I. Development Description
Sustainable development refers to an infrastructural design that utilizes natural building materials, which are energy efficient, and which have minimal environmental impact. The idea of sustainable architecture is essential because of looming disasters and their mitigation as well as the ecological crisis. The five fundamental principles of achieving an environmentally friendly architectural design include healthy interior environment, ecological building materials, energy efficiency, sound design, and building form. A building affects the local and global environment through various interrelated natural and human activities during its entire lifecycle.
The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite is a landmark development in the Baltimore city, Maryland. See the table below:
Source: http://www.slideshare.net/NaianChang/marriott-team-presentationforlinkedin
The Green Fairfield Inn & Suites has been touted as a mark of Sustainable development, not only in Maryland but also in America in general.
Source: http://www.greenfairfieldinn.com/press/pr012710.php
The environmentally friendly nature of The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite shows that it was designed with a consideration of the needs of inhabitants as well as environmental and ecosystem needs. The major considerations for an environmentally friendly building design at The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite include orientation, lighting, reduction of energy gains or losses, waste management, landscaping, responsible landscaping, and lighting. The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite has is a sustainable building. The developers took into account their ability to identify and develop more sustainable building through construction methods that can reduce waste generation and pollution. The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite is adaptable to climate changes besides being durable and flexible.II. Purpose of the Development
The purpose of the development was to come up with a green and sustainable eco-tourism facility. The green concept adopted by the architects makes it Baltimore city’s first LEED certified facility. The developers focused making green practices and renewable energy and conservation important part of the facility’s operations. The Inn is implemented a variety of procedures that promote sustainability, especially for energy efficient, with waste and pollution minimizations.
The rooms: source http://www.fairfieldinnrivernorth.com/guest-rooms-and-suites.htmIII. Demographic Snapshot of the Neighborhooda. Description of the population
The city’s economic programs are run under the “Change to Grow Plan” designed by city’s authority. The public authority seeks to stimulate economic activities through lowered homeowner and property tax. The program has spurred rapid growth in the city’s real estate sector. In the private sector, currently there are about 40,000 formal businesses. However, the unemployment rate that stands at 8% is high.
Baltimore is a unique tourist attraction center. The National Aquarium with more than 17,000 different animal species and Civil War exhibitions is very famous. The tropical forest, coral reefs, and film shows are other attractions. There is also Mount Vernon, Fell’s Point, McHenry National Monument, and Allan Poe House. There are excellent hospitality and tourists facilities such as the Royal Sonesta Harbor.
Transport is another key economic activity. The interstate highways such as Jones Falls Expressway, the McHenry Tunnel are the economic backbone of the city. The BWI and Martin State Airports also contribute to economic activities. Southwest parts and Patapsco neighborhoods are the bee hives of economic activities and are inhabited by the wealthy. They have the best facilities and as well as a safe environment.c. Social character
Baltimore’s population features are characterized by a small growth between the years 2010 and 2013, with more females than males by 2014. Majority of the city’s population are above 18 years of age. Most of the inhabitants are black Americans who make 63 % of the total population. The whites and Asian Americans form 31 % and 2.5 % of the population respectively. The family sizes comprise about four people for every household, with most poor families being led by the women as the heads. The city has some income disparities, where more than 20% of its residents living below the poverty line. The Africa-Americans and American Indians form the bulk of the poor majority, who are mostly below 24 years of age. Most of the Baltimore’s poor residents lack high school education. The city is largely secure, with the levels of crime rate falling in. According to the police, between the years 2008 and 2013 there was a 5% fall in crime rate. The city several social services, run by the Department of Social Services. For example, Empower Baltimore Management Corporation carries out training and capacity buildings as well as social support programs to invest in the locals. The city’s department of social services runs other social activities like the community social support, youth counseling, and welfare initiatives. There is child care and child adoption services, the aged and family upkeep and medical facilities there are homelessness, food aid, cash assistance, and disability programs. Further, Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is a program by the mayor to promote safe neighborhoods, security, health and residents’ engagements. Associations such as the Community Arts Alliance of Maryland promote professional art and entertainment in the city.IV. Environmental (potential) Impacts
The development has various Environmental impacts, now and in the future. The development has led to cost savings and environmental conservation. The development shows that it is possible to exercise sustainable architectural design while maintaining esthetic, efficient, building layout and cost-effectiveness. There are certain environmental principles that the environmentally friendly architectural design of the building took into account. These include healthy interior environment, ecological building materials, energy efficiency, good design, and building form.
Source: http://www.greenfairfieldinn.com/img/hm-banner-5.jpg
The healthy environment principle evident in the development is that the building systems and materials emit minimal unhealthy wastes within the building space.
Further, extra caution and measures were put in place at The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite to ensure fresh air and adequate ventilation within the interior spaces. In terms of energy efficiency, the building has been designed to minimize energy use. The use of ecological building materials implies that the materials used to construct The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite were obtained from renewable sources. Building form implies that the building is responsive to the Maryland’s climate and the available materials in order to achieve harmony between the occupants and the environment.
During its lifetime, The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite will affect the local and nation’s environmental condition through various interrelated natural processes and human activities. At early stages, the site development and the building construction affected the ecological characteristics of the site. Though temporary, the entry of construction personnel and equipment into the building site and the construction process caused disruption to the environment. After construction, the functionality of the building causes long-term environmental effects. For instance, the water and energy use by the building’s occupants produces toxic waste like sewage, while the process involved in transporting the resources for maintenance and operation have varying environmental effects.
However, the management of The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite believes that the objective of the sustainable designs was to generate architectural solutions that safeguard the health, wellbeing, and harmonious existence of the three components. Consequently, they have invested in water and solar recycling initiatives.
The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite project has led to sewage generation and environmental waste disposal issues. These issues have been dealt with the sensible utilization of natural resources as well as the appropriate management of building materials contributes to the conservation of scarce resources, enhancing environmental quality and reducing consumption of energy.V. Overall Impacts of the Development on the neighborhood
A sustainable architecture incorporates the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable architecture as the case of The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite in Baltimore, Maryland. It utilizes clean technology for businesses. It is an example of a green architecture in an urban setting. The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite is regarded as sustainable architecture because it is intended to provide high-quality life and minimum environmental impact within an economically viable setting. The planners of The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite have realized that environmental gains can be achieved from using less expensive and passive tools. These include the building’s form and orientation in relation to sunlight and the wind. Another important element of sustainable building is performance optimization, which involves efficient systems and effective building management.
The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite design illustrates the architect’s commitment towards reducing carbon emissions as well as creating buildings that make use of natural materials without disrupting the environment. In the context of green architecture, many of building materials can be recycled. Further, architects have installed devices for tapping solar energy or windmills for powering the house.
Impacts’ Evidence
Because of the sustainable development approach, the public, government and professionals’ perception about The Green Fairfield Inn & Suite has been positive. The Inn has employed 30 people and pays taxes to the government. The owners have been awarded ‘Special Accomplishment Award’. The award was given by the Green Building Council’s Maryland Chapter. The development has also been recognized by the Maryland’s Governor who gave it a sustainable tourism award. The development is thus very significant in the Maryland state as it forms part of its Green Travel Program. The Inn has also won the WaveMaker Award from the Urban Land Institute apart from being named the Innovator of the Year by local newspaper, Maryland Daily Record.
Source: http://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2013/08/07/environmental-impact-of-travel/
Conclusion
A sustainable architecture must incorporate the economic, social, and environmental aspects as exemplified by the Green Fairfield Inn & Suite design. Sustainable architecture can be achieved by using the passive methods such as performance optimization and building orientation in order to save energy and minimize costs. In realizing the shift towards sustainable architecture, architects should consider such factors as human needs, environment, natural forces, low technology, and the ability to adopt a holistic view of the building. This requires a complete transformation of building design process and development of new models to navigate the complex nature of sustainable design.
