Architects must realize that a building requires energy for operation, for demolitionfrom the productions of a steal beam to delivering it in a fuel consuming truck, finally to raising it into place with a fuel consuming crane.4 All these operations should not be taken for granted; architects must use our precious non renewable resources wisely, by designing energy conscious and sustainable buildings. Although it is not the architects main job to save energy, it is important for the architect to use energy carefully and ensure a suitable habitat for future generations. A building must be able to sustain itself through an energy crisis, working with the environment not against it. Now that sustainability and green architecture has come to forefront by leaders like Al Gore and Barack Obama, it is imperative for architects to take initiative. Architecture Energy Consumption and Building Operations: Before the 1970s the United States was forced to re-evaluate energy production and consumption, Architects had no care about the relationship between energy use and buildings. For example the skin of a building was thought of as a two dimensional object, that just defined the edge between the inside and outside of a building.Now this attitude toward architecture is changing, when one realizes the impact architecture has on energy consumption. Between thirty to thirty six percent of natural energy consumption goes to building operations. Some examples of these building operations include air conditioning, lighting, fans, motors and domestic hot water. By the mid 1980s Architects reduced building operations by fifteen percent less than the previous decade, due to an awareness of building construction and use of materials.4 An example of such advancement is the raised insulation standards and many HVAC and lighting systems that are inefficient have been removed. These movements toward green architecture and meeting of LEED standards are very important steps Architects can take to change the way we building our infrastructure. Key Architecture Strategies and Components regarding the environment: The building must be responsive 4 to the elements, the environment and the building must be able to coexist with in a neutral balance. Architects must build site specifically, taking the orientation of a building regarding solar angles and prevailing winds into account. For example the Centre International Rogier Project located in Brussels is a great example of a tower block being site specific and site favorable. The renovated features include ventilated cavity windows, operable windows, energy generated wind turbines, favorable sun orientation for wind turbines and solar panels. The use of natural forces can reduce energy costs and work with environment rather than against it. The design of a building to change with its environment is very important, for example a building with a dynamic 4 skin is very vital, the use of a shutters, awnings, shading systems, or light sensitive glass4 can help lower energy cost, while giving the infrastructure a sense of self sustainability and an eco-friendly outlook. These small measures can make a huge difference in energy conservation; alleviating our dependence on heat engines, as well as reducing emissions of greenhouse gases into the environment. If this trend in green architecture continues, in the future we may have buildings that generate their own clean and renewable energy and have enough left over to help out other urban areas. Lastly I would like to give some examples of sustainable architecture that work and where the architects took initiative in creating new innovative design ideas to help alleviate enhanced global warming. The Ventiform research project, designed by Foster and Partners although never built is a great example of new thinking with in their field. The high-rise building uses an aerodynamic form, which enhances the energy generating capabilities of the wind turbine located at the top of the building and the building self sufficiency.The high-rise structures wind turbine not only generates clean, renewable energy but also can power 1500 suburban homes, an incredible design proposal. Conclusion: As the world finally comes to terms with global warming and how the planet is being affected by the human footprint, we realize what an important role Architects play in helping slow down global warming. Architecture is a vital tool not only for expressing art through forms, but also it is a way to help sustain and better our environment. References: Dumaine, Brian. Plot to Save the Planet: How Visionary Entrepreneurs and Corporate Titans are Creating Real Solutions to Global Warming. New York: Crown Business, 2008. Gissen, David. Big and Green: Toward Sustainable Architecture in the 21st Century. New York: Princeton Architectural P, 2003. Stein, Carl. Advp -1 : Energy-Conscious Architecture. Washington D.C.: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1993. Langwith, Jacqueline. Renewable Energy. New York: Greenhaven P, Incorporated, 2008. Tennesen, Michael. Global Warming. New York: Alpha Books, 2008. Websites: http://www.effectofglobalwarming.com/images/What-is-global-warming-img.jpg http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/10/24/stat-green-building.jpg

Comparison of XTO Energy and Devon Energy Companies :: Energy Business Companies Workforce Essays

Comparison of XTO Energy and Devon Energy Companies Company Background XTO Energy Inc. is a premier domestic natural gas and oil producer engaged in the acquisition, exploitation and development of quality, long-lived gas and oil properties. The Company, whose predecessor companies were established in 1986, completed its initial public offering in May 1993. Its properties and activities are concentrated in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Alaska and Louisiana. Competitive Environment XTO operates in the lower-cap oil and gas business. They compete directly with larger independent companies like Devon Energy, Anadarko, and Apache. XTO’s main focus is acquiring established, long-lived properties, which are low in risk, and apply the best technology possible to maximize production. Structure Based on interviews with management, we found that XTO’s management style encourages innovation. Employees are encouraged to ask for forgiveness and not permission. We’ve learned this semester through lecture and readings, that this management technique empowers employees and gives them the autonomy they like and the freedom to create. Employees that work under this type of management style are not faced with the possibility of loosing their jobs if they make a business decision that turns out to have negative consequences. Employees are free to innovate and take pragmatic risks. The company culture at XTO is described as laid back and relaxed. XTO believes that major oil and gas companies are unable to implement this type of culture due to their size. Since XTO is smaller, the company is able to deploy a much different policy from what the majors employ. As the company rapidly grows, this relaxed practice has become a concern for XTO’s management. The compa ny has recently grown so much that they’ve had to pull back slightly on the relaxed atmosphere. Management has been working with Human Resources to increase the amount of structure within the company. It remains to be seen if this policy will stifle company innovation. XTO’s main focus in managing people has been to adapt and adhere to employees’ interests and skills. If an employee becomes unproductive or disinterested with her current job accountabilities, management will find alternatives for the employee first before termination. Management will transfer an employee to a business unit where she may have the best opportunity to excel, and where her skill set and interests will be most utilized - an alignment with the â€Å"best practices† concept studied in this course.

Salt and ice Minnesotas battle

Salt and Ice; Minnesotas Battle Abstract Salt is applied in the thousands of tons every year to reduce ice and, in turn, reduce accidents on Minnesota roads. When the ice and snow melt each spring, the majority of this solution is relieved into rivers and lakes through storm drains on Minnesota roads. The salt negatively affects fish and aquatic plants by dehydrating them and altering fertilization. The damaging effects of sodium chloride are long term and not easily repaired. The Minnesota Department of Transportation can take ffective action by reducing salt usage and opting to alternate the biodegradable solution potassium formate.Every year the metropolitan area of Minnesota uses 350,00 tons, commerical and government, of road salt. (Homstad). To put this in perspective, if the salt was distributed to the residence of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, each person would lay 260 pounds of salt on the roads. Sodium Chloride(NaCL), the salt that is applied to roads, is the most common p ractice to reduce ice on roads in Minnesota and around snowy parts of the United States. Salt has been the most effective means of deicing roads because it lowers the freezing point of water, there for melting the snow, and it is the one of the cheapest products to use.According to a study done by Marquette University in 1992, accident rates are eight times higher when salt is not applied to icy, snowy roads. Salt is proven an effective reducer of accidents (Kuemmel). What people commonly are not aware of is that salt is generally effective until 1 5 degrees farenheit. After that point, the salts ability to break the bond between the ice and the road rapidily decreases ntil, at about 5f, salt is no longer a method to melt ice. Once the ice and snow melt, the water product runs into storm drains, which consiquntly drain into our bodies of water.The main drainage exit of metro storm drains is into our rivers and streams. The most common; the Mississippi river. Studies vary but between 70 and 80 percent of all salt applied to roads, ends up in water bodies. Both sodium and chloride are natural products, both already present in water and in living species. However, increased levels of both elements have a deadly, long term effect on aquatic life. Chloride in high concentrations is especially harmful to fresh water aquatic life. It dehydrates plants and reduces areation in water, giving fish less oxygen.The salt, also draws moisture from fish and water species, creating an imblance in electrolytes (Marshall). Not only does this imbalance kill and harm living fish, it often times creates alterations in the tisn a ast. Otten time this chloride increase reduces fish's fertility and increases disease suseptibilty for generations to come. Education will only go so far. Humans, especially Americans, have a psycological ard-wiring to think that more is more. Naturally, the assumption is made that applying more salt deices the roads faster. This is incorrect. We generally need a very small amount.Increase in amount does not lower the freezing point further. The most viable solution is to use alternative chemicals to melt salt. Potassium formate is a more costly alternative. The substance melts ice at about the same temperateure that salt does however, the product is biodegradeable. (M ¤Ã‚ ¤tt ¤) It has little to no negative effects in water and generally biodegrades in the ground before ever reaching the water. IJSNLM) The product is man-made, so it is more costly, however a little bit goes a long way with the substance and it does not contain chloride; the most harmful factor in salt.The solution is not to replace salt. Salt is an effective deicer and with reduced usage and usage n rotation with potassium formate, chloride levels will be lowered in water bodies. Training programs are currently in the works to educate snowplow drivers and residence as to how much salt is necessary. (MPCA) The drivers who took these classes significantly reduced t he amount of salt they were dispersing on roads owever they are not mandatory so not all drivers are taking them and there for the overall effect is quite small.Storm drain alterations are a solution but not an effective enough one. In placeing filterationg systems within them small amounts of salt can be prevented from entering lakes and rivers. These filteration systems would still allow the majority of chloride to enter water bodies because upon sodium chloride melting ice it sperates itself into its two elements and essentially disolves in the water. Understandably, tax payers may disagree with the higher price of potassium ormate. However, the solution is not to replace salt with this substance.The solution is to use potassium formate in conjunction with salt therefore, reducing salt usage and chloride concentrations in water bodies. The price would only be slightly more and would reduce prices for fish when more can be naturally harvested. The price for water filtration and pu rification will lower as well when salinity levels decrease. With correct usage, Potassium formate is only needed in small quantities. The benefit to consumers being able to consume more local fresh water fish is also valuable.

African Americans And Caucasian Americans - 1400 Words

The tensions are still there also because there still continue to be separate standards society sets for African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Would individuals feel the need to set or think about the standards if we did not have black history month? This notion probably would not cross the minds of individuals if certain months of the year did not celebrate one race individually. Interracial marriage or dating is still considered a socially unacceptable sighting or experience. Individual feels as if they should only date their own ethnicity because it is the â€Å"right thing to do†, but in my eyes we are all the same. The perception of African Americans in America will stay the same. The perception of African Americans is that we always play the race card and we always act as the victim in any situation. In most situations the outcome or conclusion can be perceived in many ways, African Americans are never giving the benefit of the doubt. The Opportunity Agenda conducte d three studies to gain knowledge on the perception of African Americans in society. One of the best-documented themes in the research is that the overall representation of African American men and boys in the media is a distortion of reality in a variety of ways. The perception is that we are all criminals, live in poverty and do not try to succeed in life besides playing sports or having musical career. The positive images and attributes with which African American males are associated tend to beShow MoreRelatedAfrican Americans And The Caucasian Race1666 Words   |  7 PagesDo African Americans as a people have equal rights as those of the Caucasian race? Are we not under the same Constitution and Judicial system? Some would argue yes and some would argue no. What side are you on? Why is it that so many race crimes have occurred against African Americans in the past seven years and the race of the person committing the crime is of the Caucasian race? 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