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Can industrial architecture be environmentally sustainable?

Carmen Percy

Industrial architecture has important influences on the environment, especially in terms of energy consumption, waste production and natural resource utilization. Sustainability in industrial architecture aims to minimize these effects, bringing together efficiency, ecology and economy. It is important to consider that industrial architecture plays a vital role in the maintenance and progress of human civilization. It has been observed that industry and sustainability can coexist.

However, it is essential to question the real application of sustainable concepts in the industrial architecture field. A significant part of the industry still operates in ways that increase the earth's environmental impact. Despite the growth of sustainable technologies in architecture, the industry still produces high levels of GHG emissions that are a major contributing factor to global warming. It is necessary to examine if industrial architecture can be environmentally sustainable.

For instance, sustainability notion emphasizes on the reduction of the use of non-renewable energy sources and promotes the use of eco-friendly materials. However, most industrial buildings are constructed with concrete, steel, and glass, which result in high energy expenditure and put the environment at risk. Eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, thatch, or straw can be utilized in the construction of industrial buildings, but challenges arise in terms of their durability.

Additionally, achieving sustainability in industrial architecture requires a response to a series of questions such as: what benefit will sustainable industry buildings have on the environment? Why is sustainable industrial buildings costly? How are these buildings constructed? What are the available materials? What impact will the materials have on the environment?

In conclusion, industrial architecture can be environmentally sustainable; however there is a need for policies, regulation, and global standards to encourage industrialists to embrace sustainability principles in the construction of industrial buildings. Sustainable architecture creates a more green-economical approach that reduces negative environmental impact. Therefore, the construction of environmentally sustainable industrial buildings is a step towards achieving a balance between economic, social, and environmental concerns in human actions.