HOW GREEN IS MY BUILDING? APPLICATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES CRITERIA FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF 'THE FARMHOUSE'

摘要

In the discussion of environmental architecture, we are conjoining two disciplines, that of architecture, and that of ecology. At their best, green buildings are examples of applied ecology, in that the impacts of architecture are considered from an environmental perspective. To work from an environmental standpoint, designers must understand the constitution, organization and structure of ecosystems. By utilizing the concepts, methods, and language of ecology, designers can then create architecture that intentionally engages the natural systems of the site. As we begin to recognize the impact of built environments on the natural environment, the question of our assessment methods becomes more critical. Traditional environmental impact assessment methods are based on quantifying the negative impacts of man-made interventions on the natural environment. These indexes are useful for indicating and perhaps for establishing environmental impact standards. However, they lack an ecologically derived baseline, or standard of measure, under which sustainable developments can be analyzed and compared on a universal basis. The Ecosystem Services Criteria study uses an objective metric of carrying capacity as an ecologically derived baseline to assess building sustainability. The Farmhouse, a low energy, biological material based building located in Boulder, Colorado is evaluated to show the application of this method. The relative ecological impacts of energy and materials for this project is described, as well as identification of effective strategies for reducing environmental impacts of typical building types.