Make Buildings Better

 

 

 

The following list should be adopted as the backbone of a sustainable built environment specification.

 

·         An EcoCost Budget determining the amount of resource to be expended on a building should be determined and observed.

·         Buildings should be self sufficient or net contributors of energy to the community.

·         Buildings should be independent in terms of water use.

·         Maximum use should be made of recycled materials in building construction, renovation and fitting out. 

·         Strategies for re-using and retrofitting existing buildings should be pursued wherever feasible, ensuring that this has a net environmental benefit.

·         The lowest EcoCost building products available should be specified and sufficient supervision arranged to ensure proper material procurement strategies are followed.

·         A full survey to minimise off gassing, particulate emission, air exchange and other 'Sick Building' contributors should be carried out.

·         All building users should have maximum control of their own personal environment without detrimentally effecting the environment of those around them.  Choices of lighting quality, workstation forms and arrangements and personalisation of spaces should be encouraged.

·         All building users should have direct access to openable windows

·         All areas should be directly lit with natural lighting, and some direct sun.

·         Heat exchangers should be fitted to transfer heat from exhaust air to inlet air to allow higher air exchange rates and lower energy requirements.

·         Ramps and stairs should be encouraged as the principle method of movement through levels of the building, with mechanical assistance reserved for service and necessity.

·         Use should be made of carefully chosen plant species to replace humidifiers, biologically active air filtration systems should be employed for air cleaning.

·         User preference controlled, mechanical ventilation, heat exchange and building mass should be used in place of airconditioning systems.

·         Buildings should have strategies for in-house recycling of all consumables run in conjunction with the entire ecosystem catchment community where appropriate.

 

So … Rule of Thumb … Ensure all these things are done as a matter of course with all buildings.  Encourage authorities to give tax breaks and lease incentives to promote and encourage developers to adopt sustainable design guidelines.

 

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