Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROJECT

&

AGL SUSTAINABLE LIVING COMPETITION

s u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r es u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r e

SOLARCH- The Centre for a

Sustainable Built Environment

slides produced by:

david tickle davidtickle@mail.com

This presentation was produced by SOLARCH in the Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW.

For more information about the AGL Sustainable Living Competition (open to all High School students providing $30,000 worth of rewards) please contact Ph: 02 9385 4979 or check out:

http://www.sustainableliving.com.au

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

s u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r ea r c h i t e c t u r e

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

what do buildings provide ?

Images: COLORS magazine, issue 27 ‘home’

couch for relaxing and talking

windows allow sunlight and fresh air to enter the building and allow views outside

kitchen has clean drinking water

kitchen for cooking and storing food

roof and walls allow privacy, protect from rain and wind, and stop intruders

table for gatherings and for eating food

bathroom for washing and cleaning and for sewage removal

outdoor space for recreation and relaxation

raised floor keeps things dry and clean (not on ground)

interior lighting and heating

a sense of place (within a community)

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

energy supply

water supply

building materials

waste and water disposal

light and warmth

energy

clean water

bathing and cleaning

waste disposal

protection from rain and cold

privacy and security

storage, cooking and eating of food

socialising and recreation

things provided by buildings

all of these factors inter-relate and should be seen as contributing to and feeding from the others

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

s u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r ethe natural environment

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

technology

society

culture

the natural environment

institutions + structures

knowledge

atmosphere

the built environment

‘resources’

forests

the universe

water

soil

biodiversity

oceans

sunlight

we are part of the environment, and not separate from it

As a result of neglecting to consider the

environmental consequences of

our actions, we now find many

serious environmental

problems emerging.

If we want to have ecological

resources to use in the future, and

ensure a high quality of life, we

must start considering the

broader environmental context in our

designs and choices.

Traditionally, decisions and designs have been based on economics, form and function. The broader environmental context – in which all things exist, and on which all things rely- has not adequately been considered.

A FEW BASIC TRUTHS:

• WE NEED A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR SURVIVAL

• EVERYTHING IS INTER-DEPENDENT AND INTER-RELATED

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

waste and water disposal

energy supply

water supply

building materials

Where do present materials come from?

How much do we currently use?

Images: National Geographic, Vol 195, No 3, March 1999; Oz Green World Water Day Poster, 1997; “Greenhouse News”, Vol 3, Issue No 2, Winter 2000, published by the Australian Greenhouse Office; “The Challenge”, Issue No 16, Winter 2000, published by the Australian Greenhouse Office

In most cases, it is not our ‘needs’ relating to the built environment that cause environmental problems – rather it is the way we choose to meet them.

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

INCREASED AIR POLLUTION - chemicals and gases

EFFECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH - we all need clean air and water, good food

INCREASED SOIL CONTAMINATION - chemicals, dirty water, loss of nutrients

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS - global warming and climate change

UNNECESSARYDELEPLETION OF NATURAL RESOURCES - forests, water, minerals, soil

INCREASED WATER POLLUTION - raw sewage rubbish chemicals

what are the impacts of unsustainable design & building practices ?

PRODUCTION OF WASTE - rubbish, materials, chemicals, etc

sustainable architecture

looks to find new ways to provide our needs without creating these impacts

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

s u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r e the design process

technology

people

sustainability

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

technology:

accommodating the needs of the present without compromisingthe ability of future generations to meet their own needs

(Brundtland Report, World Commission on Environment and Development 1987)

development:

making and using technology that meets human needs while taking into account long and short term consequences for society and the environment

ecologically sustainable

appropriate

design process:1. understand the needs of the users of the building 2. look at the capacity of the site and the environment in

supporting those needs3. make design decisions and use appropriate technologies to fulfil

the above

sustainable

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

s u s t a i n a b l ea r c h i t e c t u r ec a s e s t u d i e s

using an environmentally conscious design process to achieve

sustainable results

Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

NMB Bank Headquarters, Amsterdam

Images: “Green Design”, Dorothy Mackenzie, (1991), London: Laurence King Publishing

Materials• include natural materials such as timber, marble and copper• create a warm and pleasing environment (social benefits)• are locally produced, therefore reduce transportation pollution and resources

Staircasesdesigned to be appealing, in order to:• reduce reliance on lifts (reduces electricity consumption)• allow for interaction between co-workers (social benefits)• create an architectural feature

Hello!!

natural breezes

natura

l lig

hting

Windows • allow natural sunlight into the building (less electricity used for lighting)• can be opened to allow cross-ventilation (building has no air-conditioning, and uses much less electricity)

Rainwater• is collected from the roof (reduces mains water consumption)• used for water features and to water plants inside the building (creates a cool, healthy and pleasing environment)

water fall

water collected from roofs