Sustainable buildings are efficient on both energy and water. They are made from materials that are environmentally friendly. The following five buildings are wonderful examples of green architecture and engineering from online engineering management program course material. These five buildings, among others, have helped move certain sustainable construction practices into the forefront of standard construction methods.

Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA

This building conserves rainwater in cisterns, and then uses it to irrigate the surrounding landscape. Even condensation from the HVAC system drains into these cisterns. Lights in rooms are programmed with sensors that turn off lights in unused rooms, or when there is enough natural light. This technique is called solar harvesting. Sunlight is used effectively throughout this building. In the lab areas, there are tall ceilings that let in natural light and reflect it using a brise-soleil system. The building therefore saves on energy costs, a yearly average of $175,000.

Colorado Courts Apartments, Santa Monica, CA

This facility was created to encourage low income families and individuals to stay in the area. This facility includes two power generators which provide energy to the entire building. Natural gas and Solar Energy are the two sources of power which allow this building to power itself, completely off the grid. There is no air conditioning in this building. Designers tried to maximize the natural breeze with smart placements of windows. This encourages good ventilation while shade is also provided by solar panels. These apartments are also primarily constructed of concrete that is made from fly ash, and the carpet is comprised entirely of recycled materials.

Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, Oberlin College, Ohio

This learning facility is designed to inform students on contemporary sustainable building practices. It uses technologies such as a water treatment system which uses waste water to supply the toilets after it has been purified. It also has photovoltaic cells to capture sunlight and use it throughout the building, reducing its dependence on coal-based power sources. Additionally, the windows are placed in strategic locations to maximize natural lighting. Also, the students and faculty at Oberlin, have constructed outdoor wetlands surrounding the building, to supplement the depletion of Ohio’s natural wetlands.

Lake View Terrace Library, Lake View, CA

Lake View, California unites the city with a building that represents good green design as well as beauty. The library uses a PV Array as shade for the entrance walkway. These solar cells alone produce at least fifteen percent of the building’s energy. The building also has a set of wind turbines, and it does not rely on any fossil fuel for its operating procedures. Also, Natural light is maximized to reduce the reliance on artificial light. Additionally, the building is designed to self-ventilate, so that the library does not have to depend on air conditioning for air flow. The landscape design around this building uses plants that don’t need water regularly. The landscaping is designed to prevent runoff while also retaining plenty of space for parking. Water is also conserved by aerated faucets which mix air with water to provide a strong flow, while still conserving water.

Wayne L. Morse US Courthouse, Eugene, OR

This sustainable government building replaced a cannery which had a large water runoff problem. In an environment with such heavy rainfall, as in Eugene, runoff can be a major concern. This building and its surrounding landscape were designed specifically to prevent runoff. Thus, underground parking and a lush landscape were made to replace the concrete slab surface that surrounded the old cannery. This building, with tall ceilings, uses clerestory windows to let light into the courtrooms. The heating system was placed in the floor, so that a minimal amount of heat can be used to heat the building when it is cooler. Also, the builders, during construction, placed a high value on using recycled materials.

Sustainable buildings are designed specifically for a particular purpose which the building is to serve. The problems of the environment create the solutions of the building. Each sustainable building should be designed with all factors of the environment in mind. If more of these buildings are built, standard construction methods will move towards more sustainable practices. These buildings are examples of how all buildings should be. At times working with a tight budget is a constraint, but as an engineer, you will know how to solve such problems, and resolve ends. Sustainable design has moved forward in great bounds thanks to these buildings and many others like them. Progress is inevitable, and sustainable design is the way of the future.