Sustainable vs Greenwashed Architecture: How To Tell Them Apart

Eco homes, sustainable architecture, green development? today, you may find these terms in heavy use when encountering new projects worldwide. But what is advertised may not be what is consistently delivered. In the case of smaller purchases, there?s always a chance to choose better next time. However, there’s no scope for’ next time’ in architectural projects involving many stakeholders and big budgets. As the torchbearers of shaping healthy human ecosystems, architects today are responsible for coming up with ?sustainable designs? in the plight of ongoing climate crises. But as a consumer, you can choose the best for yourself and the planet, which drives a global shift towards sustainable building designs.

Informed choices come from reliable information, and in today?s IT age, it?s quite easy to get washed with the current trending, influential, and attractive ?green? terms that imbibe a short-lived sense of accountability for the planet in you. So, how can you, as a user and a designer of built spaces, differentiate between truly sustainable architecture and greenwashing? Let?s get to the fundamentals.

What is Sustainability & Sustainable Architecture?

Breaking down the word itself, sustainability is the ability to sustain – to continue to support (something) or be over time. In the purview of the built environment, sustainable development is ?development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future generations to meet their own needs? – a widely popular definition in the AEC industry (Architecture, Engineering & Construction). At its core, sustainable development boils down to meeting basic living needs without depriving the earth?s future inhabitants (both human and non-human) of them.

Architecture, the art and science of creating sound, inspiring habitats, aims to fulfil some of the fundamental living needs – shelter and living services (water, energy) through the smart use of natural/manmade resources like land, water, energy, building materials, physical and intellectual labour. So sustainable architecture can be defined as the sensitive use of all these resources such that they can be renewed, reused, repurposed, and brought back into the loop of natural cycles so that future generations can still use them to shape habitats of their ages.

Yellow facade of an Indo-French building with vegetation in the foreground. — Modern sustainable building design can be highly inspired by traditional architecture as it is rooted in location, context, landscapes and culture. In frame – Fusion of French aesthetic and traditional architecture of Tamil Nadu as seen in the French Colony of Puducherry, India_?_Author

Sustainable architecture is simple in meaning but complex in execution. This paradox also makes it highly prone to misunderstanding, which profit-minting groups use to their advantage. As a result, you get greenwashed surfaces in the name of immersive, sustainable environments.

Greenwashing in Architecture & Why You Should Be Aware of It

Top view of a green landscapes with rows of solar panels — While using solar panels is a major step towards energy efficiency, its thoughtful integration with other sustainable building design elements contributes to making a sustainable architecture project_?_pexels.com

The mention of cool roofs, solar panels, indoor gardens, and the occasional sprinkling of ?green? are all things that might get you starry-eyed. This over-emphasis on all things eco in marketing/advertising is called greenwashing, and it is exactly as it sounds. It is a gimmick used by organisations to attract and attack the rising sense of environmental responsibility among today?s population, and for the most part, it has been working. However, if you are a truly conscious citizen of Earth and a conscious creator of built environments, you?re bound to dive deep to invest in the right place for your well-being, the future generations and the planet.

Here?s a small guide to nudge you in the right direction.

Sustainable vs Greenwashed Architecture: How to Tell Them Apart

While sustainability is a whole system of pegs and gears working in unison, greenwashing is spotlighting the isolated pegs. It?s just a matter of differentiating a system from its parts.

Seamlessness

Sustainability in a multidisciplinary field like architecture naturally comes with dedicated efforts from collaborators as well. From specialised engineers to building materials and labour, all call for sustainable practices, and a trickle-down of their work leads to sustainable architecture. Learn about partner practices and extensions of the building?s design elements in as much depth as possible to ensure genuineness. This brings us to our next point.

A couple of building facades set in a tight urban landscape with vegetation intertwined with the facades and openings — Facade of the Breathing Enclosure – a residential project in Bengaluru designed by A Threshold architects, integrates 32 resilient and local plant species to solve multiple issues – from a lack of connection with nature to reducing energy needs of the building, while its form and design mould perfectly into a tight urban setting_?_Vivek Muthuramalingam

Communication Documentation is Key

Truly sustainable architecture projects are thoroughly researched, analysed, and data-driven. Contextual documentation of the entire project, from environmental impact to functional analysis, tops the efforts in conveying how sustainable the architecture project actually is. This is not limited to just the project creation stage but how the built spaces behave and impact people and the planet throughout their lifecycle.

Popular Relevant Certifications

Popular globally sought-after green building certifications such as LEED or BREEHAM may be aspirational for architects and developers. However, they often consider broader global environmental goals and may ignore local contexts completely. Looking for certifications measured and granted by local or regional bodies, such as the IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) in India, is a more reliable authentication of sustainable architecture projects. Furthermore, studies like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by trusted sources take you a step closer to embracing sustainability in architecture.

Local > Global

Whether you use marble or concrete, it is unsustainable if it?s not locally sourced. Transporting materials, or any other living/non-living resource for that matter, increases carbon footprint manyfold, and the chances of the requirements of such resources increasing over time are high. Hence, natural does not always equal sustainable. Materials like steel, concrete, glass, and more can be extremely sustainable if they?re locally produced, sourced, and salvaged.

Sustainable vs Greenwashed Architecture: How To Tell Them Apart — Malhar Eco Village, designed and executed by GoodEarth Architects, uses locally made CSEB building blocks, which not only reduce the project’s carbon footprint but also imbue the village with indigenous skill and charm_?_GoodEarth Architects.

Specific > General

Tired or confused by hearing the words ?eco?, ?green?, or ?natural??
It?s time to dig deep and learn what makes the things eco, green or natural. When things as simple as tiles are claimed to be made sustainably, they?re bound to have a story, history, and context. The same goes for all the essential services of a building, and with the right set of collaborators, the stories are beautiful.

Lastly, we (users) make an important peg of the system of sustainable architecture, one that can make, break, or freeze it. While many global organisations do their part in slowing down climate change and reversing the impacts of modernisation-caused climate change, it?s time we do ours as well, as consumers, creators, and mediators. Immersing yourself into sustainable architecture or getting greenwashed? The choice is yours.

Sustainable vs Greenwashed Architecture: How To Tell Them Apart

What is Sustainability & Sustainable Architecture?

Greenwashing in Architecture & Why You Should Be Aware of It