Ever wondered about sustainable architecture?

This news has been read 835 times!

Jude Bashar Al Huneidi, an 11th-grade student, is a shining star in the academic and creative realms. Jude has consistently achieved excellence, earning a coveted place on the high honor roll throughout her high school journey. Yet, her dedication to knowledge and creativity transcends the confines of traditional classrooms. Jude has actively sought to expand her horizons in the realms of architecture, photography, and design through participation in esteemed summer camps. Her journey began in the summer of 2021 when she delved into the world of architecture at the Boston Architecture College. In 2022, she embarked on a captivating exploration of architecture at the University of Southern California. In 2023, she honed her skills further with a focus on digital photography at The American School in Switzerland. Jude’s impressive academic achievements and unwavering passion for the arts not only make her a standout student but also a promising talent with a brilliant future ahead.

What exactly is sustainable architecture?
Sustainable architecture is the use of design strategies that reduce the negative environmental impact of the built environment. To put it more simply, it is to build homes, offices, hotels, or any other structures without damaging the environment surrounding it. Now you might be thinking, is this it? Well, it might sound simple if we put it this way, but sustainable architecture is much more complex in terms of bringing the idea to reality. Yes, it might sound easy to encourage engineers and people around the world to advocate for such an environment-friendly solution, but there are many complications that can arise such as the financial and economic situations of the countries that people are advocating in. However, in today’s article, we are going to focus on one country that has almost everything to start with sustainable architecture. This country is none other than Kuwait.

How can sustainable architecture be implemented in Kuwait?

To start off, Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the whole world, with a high-income economy backed up by the world’s sixth-largest oil reserves. With, Kuwait has a high opportunity to implement the nature of sustainable architecture anytime soon.
So, how exactly can people help with the execution of this idea? Here are some ways to improve sustainable architecture: 1. Use Low-Impact Building Materials 2. Add Cool Roofs 3. Install Renewable Energy Systems 4. Add a Rainwater Harvesting System 5. Engage in Modular Conduction Practices/Preserving green space /optimizing natural lighting, For most people who aren’t engineers or architects, these may seem hardly reachable to say the least. Suppose you are just a student or a regular worker who is not in the field of architecture, what can you do to help?

One of the most effective ways that you can do to help is by spreading the word. Tell your coworkers, your fellow classmates, and your family members about this. Educate them. Show them articles like these and help them understand the advantages and consequences of doing this for our environment. This is an extremely easy thing to do and can help the whole ecosystem of plants, animals, sea life, and life resources one day. Not only that, but you can form support groups and open GoFundMe pages to support your idea and get the attention of government officials or just high authority figures who will hear you out.

Why do we need sustainable architecture?
The main question remains…why? Why is it so important to implement this idea in countries like Kuwait that are doing good economically?

The reason is right in front of our eyes. Sustainability in any situation has never backfired on anyone. It is extremely energy efficient as well as creates a cleaner environment around us without the usage of non-renewable resources. According to many research scientists, 50% of the greenhouse emissions in a country are due to construction. There are 195 countries today and imagine if all of them practiced sustainable architecture?

The world would become a much cleaner place and people could get healthier as well. We should start thinking about future generations and what it would mean if we keep using up non-renewable resources as well as contributing to the destruction of the ozone layer and increased global warming. Countries like Kuwait have a lot of resources to start improving the world today and we should be encouraging this instead of turning a blind eye as if we are not affected by the situation.

In the next years, climate change will undoubtedly affect Kuwait and other nations. Kuwait has poor air quality due to its oil sector and dust storms. Kuwait’s coastline location in the Arabian Gulf makes it vulnerable to rising sea levels. Rising water temperatures could drive fish away from Kuwait, hurting its fishing sector. Kuwait is already water-scarce.

Climate change may increase droughts, which could hurt the nation. Think about it. Your future kids, young nieces, nephews and even you yourself could be affected by a bad planet in the future just because you choose to ignore the problem today. If you really want a world where you won’t have to think about the day it will collapse, I strongly urge you to share this article with people around you as well as use your voice to change the way things are for a better future.

By Jude Bashar Al Huneidi

This news has been read 835 times!