AN OVERVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DESIGN

Dr Barbara SwannMA. MSc. Dip.Arch

Retired Architect and Energy Consultant

House under construction from straw bales

Speculative Office Building Doxford, Northumberland clad in photo-voltaic cells

Sustainable development- what does it mean? World commission on environment and development 1987: Our Common Future

Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Sir Crispin Tickell (British diplomat, environmentalist, and academic):

Treating the world as if we intended to stay

CIB (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction):

Sustainable construction is the creation and responsible management of a healthy built environment based on resource efficient and ecological principles.

Tom Woolley (Professor at the Graduate School of the Environment at the Centre for Alternative Technology) :

Getting a hell of a lot more from a hell of a lot less

Why do we need sustainability in the building industry ?

TRANSPORTtraffic related air-pollutiontraffic congestion

LAND USEland contaminationland-fill sites soil erosion landslides

HEALTHwork related diseasespollution related illnesses

BIO-DIVERSITY rainforest destruction

SHARING WORLD RESOURCES

DEPENDENCY ON FOSSIL FUELSfinite resources1970s oil crisiselectricity shortages

CLIMATEacid rain holes in the ozone layerglobal warming - greenhouse effect

WATERwater shortages flooding pollution of riverspollution of the sea and beaches

AIR QUALITYoutdoor and indoor

Sustainability and the Building Design Process

CHOICE OF SITE

Can existing facilities be adapted ?

Brownfield site

Site location, close to local facilities, public transport

Site planning, orientation, shelter, building form, views

On-site storage of rainwater

On-site energy production

On-site treatment of foul water

Sustainability and the Building Design Process

BUILDING FORM

Compact Form

Orientation

Inclusive design

Thermally lightweight construction

Thermally heavyweight construction

Prefabrication

Air tightness and breathability

Window size: daylight, heat loss, heat gain

Roof pitch and finish

Design for deconstruction

Sustainability and the Design Process

Earth Balance Centre Bedlington

BUILDING MATERIALS

Materials of low embodied energy

Materials of low environmental impact

Water used during construction

CFC free insulation

Recycled and / or recyclable materials

Timber from renewable sources -FSC

Materials from local suppliers

Avoidance of PVC based materials

Avoidance of materials containing formaldehyde, VOCs, (Volatile Organic Compounds) etc

Sustainability and the Design Process

MINIMISING ENERGY USED FOR HEATING

High insulation levels

Air tight design and construction

Double glazing with low emissivity (lowE) coating, argon filled

Condensing boilers

Appropriate controls

Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery

OTHER ENERGY SAVING MEASURES

Combined heat and power plant (CHP)

Separate metering of fuel usage

Sustainability and the Design Process

REDUCING ENERGY LOST THROUGH LEAKAGE AND VENTILATION

Airtight construction

High level of of draughtproofing

Controlled extract and air supply with heat recovery

Good cross ventilation for night time cooling

MINIMISING ENERGY USE FOR LIGHTING

Adequate daylighting, avoiding glare and overheating

Low energy / high efficiency fittings

External lighting controlled by daylight or movement sensors

Sustainability and the Design Process

REDUCING WATER USAGE

Collecting rainwater from roofs

Collecting 'grey-water' from basins, baths, showers

Spray tapsDual flush / smaller WC cisterns

REDUCING SURFACE AND FOUL DRAINAGE

Collection of surface water, as above

Porous paving systems, slow release systems

On-site treatment of effluent in reed beds or gravel pits

Composting toilets

Alternative sources of heat

Solar panels - producing hot water

Groundsource heat pumps

Airsource heat pumps

Geothermal processes

Biomass

Electricity Generation from Renewable Sources

Photo-voltaic panels

Wind generators

Combined heat and power

Small scale hydro-electricity generators

Tidal and wave power

National Energy Foundation Milton Keynes

Sustainability and the Construction ProcessCareful installation of insulation

Air-tight construction and testing

Control noise and air and water pollution

Use Forest Stewardship Council, FSC, approved timber

Reduce site wastage - separate skips for timber, metal and other waste

Subcontractors responsible for removing their packaging and waste materials

REFURBISHMENTOpportunity to upgrade to more efficient plant and materials

Recycling of redundant materials

DEMOLITIONMaterials recycling

Sustainability in the Construction Industry

UK BUILDING REGULATIONS

Part A – Structure

Part C - Site Preparation And Resistance To Moisture

Part D - Toxic Substances

Part E - Sound Insulation

Part F – Ventilation

Part G – Hygiene

Part H - Drainage and Waste Disposal

Part J - Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage

Part L - Conservation of Fuel and Power 

Part M - Disabled Access To And Use Of Buildings

Part P - Electrical Safety

UK Energy and Environmental Ratings

Code for Sustainable HomesDesign categories included within the Code are:

● ENERGY/CO2 ● WATER ● MATERIALS● SURFACE WATER RUN-OFF ● WASTE ● POLLUTION ● HEALTH AND WELL-BEING● MANAGEMENT ● ECOLOGY

Ratings from 1 – 6 stars

NHER RATING (NATIONAL HOME ENERGY RATING) SCALE 1-20

Bournville Village TrustCouch Perry Wilkes and Kier - Lower Shenley, Birmingham

PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGNPassivhaus

Sustainability in the Construction Industry

The building must be designed to have an annual heating demand of not more than 15kWh/m2 per year in heating and 15kWh/m2 per year cooling energy or to be designed with a peak heat load of 10W/m2.

Total primary energy consumption for heating, hot water and electricity must not be more than 12kWh/m2.

per year.

Construction must be airtight

Eco Housing at Oxley Woods, Milton Keynes

A RARE EXAMPLE OF LARGE SCALE SPECULATIVE DEVELOPMENT

Prefabricated insulated timber paneled structure

Resin bonded woodfibre cladding

Large airtight windows

Ventilation doors / fire escapes

Flush thresholds and wide doors for wheelchair access

Eco-hat on roof

Oxley Woods Eco Housing

Achieves BREAM Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3

NHER (National Home Energy Rating) 10

Recycled paper insulation in the walls

High efficiency insulation in roofs and floors

Double glazed, argon filled windows

Rooflight over staircase

Insulated external doors

Air-tight construction - no draughts

Inclusive design

Surface Water drainage to water butt, swales and ponds

Oxley Woods Eco Housing

Condensing boiler

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)

Whole house ventilation system incorporating solar heating

Dual flush toilet cisterns

Low water usage taps and shower head

Water butt

Low energy light fittings

Glass and laminate splashbacks

Energy efficient white goods

Very little water used during the building process

Highly Glazed Spaces

Such as conservatories and garden rooms

Very pleasant well lit environment but limited use due to extremes of temperature

Need careful design and the incorporation of blinds (preferably external) and high and low level ventilation to reduce high temperatures without the need for air conditioning

Some solid walls and roof with roof lights inserted will also reduce excessive solar gain and will help to maintain comfortable temperatures without the need for a heating system

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.theparkstrust.com23rd June 2012 The Little Green Fair, Howe Park Wood, New Passive House

www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.pdf

www.environment-agency.gov.uk - collection and storage of rainwater and greywater

www.greenspec.co.uk

www.bre.co.uk/greenguide The Green Guide to Building

www.greenworks.co.uk including ‘ The Sustainable Building Guide’

www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/