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CNET NEWS.COM: By 2012, 90 per cent of architects will be incorporating green features into their building designs, compared to less than 50 per cent five years ago, according to a survey by Autodesk who recently revealed they are developing new software to help in the design of eco-buildings.
70 per cent of respondents to Autodesk's Green Index annual survey, which measures how members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in the US are practicing sustainable design, said that client demand is speeding up efforts to design buildings that use less energy, cut material waste, and cost less to operate.
Autodesk, which makes professional, 3D drafting applications, announced at the Greenbuild convention last week its developments in software, code-named "Project Chicago," to help designers score ratings points from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system run by the US Green Building Council. "We want to find ways we can move the building industry forward," said Phil Bernstein, a vice president at Autodesk.
The software includes a ‘sustainability dashboard’ that by displaying data in real time would help designers and engineers measure and respond to changes in indoor air quality, storm water runoff, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and daylight.
At the same convention, Green Building Studio unveiled plans for energy-engineering software to help design carbon-neutral buildings. The application would measure outdoor temperature as well as indoor energy savings, ventilation, and water use. For homeowners, technology from the Lucid Design Group and Agile Waves is able to provide pictures of energy use and abuse that are otherwise impossible to pinpoint and view in a home.
Google too has a free SketchUp application useful for green-thinking design hobbyists -- especially since it works with Google Earth and Maps, which enable people to track changes to landscapes and ecosystems.
The more these kinds of tools are integrated into the building design, the more people will demand energy efficiencies and low-toxic materials as standard features rather than costly extras.
06 August 2008 06:55pm
These ECO-Smart buildings are taking us to our past, if we look to our ancient buildings and designs they are similar to these new ecosmart building designs.
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