Sustainability
RIBA Sustainability Checklist for a Small Project with Traditional ProcurementStrategic Definition (Project Requirements)RIBA STAGE SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLIST0 STRATEGIC DEFINITION (Project Requirements) Discuss and establish broad aims for sustainability with the client.1 PREPERATION AND BRIEF Discuss with the client what improvements or thermal values are mandatory under Building Regulations, and what additional improvements or new construction can be considered to reduce future energy consumption. Discuss the financial implications, including spending more now to save on bills in the future, and mention that some equipment that harnesses energy also requires maintenance and may be obsolete before the cost has been recuperated through reduced bills. Make suggestions about how energy consumptions can be reduced. If instructed by your client, carry outfeasibility studies or cost comparisons using different energy-saving measures. Confirm the client’s brief in relation to sustainability and include the cost in the Stage 1
1. budget.
2 CONCEPT DESIGN
Incorporate into the brief and concept design proposals the energy-saving measures you have agreed with your client. Include the cost in the Stage 2
1. budget.
3 DEVELOPED DESIGN
Produce and develop a design incorporating the agreed energy-saving measures. Obtain client agreement to the proposals. Include the cost in the Stage 3
1. budget.
4 TECHNICAL DESIGN
Develop the energy-saving measures agreed in Stage 3. Obtain quotes where applicable. Obtain client agreement to the proposals. Include the cost in the pre-tender estimate.If tenders come back over budget and savings must be made, review the whole project with the client and try to avoid omitting the specified energy-saving measures, as this is sometimes seen as an easy way to make savings. The cost is now in the agreed contract sum in the contract.
5 CONSTRUCTION
Ensure that the sustainability strategy for the project and the energy-saving measures specified are carried through into construction. Hand over the building to the client, together with the Health and Safety File and relevant manuals and guarantees so the building can be used and maintained, and the performance monitored by the client as intended.
6 HANDOVER AND CLOSE OUT (post-Practical Completion)
Monitor performance of equipment and as-built construct ion during the defects liability period and get feedback from the client on comfort, performance and reduced bills.
7 IN USE (post-contract)
You will rarely be appointed to provide services at Stage 7 on a small or domestic project, but you should be able to carry out a simple post-occupancy evaluation of the systems installed atthe end of the defects liability period. The client should be able to monitor the performance of the building post-contract.Due to a worldwide concern over climate change, the awareness of the importance of ‘sustainability’ has moved to the forefront of architectural design. Countries around the world are working together, recognising that unless a global collective cooperation occurs, a solution will not otherwise be found.UK LegislationBuilding Regulations:
D – Toxic Substances
F – Ventilation
G – Reduction of Water Consumption
L – Conservation of Fuel and PowerCarbon Plan 2011Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme 2014Climate Change Act 2008Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006Energy Acts 2008, 2001-2013Energy Efficiency Regulations 2015Environment Act 1995Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) 2016Green Energy Act 2009Low Carbon Construction Action Plan 2011Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) 2016UK Renewable Energy Strategy (NPPF) 2009“Living with a small environmental footprint is part of the ethos of cohousing and reducing energy use in buildings is just one aspect”.Social SustainabilityCombines the designs of the physical environment with a focus on how the people who live in and use a space relate to each other and function as a community. This address both the personal and social outcomes of design.This is also creating a sense of physical and emotional security, accessibility and opportunity, health and well-being.Some developments (notably the Hockerton Housing Project) employ policies such as mandatory community service of 300 hours a year per resident in order to fill their social sustainability quota within the scheme. This can range from assisting the co-operative businesses, growing food, or maintaining the land or energy and water systems. The rules in this project are minimal so that there is space for social entrepreneurship in line with their goal of bringing sustainability to life.UtilitiesDue to the nature of cohousing,Could include mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems which deliver clean air whilst reducing heat loss, and renewable energy generated by air-source heat pumps.Material SustainabilityMarmalade Lane - The homes are precision-made in Sweden from slow-grown timber from sustainably managed forests where three trees are planted for everyone harvested. Triple-glazed, argon-filled and aluminium-clad windows are factory-fitted into wall panels for maximum airtightness and excel-lent soundproofing. The Common House and apartment block is made from structuralcross-laminated timber manufactured off-site with triple-glazed windows.In the Hockerton Housing Project, they are able to warm homes without the use of artificial heating. They accredit this to the ‘earth shelter design’ of their houses. The earth on the back of the houses provides a moderating influence to the insidetemperature. This varies, with the upper part of earth ranging between 5- and 15-degrees summer and winter, and the bottom part will be a constant 10 degrees. The external fabric of the building has a very stable environment with only 10 degrees difference throughout the year and will never see freezing.Financial SustainabilityWell-designed cohousing can reduce ongoing overall living expenses and provide an affordable housing alternative. As residents are involved in the design of their future home, they can prioritise technologies and design aspects that may increase upfront costs, but significantly reduce the ongoing operation costs of their homes.capping of developer profit by reducing their speculative risk and avoiding the need for pre-sale marketing costs;Shared spaces mean fewer materials required in the design of new housing developments, relative to access to liveable area.Reducing ongoing operation and maintenance costs.Pooling resources to reduce the costs of services and facilities (e.g. the costs of care for seniors).Environmental SustainabilityFamilies who live in cohousing exhibit reinforced ecological practices and are much more likely to recycle and compost.The communities are built close to basic services which can help to reduce the use of fossil fuels and air pollution from a lower dependence on cars.Houses use less energy because they are built with the right insulation or an efficient heating system, for example, to make savings through lower energy costs.Houses are built in groups, increasing the space given over to green areas and creating a habitat for wildlife.The open areas allow for the creation of vegetable gardens which reduces the need to buy produce from shops with a greater carbon footprint.