Green architecture is becoming an increasingly important topic in IELTS Writing Task 2. Based on recent trends, it’s likely that questions related to sustainable urban development and environmentally friendly buildings will continue to appear in future exams. Let’s examine a relevant question that has appeared in past IELTS tests:
Some people believe that cities should prioritize green architecture and sustainable building practices. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
This question touches on the crucial issue of how cities can become more environmentally friendly. Let’s analyze the question and provide sample essays for different band scores.
Question Analysis
This question asks for your opinion on whether cities should make green architecture and sustainable building practices a priority. Key points to consider:
- Understand the term “green architecture” – buildings designed to minimize environmental impact
- Consider the advantages and potential drawbacks of prioritizing green architecture
- Decide your position – agree, disagree, or partially agree
- Provide reasons and examples to support your view
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
In recent years, the concept of green architecture has gained significant traction as cities grapple with environmental challenges. I strongly agree that urban areas should prioritize sustainable building practices, as this approach offers numerous benefits for both the environment and city dwellers.
Firstly, green architecture plays a crucial role in reducing a city’s carbon footprint. By incorporating energy-efficient designs, renewable materials, and innovative technologies, eco-friendly buildings significantly decrease energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, the Bosco Verticale in Milan, with its tree-covered balconies, not only absorbs CO2 but also provides natural insulation, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. This exemplifies the role of sustainable architecture in urban planning and its potential to combat climate change.
Secondly, prioritizing green architecture can lead to long-term economic benefits for cities. While the initial costs of sustainable construction may be higher, these buildings typically result in lower operational expenses over time due to reduced energy and water consumption. Moreover, green buildings often command higher property values and attract environmentally conscious businesses and residents, potentially boosting the local economy.
Furthermore, sustainable building practices contribute to improved public health and well-being. Green spaces integrated into architectural designs, such as rooftop gardens or living walls, help purify the air and create a more pleasant urban environment. These features can also provide much-needed recreational areas in densely populated cities, promoting physical activity and mental health among residents.
However, it is important to acknowledge that implementing green architecture on a large scale can present challenges, such as higher initial costs and the need for specialized expertise. Nonetheless, I believe these obstacles can be overcome through government incentives, public-private partnerships, and investment in education and training programs for sustainable design and construction.
In conclusion, the numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits of green architecture make it a worthy priority for urban development. By embracing sustainable building practices, cities can create healthier, more resilient, and more livable environments for their inhabitants while contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
Green architecture and sustainable urban development
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
In my opinion, I agree that cities should make green architecture and sustainable building practices a priority. This is because it can help protect the environment and improve people’s lives in cities.
One main reason why green architecture is important is that it can reduce pollution and save energy. For example, buildings with solar panels can generate clean electricity, which means less need for power from polluting sources like coal. Also, using materials like recycled steel or sustainable wood in construction is better for the environment than using new resources all the time.
Another benefit of green buildings is that they can save money in the long run. While they might cost more to build at first, they usually use less energy and water, which means lower bills for the people living or working in them. This can be especially helpful for low-income families who struggle with high utility costs.
Green architecture can also make cities more pleasant places to live. Many green buildings include plants and trees as part of their design, which can help clean the air and make the city look nicer. How to design energy-efficient buildings often involves creating spaces that are more comfortable for people, with better air quality and natural light.
However, there are some challenges to making green architecture a top priority. It can be expensive to change existing buildings to be more environmentally friendly, and some people might resist new designs that look different from traditional buildings. Also, construction workers and architects might need special training to work on green projects.
In conclusion, I believe the advantages of prioritizing green architecture in cities outweigh the disadvantages. It’s important for creating healthier, more sustainable urban environments for the future. Cities should encourage green building through policies and education to overcome the challenges.
Sample Essay 3 (Band 5-6)
I think cities should make green architecture important. It’s good for the environment and can help people live better in cities.
One reason green buildings are good is they don’t pollute as much. They use things like solar power which is clean. This means less pollution in the air, which is healthier for everyone.
Also, green buildings can save money. They use less electricity and water, so people pay less for bills. This is good for families who don’t have a lot of money.
Green architecture can make cities look nicer too. Many green buildings have plants and trees on them. This makes the city more beautiful and helps clean the air.
But there are some problems with green buildings. They can cost more money to build at first. Some people might not like how they look if they are very different from other buildings.
In conclusion, I think green architecture is a good idea for cities. It helps the environment and can make life better for people living there. Cities should try to build more green buildings even if it’s difficult sometimes.
Eco-friendly building features diagram
Explanation of Band Scores
Band 8-9 Essay:
- Fully addresses all parts of the task with a clear position
- Presents well-developed ideas with logical organization
- Uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and flexibly
- Demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy
- Uses cohesive devices effectively
- Contains no spelling or punctuation errors
Band 6-7 Essay:
- Addresses all parts of the task, though some aspects may be more fully covered than others
- Presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed
- Uses an adequate range of vocabulary with some inaccuracies
- Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors
- Has adequate paragraph organization but may lack overall coherence
- Contains some errors in spelling and punctuation but they do not impede communication
Band 5-6 Essay:
- Addresses the task only partially; the format may be inappropriate in places
- Expresses a position but development is not always clear
- Uses limited range of vocabulary; errors may cause some difficulty for the reader
- Uses only a limited range of structures with some accuracy
- Presents information with some organization but there may be a lack of overall progression
- Makes some errors in spelling and punctuation that may cause difficulty for the reader
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Green architecture (noun) – /ɡriːn ˈɑːrkɪtektʃər/ – The practice of creating structures using environmentally responsible processes
- Sustainable (adjective) – /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources
- Carbon footprint (noun) – /ˈkɑːrbən ˈfʊtprɪnt/ – The amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of activities
- Energy-efficient (adjective) – /ˈenərdʒi ɪˈfɪʃnt/ – Using less energy to provide the same service
- Eco-friendly (adjective) – /ˈiːkəʊ ˈfrendli/ – Not harmful to the environment
- Renewable (adjective) – /rɪˈnjuːəbl/ – A natural resource or source of energy that is not depleted when used
- Urban development (noun) – /ˈɜːrbən dɪˈveləpmənt/ – The process of improving and expanding urban areas
- Greenhouse gas emissions (noun) – /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs ɪˈmɪʃnz/ – The release of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect
- Public-private partnerships (noun) – /ˈpʌblɪk ˈpraɪvət ˈpɑːtnərʃɪps/ – Cooperation between government and private sector companies
- Resilient (adjective) – /rɪˈzɪliənt/ – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
In conclusion, the topic of green architecture in urban development is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. To prepare, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The role of technology in creating sustainable cities
- Balancing economic growth with environmental protection in urban areas
- The impact of green spaces on urban quality of life
- Government policies to promote sustainable urban development
Remember to structure your essays clearly, use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, and provide specific examples to support your arguments. Feel free to practice by writing your own essay on the given topic and sharing it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.