Sustainable  building 

At the National level, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive (OFEE) is promoting sustainable stewardship throughout the federal government to reduce the impact on the ecosystems around us due to enormous amounts of energy, water, and materials required for the constructing and operating buildings. This also creates large amounts of waste. The Federal government has been a leader in creating healthier and more resource efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition by promoting the concept of sustainable buildings.

At local level, civil engineers are taking steps in building healthier and energy efficient buildings using the concept of sustainable building. In construction, civil engineers look to lessen the impact on the environment with site design and where to put the new building.  One of the ways to lower the impact on the environment is to use natural products.  Things should be able to re-grow or replenish quickly.  An example of a natural product used is the Southern White Pine.  You can also use local products to cut the shipping costs, saving gas, and reducing greenhouse gas.

Other ways to help lower the impact is to place the building and windows strategically.  This means not to put a building at a historical site or places that have natural resources.  One way to place the windows strategically is to put the windows on the southern side of the house if you live in the northern hemisphere and in the north if you live in the southern hemisphere.  This would let the sun in when it is cold outside helping conserve other energy sources required for heating.  One way when it is hot outside to cool down is to plant deciduous trees in front of the windows, again helping conserve other energy sources required for air conditioning.  The trees will have leaves in the summer and make shade, when its winter the leaves will be gone and the sun will warm the house.

Civil engineers do this to help the world be a better place to live.  One of the things that civil engineers look for when they are choosing a building site is the water in the area that could be harmed when they are in the building process.  This is the runoff from the rain and snow.  This could pollute the water source.  Other things that the civil engineer looks for are wetlands, very old trees, and bald eagle nests.  If any of these things are present they don’t want to build there.

One way to help prevent runoff if you have to put down concrete is use pervious concrete.  Pervious concrete is a concrete with less sand so that water can soak through and the sand and gravel filters the water.  Buildings built over the last few years have features that help the building use less heat, water, and electricity.

Currently, 75% of the energy in the USA is generated from fossil fuels, which pollutes the air quality. 60% of this electricity is used in homes.  Also, older homes use drinking water in the toilets.  Newer homes use grey water (sink water) in the toilets. This allows the reuse of water.  The water goes into a storage tank and is filtered before it goes into the toilet.  You can also use grey water to water your lawns.
Some buildings use a heating system that creates the heat from the floor.  When the heat rises it takes the pollutants with it. This causes air pollution.  Newer buildings use a heat recovery system that allows the air to stay in the room.  You need a carbon dioxide sensor to pump the carbon dioxide out and fresh air with oxygen in.  Right now in your home you might have incandescent lights.  These light bulbs create more heat and thus use more energy.  New fluorescent bulbs use less energy but pose a problem.  You can’t throw the fluorescent bulbs out because of the traces of mercury.  There is a way to get rid of the light bulb.  You can recycle them. You can recycle these with Household hazardous waste collection facilities.

When choosing your next home, you should take into account the impact on the environment and what you can do to help.