Freshwater, which is critical to life and well-being, is a finite resource in growing demand. As the global population increases and resource-intensive economic development continues, water scarcity is accelerating. As climate change and population growth put more stress on water resources, design needs to respond. After all, beyond domestic water use, buildings require water for operational energy, construction, and cleaning, and to produce building materials (embodied water). Furthermore, buildings that are more energy- or material-intensive are usually also more water-intensive. Join us for this session to discuss how design can address these challenges and positively impact the global water crisis.
Learning Objectives
- Build a deeper appreciation of water as a fundamental resource and the building industry's direct impact on water scarcity and access across the globe.
- Explore effective design decisions that decrease water stress and support a healthier, more equitable world.
- Examine the links between water, energy, and HVAC along with examples of climate-positive design.
- Assess the impact of water use in creating materials, and discover how to make preliminary evaluations in environmentally sensitive decisions in material selection.