Essence of Sustainable
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (1987 Brundtland Commission) Very often sustainability is thought of largely only in terms of energy and greenhouse gasses. Urban sustainability encompasses not only energy usage but also economic, social, cultural and ecological concerns." Australian Institute of Urban Studies, May 2001 Pg 23
The essence of Sustainable the design company is the incorporation of such fundamental concepts as Water Management, Energy Efficiency, Building Materials and Site Management into unique, innovative, exciting and most of all relevant housing for today. Housing that addresses our current needs of security, comfort and style while at the same time incorporating the principles of sustainability to help address our future needs.
Concepts such as water management, energy efficiency, site management and building materials are just some concepts which Sustainable design addresses.
Water Management is about finding better ways to collect, store and manage
water. This includes the harvesting of rainwater, the reuse of grey water
for irrigation and flushing our toilets and reducing the actual usage of
water by installing water saving devices such as AAA rated shower heads and
dual flush toilets.
These days, we take running water from the tap for granted. We all assume
because there's a tap, there must be an endless flow of water. We are
beginning to understand that eventually the flow of water will stop. We
need wiser ways of managing our water.
Energy Efficiency includes addressing such issues as the buildings orientation, construction materials and passive ventilation to minimise the requirement of either mechanical cooling or heating. It also incorporates the use of solar hot water systems, solar panels, thermal walls, low energy lighting, insulation etc. This benefits the home owner directly by reduced energy bills.
Site Management means minimising the effects the construction of the building has on the surrounding environment. Reducing the amount of cut and fill on a site, recycling removed soil into the landscaping instead of using foreign soil, minimising disturbance to the local eco-system and retaining existing features such as mature trees and water courses. Site Management includes locating your building and openings on the site to take advantage of prevailing breezes and view paths, whilst minimising undesirable aspects such as the Western Sun in Queensland.
Selection of Building Materials. Building materials need to be selected based on a variety of criteria. www.ecospecifier.org is one Australian online company that lists sustainable building materials.
Ecospecifier nominates building materials based on the following criteria:-
- Reduced Energy/Greenhouse emissions
- Protects Habitat & Land
- Preserves resources
- Protects Human Health
- Reduces Pollution
-
Other
