Sustainable Planning and Architecture

Lecture 4
Ecological Footprint

This presentation covers different footprints which are created by humans and
ecology for our livelihood. So as you seen in this picture like food which is been
using different types of elements which causing footprint for the humans so what
footprint is how much natural resources we are taking up from this environment to
create a livelihood.

Over your lifetime, 12,000 oranges will travel 23 million miles to reach you, it’s all
s part of your human footprint. Which everything is not what we get is not locally
available whatever we get is been transported and which is been build in different
place and then brought to us which consumes a lot of energy which is usually not
noted bias.

The simplest way to define ecological footprint would be to call it the impact of
human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and
water required to produce the goods consumed and to assimilate the wastes
generated. More simply, it is the amount of the environment necessary to produce
the goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle.

As we said before ecological footprint is the amount of ecology which is like

plants and natural resources which is available in these planet. We are consuming
to produce our goods and service we are cutting down the tree for our buildings
and we are using different western grown plants are vegetables which is been
transported and imported from different countries to reach us. So we are using
some incredible amount of energy to get all these to us so which is called
ecological footprint.

Think about what you use, consume, and discard in an average lifetime. Calculate
this for every American and then for every person on Earth. Humans have left their
mark on 83% of Earth’s surface. What can we do to reduce our environmental
impact?
As we discussed in the previous presentation an American produces a lot of these
ecological foot print to have their livelihood it’s their goods and services so we
have to start thinking to reduce the ecological footprint because whatever we have,
has a natural resources is very less and very finite amount it takes over long
duration to produce for our later generation to come.

” Human influence on earth can be positive or negative, benign or catastrophic.

Recognizing these responsibilities is the first step each of us can take to transform
the human footprint and save the last of the Wild”. These is been said by
Columbia University of wildlife conservation it says we need to start acting now
to reduce and say some of the wildlife which is becoming very existing and save
the resources which is available to us.

And these reports also produce by the Columbia University which takes into
account of average American. Over an average lifetime, each American will Burn
31,350 gallons of gasoline to fill their cars and transport were ever they want as we
know America is the one of the country which uses lot of cars and they read 5,054
newspapers on daily basis which is been cut down 43 trees and discard 64 tons of
garbage so what are they consume will become as like a waste and which accounts
to 64 tons of garbage and they use 1.8 million gallons of water.

What is Ecological Footprint?

With its theme of ‘Protecting our home’, offers a number of resources to

understand and study the concept of ecological footprint. Together with Redefining
Progress, it measures how much is needed to produce the resources we consume
and dispose of our waste.

As we seen in this picture Ecological footprint is different levels which happen

from Bioproductive land, Bioproductive Sea, Energy Land, Built Land and
Biodiversity. We known the land to stay and create our buildings and livelihood
which we are destroying some natural resources which already present in the land
and then we are using sea and other energy lands to produce other of our resources
like coal and different gasoline we are using sea to transportation for navy and we
are been occupying all natural resources and then built land and biodiversity. So
biodiversity forms an collective of all these categories which have seen now.
A measure of sustainability

An interesting way to look at ecological footprint is how much nations consume

versus how much they actually have.

Which of our activities influence the state of the Earth?

Built environment: we are constructing houses, roads, and infrastructure and

energy plants. Which takes all the raw materials from the natural resources which
is been process by different stages. This becomes the entire built environment as
we seen in the list.

Agriculture:

Food, animal feed, bio-fuel, textiles all these also forms a textile raw material from
the natural resource available.

Fishing: yield from the ocean and rivers, so over fishing we may come across term
over fishing. When you take out all the fishes from the sea which is been present
already with more than a specific number it affects the ecosystem. Over breeding
of fishes

Forest use: logging, construction, furniture, paper and fire wood. To make our
built environment we are dependent on the forest from which we are taking trees
for construction, furniture, papers etc.

Grazing Land: To meet our daily requirements like meat, dairy products, leather
and wool. To create a worm environment and livelihood we been using different
types of dairy products, leathers and wool which is been dependent on the animals.

Fossil Fuels: Production, transportation, heating, cooling etc. when you built a
home you need some comfort level which is given by air conditioner and room
heater which in turn depends on fossil fuels which is been in the planet.

Due to over usage of all the resources there is a lot of climate change been
happening. We discussed in the previous presentation.
CLIMATE CHANGE:

Many people make Climate Change and Global Warming a scary and difficult
thing to understand, but it’s not.

Scientists have warned that the world’s climate has changed a lot, and has affected
many living and non-living things.

Many places that were warmer are now getting colder, and many colder regions are
getting much colder or even warmer (Know as Global Warming). So climate
changing Global Warming is interconnected again this climate change due to over
usage and due to our ecological footprint in human footprint which we were been
living on the planet. They are saying lot of places becoming very colder and lot of
places which were colder now becoming colder or warmer. Say for example
Himalayas there is lot of ice gaseous which is been melting which is due to the
global warming of the different gases which we will be discussing later on.

There are lot of places which were colder are also now becoming colder because of
this water were melting. Which it increasing the water level in seas as we known in
the Andaman Nicobar islands which is only 3 meter from the highest points from
the sea level. This is also said that in 3-4 years this island may not be there because
it might be completely sunken within the ocean due to the increasing melting ratio
of ice gaseous.

For example, between 1901 and 2012, it is believed that the earth’s temperature
has risen by 0.89’C. Rainfall amounts have also risen in the mid-latitudes of the
northern hemisphere since the beginning of the 20th century. It is also believed that
sea levels have risen up to about 19cm globally, with lots of glaciers melting in
addition.

Comparing from 1901-2012 there is been increasing temperature of 0.89’C which

might look very less accounts in melting of gracious which is increasing the sea
level by 19cm which is a lot actually so when you see the primary thing it might be
very smaller when you look at the result is very maximum.

Some people do not believe these are caused by human activities. They think it is
all political and falsehood intended to cause panic among humans.
So there is lot of discussion which is been going on this UN (United Nations)
which forms both and they discussed about climate change and the lot of other
arguments are also there which is been said that these are all not caused by human
activities but human activities are important part all these thing to happen
ventrally. Well, whatever it is, we would like to know more, and take a few good
points from this confusion, and use them to make our world a better place to live.

Whatever it’s we need to take some action to protect all this happening even
though not be depending completely on his we are the ones get affected.

Climate Change Terms

Climate

This describes the total of all weather occurring over a period of years in a given
place. It is the average weather condition of the place. Climate tells us what it’s
usually like in the place where you live.

As we know the climate is like a weather condition which is happens for prolong
period. When you look at this picture it contain four different categories one is
rainy and sunny and then snowy and then windy. These are different climates.

For example, some countries like Cameroon, Ghana and Liberia are all in the
tropical wet region of Africa. They have a very sunny, hot and wet climate all year
round. However, there may be very different day-to-day weather conditions in each
village or town in these countries.

In countries such as Ghana, Liberia throughout the year it’s very sunny and hot and
wet climate. So you cannot completely defined climate for different countries it
may depend on each country on specific region a climate might change within
India usually we notice winters are very hash we go to northern regions and we
come to southern region minimum ally affected and even during summers even
though radiation is high in southern part of India as hashes. Northern part like
Delhi and Chandigarh

Weather

Weather is all around us. Weather may be one of the first things you notice when
you wake up. Weather describes whatever is happening outdoors in a given place
at a given time. It can change a lot within a very short time. For example, it can be
windy at night, rainy in the morning, hot and sunny at noontime, and even back to
windy before sunset. It includes daily changes in rainfall, temperature and wind in
a given location. Even if it is a summer month we might have few rainy days in
between that is like weather whatever it happens in a day similar on to day-to-day
life so suddenly it might be windy on a rainy day or suddenly chilly on a rainy day
it depends on day-to-day activities.

GREENHOUSE

 Have you ever seen a greenhouse? In some countries, people build a small
glass house to plant crops in it. It is built to keep the sun’s heat from escaping
from the glasshouses.
 In a way, the earth is like a glasshouse. The earth has some very important
gasses in the atmosphere that keeps us warm
We must have seen in hill stations in our country we might have seen this
glasshouse it will be green house effect in which they were built glasshouse
within they were keep their planets to keep some of the important gases which
is usually keep us warm. Some of these gases are Water vapour, carbon
dioxide, nitrous oxide and ethane. These are some of gases which forms the
greenhouse effect these are present on the environment which usually keep us
warm.
 When the sun heats the earth. These gases keep the heat on the earth’s surface,
without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average
temperature would be about 60’F colder.

So because of these gas when the sunlight hit the Earth it traps the sunlight and
keeps within the environment to keep us warm these gases were isn’t present it
completely will bonus back and then the earth will be completely colder like 60
degree were it need which is not make the planet liable. So these gases are
important

How does green house effect happen?

The earth’s atmosphere is all around us. it is the air that we breathe. when we
come out and see open land around us whatever see their air, the clouds and
everything around us and create the atmosphere.
Sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse
gases.

In this picture, the sun emits the radiation which is fall on the grass land on a water
body which is passed by the blanket of greenhouse gases which is been surround
over the environment and this greenhouse which protect these radiation.

As it reaches the Earth’s surface, the land and water absorbs the sunlight’s energy.
As you seen these picture when these radiation keeps falling due to this greenhouse
Heat energy is absorbed. Without the greenhouse usually it will be bounds back.
Because we have this greenhouse gases the radiations is absorbed and different
path of the end.

Once absorbed, the energy is sent back into the atmosphere in the form of infra-red
rays.

As the radiation is been absorbed by the environment some of the race is sent back
by the infra-red keeps everything which is been falling down and again it will be
getting hard it emits due to the difference between the grassland which it falls air
outside and usually cold due to the convection process and due to different
temperature transferring which is been happening so these became an even
temperature. Radiation which is been absorbed by the Greenland it sent out in the
form of infra-red rays.

Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the
atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our globe (earth) to warm up.

So these radiation is passed by infra-red rays there is some of radiation which is

been trapped and been preserved within the environment these greenhouse gas
effect. So energy is trapped here by greenhouse gases, Earth’s surface warms up

This warming is what we call Global Warming, and it is caused by the greenhouse
effect.

The greenhouse effect is important. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would
not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes
stronger, it could make the earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming of
the earth may cause problems for humans, plants and animals. There has been
some limits for this greenhouse effect to happen so when it’s more than that it
usually results in Global Warming which is extreme for humans, plants and
animals.

What brings about more Greenhouse gases?

In this era (the age of industrialization), the earth is full of industries. Millions of
vehicles, aero planes and engines are produced every year. A lot of artificial things
have been produced and have ended up in waste dumps. Humans produce much
more waste than ever before.

As we over livelihood our stand of living has been increasing over the generation.
If we talk to our grandparents tell they used only bi-cycle and very emission less
bikes which is been used now a days we using different cars and lot emissions and
we use aircrafts and we are building more and more industries, technologies which
is been producing different gases and which it causes greenhouse effect more and
more which results in Global Warming.

What did you notice in the sketch? What do all those activities have in common?

They all produce a lot of smoke, fumes and water vapor!

Energy production is still a major driver of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, For
instance, in 2010, the energy sector emitted approximately 35% of GHG, followed
by Agriculture, forest and other land uses (24%), Industry (21%), Transport (14%)
and Building sector (6.4%).

Simply put, humans reliance on artificial things, including all the things that make
us comfortable at home, has contributed immensely to the emission of more
greenhouse gases than before. These gases in the atmosphere have trapped more
heat on the earth’s surface and made it warmer. This is Global Warming.

These are the different appliances like electronic items that we use on our day-to-
day life all this makes our life simpler but on Global scale this been used by very
individual and now we have to imagine how much of greenhouse gases it might be
emitting and how much heat it must be producing in the environment.

YOU and I also produce and other greenhouse gases in the way, by things we use
at home. Do you have some of these items in your house?
Obviously, we have all these and we been producing lot of these greenhouse gases.

HOW TO CONTROL THIS INCREASE IN GLOBAL WARMING?

It is very IMPORTANT that you turn off all electrical appliances when they are
not in use. This good practice and you end up saving some money too. So we have
to be very conscious when we use these products which is producing lot of energy
so only when we need it we have to use and whenever not in use we should try to
stopping the usage and reduce the usage basically to reduce the heat produce
because of this appliances.

Everything humans have at home or workplace need power to work. This power
comes from burning fossil fuels and other natural sources. The more fuels are
burnt; the more are produced into the atmosphere.

This means each time your dad drives his car, or you turn on electric appliance,
you are indirectly adding to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

So whatever we are using make our life simpler is adding lot of greenhouse gases
which has been taken into the account and we have to try reducing it and try using
more of public transportation like car pooling which is been becoming very famous
lately to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases which is been produced.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Let’s see these 4 effects.

Global warming causes thermal expansion of land and water. It also causes ice
sheets to melt in icy regions of the world and mountain tops.

Large volumes of melted ice (water) than flows down into streams, rivers, lakes
and seas. The results are raising sea and water levels, causing floods and massive
destruction to low-lying towns and cities along water bodies. Because of this
increasing temperature what happens to the ice glassier.

Research shows that global sea level rose about 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) in the
last century, and the rate in the last decade is nearly double that of the last century.
Changing climate may also cause the weather to become more extreme, be it
droughts or violent storms and heavy rain, due to all the usage of global warming
we are also have some natural calamity like floods, rots and heavy rain.

Extreme changes in temperature make people suffer breathing difficulties,

headaches, body rashes and other illnesses. Our body adapt to certain temperature
limit when you go above the limit due to the Global warming which is been caused
by us so it again in turn affect us by different things like headaches, body rehashes
and other illness.

Climate changes also distorts the natural habitat and lives if many plants and
animals. For example, the survival of polar bears and penguins in icy regions are in
danger, as they cannot survive anywhere else. Other plants and animals in hot
region will die if the temperatures suddenly become too cold for them. So very
animals and different specious as been designed for different environment and
temperature, So when you suddenly increasing or decreasing it cannot survive.

These penguins are usually present in Antarctic islands due to lot of Global
warming the temperature has been increasing which makes this penguin to die.

The amount of water in the water cycle will not be affected, but its timing,
amounts, regularity and distribution will be impacted. Mid latitudes and dry
subtropical regions may experience reduction in water flow, whiles high latitudes
and humid mid-latitude regions may increase water flow. This how they are saying
how drops are coming and we are having sudden increasing rainfalls it’s all due to
Global warming.

There may be stream flow uncertainty in many other regions, because of reduced
snow and ice storage. Availability of clean water may be affected too, for instance,
the quality of lakes used for water supply could be impaired by the presence of
algae producing toxins.

In lot of industries waste get usually mixed with drinking in the lakes which affects
entire lake water and also eco-system which is present in the lake.

Basically ripple effect

What we can do is?

 Go by bus!
 Walk! Don’t drive.
 Ride! Don’t drive.
 Protect and plant trees.
 Recycle, reduce and re-use items