Paradigm Shift
Image Credit: McManus et al (2010)
Recently I was listening to a podcast episode on paradigm shifts. A paradigm is how you see the world or the way you view reality. It is embedded in your unconscious, so to see it you need to step back from yourself.
Take the picture to the right, which can be seen two different ways. When you first look at it, it appears to be one thing. Do you see a duck? What if I tell you the beak is rabbit ears?…
…Stuck? Tilt your head to the left...
Now you can look at it a completely different way! A paradigm shift is likewise what happens when you see your own biases and tweak them. By taking on new information, your own perspective on reality changes.
So what does this have to do with architectural design?
Words like carbon neutral, sustainability, and passive design can get bandied about a bit, to which a natural reaction might be:
“What we currently do is fine/good enough/better than before.”
“Good idea, but it sounds too hard/expensive.”
However, by opening yourself up to the information and opportunities out there your thinking can undertake a paradigm shift in this area. I experienced this myself. I didn't really appreciate energy efficiency or take into consideration the environmental effect our actions have on the world. I’ll be honest, I didn’t care all that much! But as I’ve learned more throughout my career about how much energy and resources are consumed through the construction and use of buildings — and how significant an impact this has on the environment — I’ve found myself wanting to use my work as an architectural designer to make a difference in this area. I now have a growing passion for sustainability in building design!
The facts
Whatever your view on climate change is, the fact is the Earth’s temperature is increasing at an alarming rate. And while it may be granted that natural sources of carbon can be a significant percentage of emissions, I don't feel that gives us an excuse to throw our hands up and do nothing. The construction sector is a major player in carbon (16-20% in NZ), and while the issues are complex we can already start reducing. If we get problem-solving and thinking outside the box, greater energy efficiencies will emerge over time. We can all play our part to reduce life cycle carbon and help our planet, saving lives that are predicted to be lost due to climate change.
Some of the best ways to reduce carbon are:
Sustainable materials
Streamlining construction (e.g. prefab options)
Buildings that operate more efficiently due to compact form, higher insulation, airtightness, minimal thermal bridging, and carefully positioned and sized windows - i.e. Passive House / high performance buildings!
The image below shows just how many stages there are for energy use through the life cycle of a building. That equates to plenty of opportunities to make changes and significantly reduce energy consumption.
Image credit: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - Whole of Life Carbon Assessment
Over to you!
Are you ready for a paradigm shift of your own? Come join us on this journey at Reform Architecture where responsible design can reform your own life and that of our fellow humans.
If you’re curious to know more: check out the BRANZ website for a handy breakdown of climate related jargon in regard to the NZ building sector. Also visit our FAQ page and other high performance blog posts.
______
**Featured image credit: Catalysis (2020)
