Green Building Design – Not Just For New Builds
Topics: green building design, environmental engineering, environmental consultants
Economic and climatic changes are afoot resulting in some major upheavals in engineering and construction legislation. An attitude shift in a greener direction when it comes to development is being welcomed in the industry. Recently, one of the most coveted awards available in architecture was awarded to a group who combined their knowledge to build sustainable housing on a brownfield site in the UK. The use of energy saving materials and energy saving methods combine to produce accommodation that has a chance of being rated as carbon zero.
The targets set by the British government for domestic builds are to meet sustainable development legislation by 2016, and for commercial premises to adhere to the new rules by 2019. The current housing minister reportedly said that half the UK’s carbon emissions are from buildings; so theoretically, if designing greener buildings is made a priority, the country should be well on the way to meeting EU carbon emission reduction targets. By focussing on insulation and ventilation, ways to re-use water, and using energy from sustainable sources, engineering companies are designing green buildings with the future in mind.
Existing developments have proved that opting for green building design does not necessarily equate to being a costly development scheme. In fact, by utilising energy saving methods to produce energy saving buildings, it is likely that cost will be reduced in comparison to traditional builds. For those builds that are costly to implement, it has been estimated that the return on investment could be seen within three years. If Britain is serious about meeting targets for sustainable development, then a look at green building practices from around the world could shed light on good practices.
Working towards a greener future in building design is not confined to new builds; the upgrading of existing buildings can in itself be the first foot on the carbon zero ladder. With existing buildings making up the majority of carbon gushing properties, relying on environmentally sound new developments to combat emission levels could be a fallacy. Implementing changes through retro-fitting in commercial and domestic premises will help to reduce emission levels. This tactic is already being deployed in the Netherlands and there is currently a major project underway in Nottingham in the UK.
Rather than use an existing house as a starting point, researchers have re-built a 1930s house and plan to upgrade it in stages. The reason for this is to assess each upgrade for effectiveness in a way that mimics the reality of a domestic upgrade. It is expected that the work will be stretched out over three years and in that time an existing house will match the requirements for carbon zero legislation expected from new builds.
This affordable and creative approach to sustainable building design is the attitude that is needed in the construction and engineering industry as well as from the Government. The public are ready and willing to embrace the changes that are afoot, but implementation of governmental policy is needed to make it happen. With a system that saves money for constructor and consumer and has the potential for saving the planet too, up to date building designs for old and new properties will see brownfield sites blossoming into greenbelt havens.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the environmental engineering industry.
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