Results :: Individual ETD
Title: Architecture's Ecological Footprint
Creator: Tharp, Sean Patrick
Description: A word that has become mainstream to members of the architectural community is Sustainability; but what does this word mean and why is it so popular? The root of this word is 'sustain,' which by definition means: to give support or relief to, to supply with sustenance, to support the weight of.¹ Still, what does this mean to the architectural community? Sustainability is a word the architectural community uses to define an approach to the design of the built environment that considers environmental and social issues on more than just a superficial level. "Sustainability is fundamental to quality design, not just an optional niche market."² A precise definition for sustainability is almost impossible to outline, because every individual has their own interpretation of what quality design is and to what degree sustainable environmental and social issues are applied to the built environment. One way which architects apply sustainability to the built environment is to do more with less. This means to reduce many of the harmful effects on the environment by current buildings, such as resource consumption, energy use, pollutions, and waste. This is similar to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation's definition of sustainability, "Any building that has significantly lower negative environmental impact then traditional buildings."³ This is a step in the right direction for sustainable design; it gets people thinking. But, it is not a solution to the environmental issues facing architecture; it only prolongs the destructions of our planet. This way of thinking continues to make building better for the environment by being less bad. But, being less bad isn't being good.
Location: http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2007/tharp/TharpS0507.pdf
Document Type: Masters
Contributor: Wood, Thomas (committee chairperson)
Committee Members: Christopher Livingston, John Brittingham, John Smith, Steve Juroszek
Department: Architecture
Program: Architecture
Publisher: Montana State University
Date Created: 2007-05-15
Access Rights: Accessible under copyright for educational purposes.