Architecture that seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings through improved efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, development space and the ecosystem at large is known as sustainable architecture. It is the role that architects play in solving the climate crisis. Buildings are responsible for 40% of global CO2 emission. Therefore, the role of architects becomes important in mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.

There are 5 fundamentals of Sustainable Architecture:

Sustainable Sites
It involves Vegetation management, location and planning strategies, protection of natural areas, avoiding sensitive sites (wetlans, floodplains) and preserving existing vegetation.

Energy
Replacing Air Conditioners with Geothermal systems in order to conserve energy. When it comes to efficiency, Geothermal AC beats conventional central AC by far. Your geothermal heat pump isn’t wasting electricity trying to pump indoor hot air into the already-hot outdoors; instead, it’s easily releasing heat into the cool underground. The. mud architecture is a great resource that focuses on architecture constructed of mud brick, rammed earth, compressed earth block and other methods of earthen construction, It keeps the indoor environment cool and thus promotes Thermal Comfort. Large windows for ample daylight inside house. Using Solar water heater, solar panels. Mud construction system is climate responsive and very effective in different climatic conditions. It was easily available, cheap, and strong and required only simple technology ‘Green’ offices with plants make staff happier and more productive than ‘lean’ designs stripped of greenery, new research shows. In the first field study of its kind, researchers found enriching a ‘lean’ office with plants could increase productivity by 15%. Adding green walls to old buildings to help with pollution and insulation.

Water- Using 3Rs
Use of dry composting toilets, maximize tree and shrub plantation, Open Terrace roof gardens.

Material Resources
Using low VOC paints, Container houses, Green building, Climate Responsive building, Steel recycled contents, plastic bricks, plant based foams etc.

Indoor Environment Quality
Proper Ventilaton, Low VOC compounds, Indoor plants like ferns, temple tree, bamboo palm, snake plant, money plant- absorbs toxins like formaldehyde.