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’?

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

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?

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

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 solutions We have the knowledge We have the research We have the built case-studies Its 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

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

Low U-values

Low psi/Y values

Superb airtightness

Thermal response

Decrement delays and ‘active’ U-values.

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

Passive Solar design

Orientation

Shading

Glazing

Sun Spaces

= light and heat

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

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.

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

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

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)

Complex construction systems =

Mistakes

Expensive

Lower performance

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

Effective use of Technology 10% 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

10% 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

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

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?

Client

Architects

Planners

M&E

Structural

Building Control

Contractor

Subbie