ENVIROTECTURE

Thermal performance modelling is done as a matter of course, using the best systems available. In Australia, this means using AccuRate. Some states have regulations (such as BASIX in NSW) which must be complied with in order to gain development consent. We set project targets well above minimum compliance at the start. Making buildings naturally comfortable eliminates two bad things: high energy bills from space heating and cooling, and unnaturally conditioned buildings (such as is the case with air conditioning). Naturally comfortable buildings, which sit comfortably in their climate, and in their landscape, are healthier, and happier to live in.

Energy is also used to run many other building systems, and it is important to minimise the demand for these. Smart building controls are one way, natural lighting is another. Using renewable energy can then be used to meet this reduced overall demand cost effectively. Thus it is entirely practicable to produce a zero-energy building.

Water is the world's scarcest resource, and no building can afford to use it wastefully. Sensitive water design is integrated with the landscape design, and is responsive to the immediate climatic and rainfall patterns. A three level strategy is applied to the design and specification process: minimise demand, use the water twice where possible, the capture rainwater to make up the balance. This gives the occupant high quality water, control of their own resource, and can greatly reduce or eliminate demand on dwindling supplies.

Materials must be considered at an early stage, and again when making selections and writing specifications. The concept design may rely on the use of certain types of materials in certain places (such as thermal mass in floor or walls), and will fail to work properly if these are not used as designed. All materials have ecological impacts off site, either at point of source (forestry, mining etc) or at point of processing and manufacture (smelting, moulding etc). Materials must be selected which offer the best long-life performance, with the lowest impact on the environment.

Toxicity of materials must also be considered, for the sake of the building occupants as well as the wider environment. Parents and child-care providers are increasingly aware of their duty of care to the kids under their roof, but the same principle applies to all building owners. Many common building finishes ‘off-gas’ toxic substances (VOCs – volatile organic compounds). These can be carcinogenic, and have been linked to leukaemia and other serious illnesses. Benign plant based or natural mineral materials are the preferred choice. Termites are kept at bay through Minimum Termite Risk (MTR) construction systems, rather than using toxic chemicals that leach into the surrounding soil, and fail to provide adequate protection.