S-Tiles - contesto

THE CONTEXT

The building and construction sector is one of the largest resource consumers and waste producers in the economy It is therefore imperative that sustainable building & construction becomes a major focus in the global sustainable development debate.

Buildings largely contribute to greenhouse gas emissions in their construction phase but it is the energy consumed for their use and maintenance that has the biggest impact on the environment. The design of buildings and planning of cities thus have a major role to play in the mitigation of climate change. Conversely, urban design must adapt to the impact of climate change, such as extreme changes in weather. A balanced interaction between buildings and environment through, for example, the appropriate use of natural light and ventilation, would considerable reduce energy consumption.

Sustainable building refers to those buildings that impact least on the built and natural environment both in terms of the building itself, its immediate surrounds and the broader regional and global setting. It also involves the evaluation of the entire life cycle of buildings, taking environmental criteria, functional utility and future values into account. To construct in a sustainable way, some basic rules should be followed: (a) minimisation of non-renewable resource consumption; (b) enhancement of the natural environment; (c) elimination or minimisation of toxic emissions.