The document discusses the urgent need for green and sustainable design as a response to environmental degradation caused by human activities. It highlights various global initiatives and strategies aimed at promoting eco-friendly practices in architecture and interior design that prioritize health, sustainability, and resource efficiency. The text calls for collective action from all sectors to embrace green design principles to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

1. Green and sustainable design
It’s all about ‘action’

2. Going green life: a call to action
• Every journey starts with a story….during my younger days I could remember seasons; plenty of
rainfall, food, water and fertile soils. As I grey up the dynamics changed to low rainfall, shortage of
food, drying up of water resources and low fertility of soils. I could feel and see the effects but
didn’t quite understand what was happening, until when I started learning Geography; studied
about depletion of natural resources caused by people, deforestation, logging, cutting down of
trees, burning of forests and trees for charcoal, pollution also became a hot topic that needed
attention.
• From a global perspective came Climate Change and Global Warming, Rise in Sea Levels, Green
House Effect and that created a lot of concern due to the rapid effect all this was causing to the eco
system. We were all urged to plant trees, practice a forestation, and take care of our environment,
restore, conserve and preserve natural resources as well as wildlife. Agreements, strategies and
targets were put in place to try and address these changes.
• The new millennium brought about Millennium Development Goals now the Sustainable
Development Goals, Vision 2030, Global Environmental Summit, Paris Agreement all who up to
date embarks on achieving and coming up with policies that strategize on Ecosystem Balance,
Environmental Care, Health and Food Security but still supporting and enhancing Economic Growth,
Innovation as well as Industrial Growth.
• With all these efforts and missions being put in place, rapid technological advancement and
intervention, I believe that change starts from one’s adaptation of good habits, creating awareness,
educating people on importance of their environment and their health, they will accept to
participate directly to achieving these goals and agendas.

3. A call to action
• I believe there should be new commitments and calls for increased awareness in
business sector, financial sector, health, regions, continents and the society in
general. Let’s join efforts on climate change assessment and monitoring by
implementing and formulating going green initiatives in architecture, technology,
economy, jobs, design as a call to action protecting the future generation.
• UN Environment and Yale School of Design on Eco Housing Modules-aim to usher
in a cleaner future through design;
• United States Green Building Council-goal green building for everyone
• Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method-assessing,
rating and certifying the sustainability of buildings; help use resources more
efficiently
• International WELL Building Institute-addresses the built environment on human
health and well being via air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind
• All these organization are formulating ways to make cities, human settlements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Going green life: a call to action as the
new perspective

4. Green design: a bet to action
• Green design is the transformation and new approach to design field where design is all about
human health and their environment. It’s modern technology advancement in architecture
embarking on low carbon emissions, maximizing resources, minimizing waste, energy efficiency,
recycling of materials, water efficiency and serving people and communities. Green design involves
studying nature’s best ideas and imitating those systems and designs to sustainably solve human
problems.
• In the 21st century going green is the revolution to taking interior design to another level, explore
and conform interior spaces where we live, work, and learn to sustainable standards. As an interior
designer one directly influences how people perceive a space, one shapes the experience of an
interior space. The permutation and combinations all have an impact in people’s lives and their
environment.
• Green design addresses ways to unveil efforts and commitments under healthy energy systems,
inclusive economic growth, integrative design approach, sustainable designs and spaces,
biodiversity stewardship and transformative climate investments. This a true strategy to bring
exponential shift to a cleaner and more sustainable economy. Stepping up action to help humanity
thrive in a clean ecological living interior space with this in mind ”if we manage to put our
environment first, we can come out on the other end of this formidable challenge and achieve a
common goal, a sustainable world for all”

5. A bet to action
• A bet to act on sustainable development goals; goal 7; Affordable and Clean Energy, goal 11;
Sustainable Cities and Communities, goal 12; Sustainable Consumption and Production. Companies,
organizations, industries and markets all need to step up to the challenge.
• Being a green interior designer can play a vital role in tackling adverse environmental effects caused
by Climate Change, Global Warming and Green House Effect. Green design should be collaboration
and partnership to all parties involved even the clients who hire interior designers.
• To our clients, there are numerous opportunities and benefits to going eco lifestyle we are all called
upon to look into the future; with most of us working from home, spending most of our time
indoors, adhering to indoor recreational activities; Health and Environmental care, concern,
consciousness should start from us. Let’s embrace green design for;
• Indoor environmental quality,
• Light versatility,
• Energy and water efficiency,
• Conservation of natural resources,
• Flexibility and longevity,
• Product production, use and disposal,
• Interior plantscaping,
• Multi-functionality, aesthetics and practicality
• Sustainable space is the ultimate luxury

6. Going eco-lifestyle: a drive to action
• As Architects, Interior Designers, Engineers and plumbers, with increased global environmental
concern, care and consciousness; green design is now becoming a trendy and competitive field. As
interior designers and architects we have the power to make design choices that affect the building
performance, solutions and bench marking. We no longer design for aesthetics, functionality or
practicality in mind but also focus on Ecology, Sustainability, Health and Eco-friendly approach.
• Ecological approach to interior design and achieving green design indoors should be addressed in
concepts such as:
• Material and resource concept- selection of materials and products with low environmental impact,
use of renewable, recyclable and bio degradable items and products for decorations and
furnishings.
Let’s choose products with low VOC content
• Emotional and narrative concept- the feeling that a design should elicit to the occupants, clients,
visitors, guests that way they can be more aware of their surroundings
• Let’s think how a design is perceived, it’s how it’s received
• Efficiency concept -this is based the interior design principle design for energy efficiency consider
lighting requirements, energy efficient windows, heat control, water usage and acoustic
transmission.
Let’s invest on affordable and clean energy

7. A drive to action
• Clean and organic concept-use of fabrics such as wool, cotton, silk, feathers for upholstery, rugs,
pillows, bedspreads, cushions, curtains
Let’s look out for labels, certifications, standards for traceability of the products whether they eco
friendly or not.
• Quality concept-we think indoor environmental quality in terms of air circulation, a natural fresh
ambience, light quality and ventilation system, interior plantscaping
Let’s look into an affordable interior maintenance plan
• Space concept- as designers we need to create space that helps inhabitants to connect with nature
and appreciate the transition of outdoors indoors, both in form, color and pattern
Let’s think design for affinity to nature
• Surface concept- manipulation and combinations of a negative space to a unique, artistic
ecologically living treatment
Here we examine character, mood and expression of an interior space
• Our main aim as designers is to encounter more clients who require the implemented and finished
interior design project to meet LEED, IWBI, and BREEAM certification standards.
• Green design is a calling to all, a bet to action for all and a drive to action for all.