Sustainability for every Interior Designer.
As we face the consequences of previous irresponsible use of natural resources, sustainability in design has evolved from a trend to a requirement. The Industrial Revolution was a period of immense technological and infrastructure growth, but it was also a period of continuous decrease in ecological equilibrium. It is the architect’s responsibility to design a building thoughtfully, the interior designer’s responsibility to maintain the indoor environment, and the product designer’s responsibility to produce items using environmentally friendly materials and techniques. This collective effort yields an optimum design that reduces the negative environmental impact of our sector.
Green or sustainable Interior design may be defined as the process of enhancing the quality of life of people who use interior space by evaluating their relationship with the built environment and enabling optimum efficiency while avoiding negative environmental consequences in an attractive manner. Indoor Environmental Quality is one of the LEED’s primary criteria for evaluation.
This area focuses on the use of environmentally friendly materials, the reduction of indoor pollutants, and the improvement of air, lighting, and thermal comfort. Interior designers have the potential to persuade and educate their clients about the benefits of sustainable living and to advocate it as a healthy practice for the future.
Designers must educate themselves and their clients in order to make sustainable design decisions, which is becoming increasingly difficult. Fortunately, there are more possibilities than ever before for creating stunning designs with minimum environmental impact, from plant-based surfaces to recycled materials and carbon-neutral sources.
When choosing materials for a project, an interior designer must examine the manufacturing process, usefulness based on the type of project, and the project’s life cycle to reduce waste. The biodegradability, chemical content, longevity, and renewability of materials can all be used to classify them as green.
Promoting materials that are readily available in the area and have a low embodied energy can significantly reduce the entire project cost. Low embodied energy materials, such as wood, bamboo, and stone, use less energy during production, whereas high embodied energy materials, such as concrete, plastics, and steel, use a lot.
The kind of supplies necessary at a hospital differ significantly from those required in an office setting. To make the most of a material’s potential, the designer must use it correctly, taking into account its qualities and functioning. Similarly, the material’s ability to be recycled after use without causing significant environmental harm must be evaluated.
Timber is a sustainable, renewable, and long-lasting material that may be utilized for both structural and decorative purposes. It can be utilized both inside and outside. Nothing beats timber flooring, wall paneling, joinery, doors, and even furniture when it comes to adding warmth to your project.
However, not all wood is created equal. It’s critical to choose FSC-certified timber. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization that oversees the certification and accreditation of forests, plantations, and timbers around the world. Its goal is to ensure that forests are managed in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable manner.
It’s even better if you can get your lumber locally to reduce your carbon footprint.
Identifying the factors that influence sustainable living leads to the proper study and use of these factors. Certain criteria can be taken from the definition of Sustainable Living itself in order to achieve maximum efficiency while constructing an eco-friendly setting.
Indoor as well as outdoor The designer’s decisions have an impact on the environment, either directly or indirectly. The majority of people spend their time indoors, either at home or at work. As a result, keeping a healthy indoor environment is just as important as preserving ecological balance outside.
When creating a safe indoor environment, consider aspects such as air quality, ventilation, temperature, and acoustics. Toxins emitted by toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing of certain furniture, HVAC systems, and even paints are the primary source of indoor air pollution. As a result, choosing low-emission items should be encouraged.
Fabrics, for example, are known to be excellent heat and acoustic insulators.
One of the biggest producers of greenhouse gases that cause climate change is the built environment. The quantity of energy needed for the building’s thermal, lighting, electrical, and other miscellaneous operations accounts for the majority of hazardous emissions, not just during construction.
An Interior Designer can have an impact on the amount of energy used in an indoor area due to lighting and heating. Fabrics that retain heat and light hues or reflective surfaces that alter the amount of light in a space can go a long way toward reducing the need for external energy-consuming appliances to regulate room temperature and illumination.
The usage of space must be planned with the long term in mind. An interior designer must persuade their clients to refrain from overindulging. Materials that are durable and have a long life cycle should be carefully chosen for elements that are subject to frequent wear and tear due to everyday use.
Replacing or repairing only a broken piece of the unit rather than the full unit reduces waste and saves money. Furniture that can be modified and recycled to meet the changing needs of the clients will prevent the entire room from being redesigned.
A children’s bedroom in a home or a growing open workspace in a commercial company are two examples of areas that may need to be modified as needs evolve.
