Benefits of Biodiversity in Green and Sustainable House Floor Plans

Benefits of Biodiversity

There is a moral duty to protect life, nature and take good care of our environment. There is no value to life and value to nature . Once we lose the biodiversity, we lose nature and life itself. Therefore the stewardship of nature and vegetation is necessary and it accrues these benefits. The benefits listed here ranges from:

-energy savings,
-improved carbon footprint,
-improved water footprint,
-better health,
-speedy recovery,
-less stressed mind,
-improved productivity,
-cleaner air and cleaner water,
-better control of pest such as mosquitoes,rodents & lowers maintenance.

These are the 20 Benefits of Biodiversity that an Architect can incorporate in home designs elaborated here below:

1.Energy Saving Benefits

According to recent research,the Living Roof’s diurnal temperature is about 3 deg C. It was found the conventional roof diurnal temperature is 50 deg C for Green roof ( Living Roof). Furthermore if the facades is shaded with landscape the temperature fluctuation can be reduced by 50%.

2. Reduce Carbon Emission Benefits

In a Green Development rich with Biodiversity, the portable water consumption is reduced .Less consumption of portable water directly reduces the carbon footprint. In the UK,the carbon footprint for production of portable water is 2 million tons .Interestingly, 60% of water consumption is from the commercial development. The Green house Gasses are sequestered by the natural vegetation. The Pine forest and the tropical forest and every plants and trees sequesters the CO2. Green vegetation helps to reduce Carbon footprint. The world carbon budget is 500-1000 billion tons of CO2. Every year we are consuming and we are in a deficit .We are emitting too much of CO2. If we exceed the budget limit, the average temperature will be 2 deg more that the pre-industrial period.Until our ecological footprint is decreased, the budget will be busted. It is time to increase and manage the ecological forestation. It is time to increase of biodiversity of flora and fauna and habitats. This will help to save the planet earth.

3.Resilience to Drought

The environment in Biodiversity is more adaptive and more tolerance to drought conditions. In an adverse drought the diverse field are less affected as they support one another in adversity.They reserve water for resilience to harsh weather conditions.

4. Resilience to Diseases

The environment in Biodiversity increases the Resilience to Diseases. The vegetation,fauna and habitats are more tolerant, resistant to pest and virus attacks.Stronger protection against Pest Attacks then as in a Mono-cultures such as in plantations. vegetable gardens, animal farms. The forest and nature does not need pesticides nor insecticides to fend itself against the persistent attacks by insects and pest. The Pest maintenance cost is reduced.

5.Increase Sustainability

Fertilizers consumption in bio-diverse environment is less. Infact it may not be used at all. There is an increase in its Sustainability in compared to mono culture. In nature they are not watered, they are not treated with pesticides or insecticides. They are self-sustaining and are more towards self-reliance.

6.Reduce Urban Heat

In a Bio diverse urban space, the overall temperature of the space is lesser. This phenomenon is obvious as one visit Singapore which is planned as green city and then visiting Malaysia. Although Singapore is closer to the equator than Malaysia. It will have a direct impact on the Energy consumption when the temperatures are lower. This is attributed to the heat island effect.

7.Psychological well being

One of the definition of well being in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is by increase of connectivity to nature. Connectivity with nature such as cats, dogs, animals and nature calms the minds, reduces stress and helps the psychological well being. A Fishes in the aquarium help the calm the stressed mind .Likewise birds, dogs and butterflies does something to the human psychological well being.

8.Physical well being

Physical well being is improved as the air is cleaner with lesser dust and dirty gases such as SO2,CO,NO2 etc. Biodiversity reduce the air particles and bring about cleaner air, which according to UN report- the air Pollution is a no 1 killer. Air pollution kills 1 in 8 of the deaths globally . Our lungs are choked with dust and pollutants which is a major cost to human lives.

9.Reduce the water footprint

In a bio-diverse environment the blue infrastructure is introduced and the water footprint is reduces. Grey water is converted to Green water by bio diverse SUDs.

10.Recovery from illness

Faster Recovery from illness – Hospital Patients in rooms which had views to nature. Green infrastructure and Blue infrastructure helps in Patient’s recovery by 30% faster .Patients uses 30% lesser of medication. Therefore bio phallic designs in homes, offices and workplaces will have a like recuperative effect. The stresses, pressures of works and good health is associated with biodiversity.

11.Reduce incidence of illness

12.Reduction of Stress

Plants, natural forms, fishes in the home of a heart patients has a faster recovery when in a bio diverse environment. The natural movement of Fishes in bowl or a dog in the house brings a certain calmness and in connection with nature. It helps the nerves to calm down tremendously. And so does it does the same for butterflies, birds, sound of the bees in our gardens to enhance our stress reduction.Organic forms in nature is less stressful than squares , rectangles and cubes.

13 Suicidal Tendencies

The healthy air will have a direct effect of our health. Vegetation removes CO2 and introduces Oxygen. The lack of oxygen in the air has a higher tendency to commit suicide, This is the same for those living in high mountains. Vegetation will help to decrease this tendencies.Vegetation increases the oxygen in the air. Oxygen helps our body function well with regard to improved memory and speedier recovery.

14.Tolerance to pain

Greater tolerance to pain. those living in environment with diversity of environment has a greater tolerance to pain.

15. Reduced medicine

Reduced medicine intake is reduced.

16.Productivity

People sitting next to window views of vegetation has a greater enthusiasm to work, productivity. In an bio-philic approach to design of a new office, the exercise proof that the occupants increase in productivity by 20%.

17.Cognitive Tranquility

Potted plant placed in office spaces, view of beautiful scenes and siting by the windows helps are likely to improves their Cognitive Tranquility.-20% increased Reaction time to a task and reduction of blood pressures.Those sitting with views to plants or landscape scene , response faster to a situation.

18.Reduce Urban Heat

In the Singaporean experience, Mr. Lee Kuan Yee stated that Singapore had an edge over it neighbors and competitors as the Green city Model. It was a more attractive proposition.The property has an Increase edge over it competitors.

19.Corporate Image

Furthermore it may be noteworthy that corporate image is at stake if Green and sustainability issues are not addressed in their developments as they may be under the scrutiny of the public eye, which may surmount to boycotts and anti-campaigns, fines by Governments and may cause their license to be revoked, which disrupts the chain supply and damage to brand image. The Benefits of Biodiversity cannot be numerated economically in numbers but the well being of humanity is our responsibility.

20. Increase in Value of Property

It was noted that property which was Green Bio-diverse had more greater value than those that were not green bio-diverse.

Richness in Eco-Biodiversity, the benefits are simply abundant

Green and Sustainable House Plans can reap these benefits of Biodiversity if design of Green are contrived well into the design.

Check out our Green and Sustainable House Floor Plans , Click here which has been designed for benefits of Biodiversity

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Abridged and enhanced by Ar Perumal Nagapushnam from the Notes Designing for biodiversity: Productivity and Profit by the British Council

Why pay for Eco Biodiversity in building design and city planning? controlling Zika and air pollution control

Prepared by Architect Perumal Nagapushnam
website: http://www.sda-architect.com/

The loss of Eco Biodiversity at an alarming rate all over the world ,was of a major concern in the Convention on Biodiversity, held in Nagoya, Japan 2010.Most countries have signed an agreement to comply with the Nagoya biodiversity agreement , which was intended to help reduce the global weather changes that are rapidly occurring. But less that 10% of the countries that have signed to protect the flora and fauna has kept the promises.

Eco Biodiversity in our environment

What is Eco Biodiversity? It is the diversity of flora, fauna and its habitats in the vegetation of our forest, rural and urban environment, in which we live constitutes Eco Biodiversity. This diversity in the green spaces or soft landscape is often found missing in the urban development, all that we see is the Mountain Cliff type of buildings and the green in the urban parks are in the likes of the green of the Savannah of Africa. The homogenous type of trees and grass is affecting the well-being of our environment and in this article, we are addressing the benefits for Eco Biodiversity of these greens in the urban area:

Psychological well-being- the overall well-being of occupants are tremendously improved in an environment that has biodiversity in design consideration.
Property values .There is an increase in the Property values as shown in studies conducted in the UK , that water features, well-landscaped areas , ponds or view of landscaped areas, contributed to an increase of property values from 5%-34%. (CABE Space 2005).In Singaporean case where the city planners decide to go for Greening, the city experienced a notable hike in property values. At a building level apartments such as the Kampung Warisan Condominium, Jalan Jeletek was landscaped in a vernacular traditional village style noted an increase of rentable apartments.
Air Purification .The air bore pollution is filtered and neutralized. Air is scrubbed off the pollutants such as Nitrogen dioxides, sulfur dioxide , Carbon mono dioxide by the trees, shrubs where the air is freshened. The dirt dozens -air pollutants are sequestered, referred to a gaseous sequestration. The dust is removed from the air is by ionizing the air with clean air. The air bore particles are ionized and are brought down to the ground, thereby cleaning the air. The UN reports that the air pollution is a leading killer.one in 8 persons in the world will die of premature death. The air pollution cost US250billion due to premature deaths in the world. Trees scrub the air clean. Bio diversity is a solution to keeping the environment clean.
More oxygen .More oxygen is introduced into the air , which is suitable for growth, speedy recovery of the stressed mind and helps the resilience of the injured mind and body. It was found in research that the lack of oxygen in the air increases the tendency to commit suicide. Certain shrubs such as bamboo are said to produce more oxygen into the air that other plants are considered very healthy and good for the environment.
Water Purification. The rainwater runoffs are purified. Rainwater is run off into bios-vales, Bio SUDS or eco cells and eco-stairs where rainwater is purified before discharging into the water streams, ponds or below the ground water tables.Water that gets to the underground water tables is cleansed by vegetation grown in the bio swales and eco cells before emitting them into the grounds.
Heat island effect .The elimination of Heat island effect, which affect the microclimate amelioration through direct shading and evaporative cooling. The air is warmer by the lack of vegetation by the removal of trees or turned grounds. The objects such as concrete, road pavements absorb heat and radiate heat it at night. This effect alone to an increase of temperatures by 4 degrees C according to research done in some areas. The emitters of waste heat to the environment are: Humans metabolism contributes to 8% of the waste heat, buildings contribute to 60% and the motor vehicles contribute to 32% of the waste heat to the environment.(Smith et al 2009)
Controlling the Zika Pest .Control of Pest species, such as bats feed on the mosquitoes, owls eating the rats. The ecological cycle of animals should be maintained. The removal of birds and bats as they may seem to be a pest for urban areas will cause the increase of mosquitoes and rat infestation. The presence of owls helps to stop the proliferation of rats, but in the first place owls need an ecological environment to live in, in some countries owls were let out to the trees but they soon died out as the habitat for owls were not suitable. In Singapore the attempt to green the city was somewhat a good attempt to save the city but the fruits and flower that draws birds were limited to discourage the presence of birds because of their droppings and nesting of birds in the urban areas. But this led to an increase of mosquitos and pests which then has to be countered by spraying chemicals which affects the waterways and quality of water.Singapore in recent years has been Singaporeans again inflicted with dangerous Zika virus carried by Mosquitoes. The spread of Zika in Singapore was exceptionally fast and caused fear and discouragement among Singaporeans. The control of Zika would have been a lot easier if the Bats, birds did the job of controlling the Zika Pest. Again Singapore once again proves to the world the need for biodiversity against the fight of Zika.Pu
Air quality- As the air quality is improved, as a direct consequence of improved health. As most illness related to respiratory illness are reduced and have an increase health conditions of occupants as vegetation scrubs the air of the dirty dozens and air particles. Air particulates causes health issues such as lung problems and its related health problems.
Productivity and reduced Absenteeism- According to findings in a research such as (Elzeyadi, 2011). This increases and improves productivity by the decrease sick leaves when potted plants were located with the workspace and it had a direct relationship to improved productivity and reduced absenteeism (Elzeyadi, 2011).
Stress Resilience- It has been found in research that beds in hospitals that had the good view of scenic view had patients recovered by 30% faster and thereby decreasing 30% intake of medication. Well landscaped view have an effect of our general health conditions with respect to stress recovery that we are subjected too, in the modern workplace.
Education -The education of the local species to the local communities by demonstrating the planting of local species in the local areas. The awareness of plants and benefits are preserved with bio diversity.
Energy BILL LOW-A green living roof, will insulates the building by reducing the diurnal temperatures from a typically non green roof from 50deg C to 3 deg C during winters. And during summers the roof will insulate the heat into the building. By smart landscaping the temperatures will be reduce the temperatures by a great range of 50%. Read smart landscaping.
Carbon Negative– As we plant more trees and vegetation increasing the( increasing the diversity of the flaura , fauna and habitat) biodiversity, we help to improve the carbon footprint and tends to carbon negative as in the case of Bhutan. The vegetation help to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and gasses{methane} that destroy the environment by sequestering them within the vegetation. And thereby helping to reduce the carbon emitted to the atmosphere and thereby improving the Carbon Footprint. As tree are grown the carbon is sequestered by the trees and the soil, for instance an acre of forest sequesters about 110metric tonnes of CO2 per year. The Wetlands sequesters 300 tonnes of CO2 per year. The world emits a 2.6 Giga tonnes of CO2 every year which is causing the unabated flooding , global warming and weather change that is affecting lives all over the world. The carbon footprint can be offset by eco biodiversity and neutrality in the world can be obtained by planting diverse trees. the world can be restored to its natural state. The world average temperature is to be brought down to 2 degrees C- to restored to the temperatures of the pre-industrial days. Visit our seminar on Net Zero Carbon Emission which delves more on this aspect with respect to designing building for Net Zero Emissions. Building are one of the major contributors to Carbon emission in the air.

This is where we there is an application for biodiversity and green designs in buildings and cities by using ecological considerations in design, the biometrics of nature are to be incorporated into our environments, such as in nature there is no waste. Unlike nature, we Humans are wasteful ,we dispose of domestic waste by tons every day, into nature destroying the water. The spider eats its own web as a way to minimize waste, the humans dispose of much of construction waste into the environment that in some countries there are no more spaces left to dispose of the domestic waste in the landfills.

We as Architects are designers for the safe environment using ecological design consideration, biometrics, bio grids,ecological cycles. Call us a discussion into how we may be of help to you to save the environment in your site plans or building designs.

Attend our seminar of Net Zero Carbon Emission, see how eco bio-diversity helps the environment by sequestering the Carbon and scrubs the air of pollution and Green house gases from the air. It helps achieve Net Zero Emission status for development.

CLICK HERE TO Book online for seminar of Net Zero Carbon Emission, See you there in KL.

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Prepared by Architect Perumal Nagapushnam

Eco Biodiversity, ecological considerations . eco-diversity in city planning, ecological imperatives, Green architect, Green Sustainability Architect, Hyper Green, urban planning

Benefits of Biodiversity in Green House Plans