Sustainable urban development: integration of ecodesign, bioclimatic architecture and environmental engineering for resilient cities

Abstract

Cities face increasing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and rapid population growth. To address these issues, the integration of ecodesign, bioclimatic architecture and environmental engineering has become a fundamental strategy for sustainable urban development.

Ecodesign focuses on minimizing the environmental footprint of buildings and products throughout their life cycle. This is achieved through the use of renewable materials, energy efficiency and resource conservation. Bioclimatic architecture, on the other hand, adapts buildings to local climate conditions, reducing the need for mechanical systems for heating or cooling, thanks to passive strategies such as natural ventilation and green roofs, which can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. Environmental engineering complements these strategies by providing efficient technical solutions for water, waste and energy management, reducing carbon emissions is an essential component of sustainable urban development. Using renewable materials in eco-design can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%. By optimising resource management and improving waste management systems, environmental engineering helps create cities with lower emissions and better prepared to face the effects of climate change.

In terms of water management, sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) reduce stormwater runoff and mitigate flood risks, increasing the adaptive capacity of cities to extreme weather events. In addition, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling reduce water demand by 30%. Thus, resource efficiency and waste management are crucial aspects. Eco-design, together with life cycle assessments, encourages the selection of low-impact materials, and environmental engineering enables waste to be converted into renewable energy. This reduces reliance on landfills and greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring that cities can adapt to future man-made environmental challenges.