Sustainability in building design and construction

Sustainability is a broad term describing a desire to carry out activities without depleting resources or having harmful impacts, defined by the Brundtland Commission as 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' (ref. Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987).

See also the sustainability of construction works, sustainable procurement, environmental frameworks, assessments and certifications in their historical context, sustainable materials for construction.

Some broader descriptions include social and economic sustainability (which along with environmental sustainability comprise the three pillars of sustainability) although these can confuse the basic issue of the depletion of resources.

Sustainability in building developments is a vast and complex subject that must be considered from the very earliest stages as the potential environmental impacts are very significant (ref. Technology Strategy Board).

The built environment accounts for:

• 45% of total UK carbon emissions (27% from domestic buildings and 18% from non-domestic).
• 72% of domestic emissions arise from space heating and the provision of hot water.
• 32% of landfill waste comes from the construction and demolition of buildings.
• 13% of products delivered to construction sites are sent directly to landfill without being used.

Once it has been decided to build a new building, as opposed to say changing working practices or refurbishing an existing building, a very significant commitment to consume resources has already been made. Designers and contractors may be able to help limit that consumption, but they cannot change the overall commitment.

This consumption of resources can be even more significant if the client makes a decision to relocate, with the impact this has on their staff, requiring that they either move house or change their travel plans. Decisions such as this which are often made outside of any environmental assessment process can have a far greater impact on sustainability than decisions that designers are able to influence such as the form of the building and selection of materials.

Key decisions may be picked up by an environmental impact assessment on larger projects, but even then, this can be a post-rationalisation process used to justify decisions to the local planning authority, rather than a genuine decision-making process.

Clients may wish therefore to appoint an independent client adviser with specialist knowledge of sustainability during the very early stages of their project (before the consultant team has been appointed) to help them address these high-level decisions.

Clients may have an existing environmental policy, that sets out an overall sustainability vision, as well as detailed objectives and targets. They may also have environmental accreditation such as ISO 14000 (a series of standards which provides a framework for environmental management).

Other standards may be imposed by funders, the building regulations, and planning legislation (including the possible need for an environmental impact assessment). It is wise however to write a specific environmental plan for the development being considered, as building projects involve many detailed issues that go beyond the scope of an existing corporate plan.

A project-specific environmental plan could form part of the brief, or on larger projects might be a stand-alone document. It might include an overall vision, objectives and specific targets in relation to:

Business planning:

The need for a new building as opposed to doing nothing, refurbishment or changes in working practices.

Selection of consultants:

Contractual requirements in relation to the selection of materials, monitoring and reporting, track record, environmental accreditation and qualifications of staff.

Selection of location:

Availability of transport, the selection of a greenfield or brownfield site, the local availability of resources and services, the local infrastructure and local ecology.

Project brief:

Procurement route, travel plan, working methods, standards, ecology and landscape, energy use and energy source, flexibility and durability, waste management, water management, material selection and pollution, public engagement, community involvement, assessment of existing occupation practice, types of contracts etc.

Resilience:

Resilience to climate change, biodiversity net gain, golden thread approach, net-zero approach, future proofing, design for deconstruction or adaptability, designing for future climates, extreme weather conditions, driving rain, increased wind speeds and energy security, community engagement and local benefits etc.

Design:

Energy use and energy source, embodied energy or carbon, use of harmful materials, material sources, ecology and landscape, flexibility and durability, waste management, water management, disposal, travel plan and pollution etc.

Tender:

Contractual requirements such as whole life assessment of products, embodied carbon calculations, energy performance targets, material performance targets, ventilation strategy and free areas, indoor air quality, design out waste targets, construction impacts, monitoring and reporting, working practices, track record, environmental accreditation, competency assessments and qualifications of staff etc.

Construction:

Transport, embodied energy or carbon, reuse of materials or elements, whole life impacts, use of harmful materials, material sources, working methods, site waste management plan, recycling, pollution, wheel washing, dust generation, noise, operations manuals, handover approach, building management systems, certification schemes and evidence etc.

Operation:

Energy source, energy use, water management, maintenance, resource management, waste management, flexibility, durability, landscape and ecology, pollution, post occupancy evaluation, evaluation and feedback.

Disposal:

Dismantling and demolition, re-use, re-sale and recycling, landscape and ecology, hazardous materials and pollution.

The environmental plan should:

• Set specific, measurable targets.
• Set standards that must be adhered to.
• Establish risks and mitigation measures.
• Establish procedures for communication and training.
• Establish procedures for monitoring and reporting.
• Establish procedures for revision and updating.

Environmental plans require policing, and on a large project this can be a full-time job for a specialist. At the client level, a senior champion should be appointed to take responsibility for environmental matters.

Predicting the likely environmental performance of a development during the design phase is becoming more important as regulations become increasing strict.

As well as the building regulations, and government targets for low carbon construction (see Low carbon construction plan), the National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that there should be a presumption in favour of granting planning permission for sustainable development, this might include low-carbon developments, and developments with resilience to climate change. This should be reflected in design and access statements for outline planning applications.

There are a vast number of assessment tools, standards and networks available to help assess and improve on different aspects of environmental performance. The article city networks highlights many on these

• BREEAM.
• Passivhaus.
• SAP the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for energy rating of dwellings.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an international green building certification system.

These assessment techniques are beginning to allow whole-life costing to form a fundamental part of the design process as it becomes possible to demonstrate that higher initial costs can sometimes result in lower long-term impacts and greater long-term benefits. Demonstration of actual performance in use may be necessary through requirements for a Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) or Display Energy Certificates (DECs)

Appointments should make clear the extent and standard of environmental performance and assessment that is required.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Active House.
• Aktivplus.
• Biotechnology.
• Biotechnology: The key to zero energy buildings.
• BREEAM In-Use Version 6 environmental standard launched by BRE.
• BREEAM Responsible sourcing of materials.
• BREEAM: The Next Generation.
• Building Back Better: Social impact.
• Circular Construction in Regenerative Cities (CIRCuIT).
• Circular economy.
• Climate change science.
• Constructing and renovating UEFA training facilities.
• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
• Earth overshoot day.
• Ecological impact assessment.
• Economic sustainability.
• Emission rates.
• Energy Act.
• Energy Performance Certificates.
• Energy Related Products Regulations.
• Energy targets.
• Environmental impact assessment.
• Environmental legislation.
• Environmental plan.
• Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark GRESB.
• Green building.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Low carbon.
• Mean lean green.
• Passivhaus.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Regenerative design.
• Scotland publishes plans to reach net zero targets with Heat in Buildings Strategy.
• Site waste management plan.
• The sustainability of construction works
• Sustainable development.
• Sustainable materials.
• Sustainable procurement.
• Sustainable urban drainage systems.
• Sustainability appraisal.
• Sustainability aspirations.
• Sustainability in facility management.
• The Carbon Plan: Delivering our low carbon future.
• Upcycling.
• UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.
• UKGBC launches new Solutions Library to enable sustainable buildings.
• Zero carbon homes.
• Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.

[edit] External references

• The RIBA has produced a Green overlay to the Plan of work. This provides supplementary guidance on the integration of sustainability into the design process.
• Sustainability, Achieving Excellence in Construction Procurement Guide, OGC, 2007.
• Greenspec green building products and other guidance.
• Greenspec glossary of green terms.
• Carbonlite an AECB initiative providing the tools and knowledge to create low-energy buildings.
• Sustainable Build: The Complete Guide to Building Sustainably.
• AECB, a network of individuals and companies with a common aim of promoting sustainable building.
• Green Building Store, products for low energy buildings.
• Zero Carbon Hub: Allowable Solutions for Tomorrows New Homes.
• Draft National Planning Policy Framework - presumption in favour of sustainable development.
• The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate has sections covering procurement and estate management.
• BSRIA Soft Landings.
• WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) resource efficiency tools.
• Cabinet Office summary of government advice on sustainability.
• RIBA Guide to sustainability in practice.
• UK Green Building Council: Pinpoint: Data base of sustainabilityresources, training and tools.
• Carbon Trust Low Carbon Buildings and Buildings energy efficiency guides.

Comments

Very useful synopsis but some of the links may need reviewing due to the rate of change within the environment & sustainability area.

Agreed and thanks