Sustainable Building

(How are we going to do that then?)

Matt Robinson

Step Change

Today

2016

Is Zero truly 0 ?

• What if we use a lot of

energy and create a lot of

pollution to do ‘Zero’?

• What if ‘Zero’ doesn’t exist?

Is there a ‘sweet spot’ just

below ‘Zero’?

If I was to go there, would I start here?

UK Construction industry 2008

UK Construction industry 2016

Inertia and Resistance– Massive lack of knowledge and

mis-information

– Very poor standards of

construction (50% of new

builds miss standards by up-to

50%)

– Centered around trades, not

buildings

Inertia and Resistance• Really Sustainable?

– Greenwash

– Theory vs Reality

– Offsetting is B*ll*cks

• Who checks the claims?

Eco-Bling and Sexy Technologies

• Some Eco-Technology• Under delivering• Poor Value• Maintenance cycles• Increase in costs

Eco-clichés get in the way of good, efficient and truly environmental solutions.

Howard Liddell

Gaia Architect

There is Another Way!

We have the solutionsWe have the knowledgeWe have the research

We have the built case-studiesIts been done before

(Look over the North Sea at our neighbours...)

What proof do you need?

VS

I thought we were European!

(cost, time, delay, hassle....)

(And more..)..

Where are the savings?• Clear that space heating and DHW

are the key areas• Lights, appliances and cooking are

'simple'

What about the ‘Old’ houses?

• Renovation is harder still!• Massive issues of

•Planning•aesthetics•education •perceived costs

‘Thermal Coherence’ = Low Energy

• Low U-values• Low psi/Y values• Superb airtightness• Thermal response• Decrement delays

and ‘active’ U-values.

CSH 3 homes at Bladon – Kingerlee and NBT

Passive solar works only on low energy builds

• Passive Solar design– Orientation– Shading– Glazing– Sun Spaces

= light and heat

(Can you stop orientating the building round the car-park please?) Images: Greenspec

Manage moisture• 75% of building decay due

to water• Reduces insulation value• Massive health issues to do

with moisture/humidity

– Stop it getting in, design for it to get out again.

Cut out the ‘crap’• Eliminate the toxins and

chemicals– Real lack of disclosure over

chemicals and toxins in many products

• We are running out of resources anyway!

• Natural materials and finishes

‘Breathing walls’ and Ventilation• Breathing walls and

hygroscopic materials to help manage humidity

• Ventilation (passive or MVHR) for clean air and manage humidity and toxins

• No AirCON

Make it ‘buildable’• Complex construction

systems = – Mistakes– Expensive– Lower performance

• Simple, solid wall & external insulation is the future (and the past and present)

Effective use of Technology10% of 100kw/h of energy

need?or

10% of 40kw/h of energy need?or

Problem properties

• Smaller heating systems, less cooling need• Lower load• lower peak demand

Change:- Its not (just) Architects...

• Supply chain delivery• Certification processes• Training in ALL parts of

the industry• New design and

aesthetics (*waves bye to bricks*)

• Site organisation – shell building

• From liability to responsibility

• Financial and insurance drivers

• Home owner education

Holistic Solutions(I sound like a hippie!)

• Energy• Carbon• Resource• Building Fabric• Human Health• Deliverability• Durability

Its a Team Effort• Client• Architects• Planners• M&E• Structural• Building Control• Contractor• Subbie

They need to understand all this

(and more)

Is this where Web 2.0

fits in?