Sustainability assessment methods in architecture, and its association with technological innovations

Author(s)

Andrea Bazarian Vosgueritchian

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU/SBI)
• Defense date: 2006-12-12

Examining board members

Ualfrido Del Carlo; Roberta Consentino Kronka Mülfarth; Ladislao Pedro Szabo

• Advisor: Ualfrido Del Carlo

Abstract

The objective of this research was to elucidate how architecture sustainability assessment methods evaluates environmental impact and energy, materials and water management technologies. Seven assessment methods were therefore selected, which were: BREEAM - BRE EcoHomes (United Kingdom, 1990); GBTool (International, 1996); LEED (United States, 1996); SPEAR (United Kingdom, 2000); HQE (France, 2002); CASBEE (Japan, 2002) e NABERS (Australia, 2004). In addition, an investigation of technologies related to energy, materials and water was done. At this phase, the research focused the use of renewable technologies, as well as environmental impacts associated with the choice of each process and its current conjunctures in Brazil. Since the research deals with the insertion of technologies in the architecture design, which requires studying the opinion of experienced professionals who act today in the sustainability field, ten interviews were carried among architects, engineers and environmental consultants in the city of London, who act in international designs. Therefore, it was possible to conclude the research with a deeper knowledge of what is known as theory, and what is currently being done in practice, regarding buildings and cities construction that cause fewer environmental negative impacts. (AU)