Good day! The design industry is transforming as we approach the year's final quarter. With just over 99 days left in 2024, now is the time to ensure that your design practices prioritize innovation and sustainability in your projects.

—Filipe Boni, Sami Meira, UGREEN Team

In today's edition:

• The Impact of Renovations and Interior Design

• The Impact of Parking Lots on the Climate Crisis

• Khoo Teck Puat Hospital: A Design That Heals the Soul

• Next UGREEN Events

Interior Design

A New Perspective on the Impact of Renovations and Interior Design

This news from Metropolis Magazine impacted me in 2020 and is still valid today.

At a time when awareness of climate change and carbon emissions is at an all-time high, the construction industry is undergoing significant transformation. Large corporations are making bold commitments to reduce their carbon footprints.

In January 2020, Microsoft pledged to be carbon-negative by 2030, and in June, Amazon announced that three significant partners had joined its carbon neutrality commitment. On the other hand, Salesforce has committed to obtaining Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute for all its workplaces starting this year.

But what does this mean for interior design?

Kate Simonen from the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) highlights that corporate clients are becoming more aware of their environmental impact, but this shift is not uniform. The transition to more sustainable practices may be slower for companies undertaking occasional improvement projects, such as renovating every ten years.

Renovations and Sustainability: A Necessary Path

Renovations improve air quality and integrate new findings on health and wellness. They also respond to cultural and organizational changes. Ignoring the need for these adaptations would be overlooking critical factors.

Meghan Lewis, a senior researcher at CLF, says that interior designers need to be strategic about the environmental impact of their materials. Before joining CLF, Lewis led global energy and sustainability at WeWork, where she studied the effects of one of the company’s improvement projects. “WeWork spaces aren’t fully open-plan, so the largest element to consider was the interior storefront, followed by the partitions,” she explains.

Carbon Leadership Forum created a graphic showing the contributions to global warming potential, energy, and mass on five projects:

The good news?

Low-carbon options exist for wallboards, installations, and internal structures, allowing for sustainable changes without sacrificing aesthetics.

Connecting Interior Design with Sustainability

Strategic material selection and adopting solutions that reduce environmental impact are already essential to meeting the demands of both clients and the planet. The transition to more sustainable practices is not an option but a necessity.

The message for interior design professionals is clear: the profession's future requires a conscious and proactive approach.

Now, the question is:

How can you, as a professional, transform your practices and projects to keep pace with this change?

From October 7th to 11th, 2024, we’ll host Sustainable Interior Design Week.

This online and free event will show you how to combine innovation, technology, and sustainability to transform the future of interior design.

Sustainable interior design is one of the best ways to impact the world and your career positively. Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare for transformation!

Urban Design

The Impact of Parking Lots on the Climate Crisis

Urban parking lots may seem harmless, but did you know they are directly linked to some of the biggest climate challenges facing U.S. cities? That's right: excessive heat and flooding.

Last week, Filipe Boni and Sami Meira discussed the impacts of the overabundance of parking lots on cities and what can be done to mitigate these effects.

Parking Lots, Heat, and Flooding: The Connection

A recent study by the Parking Reform Network investigated the relationship between the number of open parking lots and extreme heat and flood events.

The result? The cities most prone to these problems are those with the most parking lot coverage. Population growth and the fact that the U.S. is a car-dependent society worsen the situation, creating a cycle of more vehicles and parking lots.

• More than 50% of urban areas: On average, 25% of cities are already covered by streets and sidewalks, and around 26% are dedicated to parking lots.

• Environmental impact: These paved surfaces create intense heat zones (urban heat islands) and block rainwater from seeping into the ground, contributing to flooding.

Most Affected Cities

Here are some examples of cities with large areas dedicated to parking lots and the problems they are facing as a result:

• San Bernardino, CA: Half of downtown is covered by parking lots, contributing to high temperatures and severe flooding.

• Atlanta, GA: Much of the city center is dominated by parking, making the city vulnerable to extreme weather events.

• Orlando, FL: With 33% of its downtown area dedicated to parking, Orlando suffers from rising temperatures and insufficient rainwater drainage.

In addition to these cities, others like Memphis (TN) and Detroit (MI) are among the most impacted, with more than 30% of their central areas dedicated to parking.

Heat Islands and Runoff: The Double Problem

The materials used in parking lots, like asphalt, have a massive environmental impact. They don't allow rainwater to penetrate the ground, creating a phenomenon known as "runoff," which overwhelms drainage systems and causes flooding.

Moreover, asphalt amplifies urban heat islands with its high heat retention index. Imagine crossing a parking lot at noon, with the asphalt heating up to scorching temperatures, with no shade or greenery nearby. This problem affects both the microclimate of cities and the comfort and health of their residents.

In the video below, Filipe Boni from UGREEN presents how the heat island effect works:

Sustainable Solutions for Parking Lots

But all is not lost! We can reverse this situation with some practical and sustainable changes:

• Permeable paving: Use materials that allow water to seep into the ground, such as open-grid concrete with grass or other porous materials.

• More vegetation: Create green areas within and around parking lots to provide shade and reduce heat buildup.

• Photovoltaic panels: Solar panels should be installed over parking lots, providing renewable energy and shading for vehicles.

• Rain gardens and bioswales: Solutions that help absorb excess rainwater, preventing excessive runoff while beautifying urban spaces.

Rethinking Parking Lots And The Future of Cities

Cities need to rethink how they manage parking lots and paved areas. Instead of prioritizing large areas, they should focus on climate resilience and sustainable development.

Parking lots can be redesigned to mitigate flooding and reduce heat islands, contributing to soil health and creating a more pleasant urban environment.

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Sustainable Design

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital: A Design That Heals the Soul

Imagine walking into a hospital and, instead of feeling the stress of a clinical environment, your blood pressure drops. This is the effect that the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Gishun, Singapore, provides.

It’s an accurate model of how biophilic design—integrating nature into architecture—can transform hospital spaces and foster well-being for patients and healthcare professionals.

Architecture That Breathes

Khoo Teck Puat was designed in V-shaped blocks open to the north. This isn’t just an aesthetic choice: it’s a strategic plan that allows a gentle breeze to enter the hospital, which first passes over Lake Gishun. Natural ventilation improves air quality and regulates temperature, creating a healthier environment.

In addition, the hospital carefully controls the entry of light to promote visual comfort, manages rainwater collection, and creates a continuous flow of air — all aimed at bringing nature inside.

Next UGREEN Events

Sustainable Materials Workshop

Sep 26th, 12 PM UTC. US$7 to participate, free for UGREEN Pass members.

In today’s eco-conscious world, integrating sustainability into your projects is essential. The Sustainable Materials Workshop offers practical, actionable insights that can be immediately applied to enhance the environmental impact of your designs.

Sustainable Business Mentoring

Only available for UGREEN Pass members

Present your career challenges and connect with participants worldwide during our monthly meetings, elevating your career to higher levels of effectiveness and influence.

Sustainable Interior Design Week

Free to participate

The UGREEN live event merges innovation, technology, and sustainability within interior design. Led by Filipe Boni and Sami Meira, this event aims to inspire architects and interior designers globally to create spaces that are not only sustainable but also aesthetically pleasing and functional.

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