This document discusses sustainable construction. It outlines how the BRE Environmental Assessment Method provides a comprehensive way to measure and monitor environmental performance in construction. It considers economic, environmental and social sustainability. The challenges of improving older housing stocks are also discussed, as well as opportunities in new homes to build with minimal environmental impact. Various policies and initiatives to promote sustainability are mentioned, including building regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes. Specific sustainable construction materials and techniques are also outlined.

1. SUSTAINABLESUSTAINABLE
CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION
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2. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

3. Innovation in Planning, Design andInnovation in Planning, Design and
CostsCosts

4. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
BRE Environmental Assessment
Method
Benchmarks and
Positive credits - motivational and
practical
Developed in partnership with
commerce and industry

5. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Progressively evolving and
improving
Reduce the environmental impact
of construction and building
operation.
Recognise best practice.
Highlight the economic benefits to
stakeholders and clients.

6. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Provide comprehensive method of
measuring and monitoring
environmental performance.
Consider all areas of ‘Sustainability’
i.e. Economic, Environmental and
Social.

7. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
New homes only make up about 2% of
the national housing stock so the main
challenge is to improve the mass of older
housing.
New homes present an easy opportunity
to build with minimal environmental
impact and maximum health benefit.

8. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
This has been recently formalised in the
new Code for Sustainable Homes and in
the tightening of building regulations.

9. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

10. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Community Energy Saving
Programme Consultation
Heat and Energy Saving Strategy
Consultation
Carbon Emission Reduction
Targets 2008-2011 Amendments
Consultation

11. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Building Regulations will increase
in 2010
CABE Sustainable Cities website
 Green Building Code proposed
by UK EBC Task Group for all
non domestic buildings

12. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

13. Code for Sustainable HomesCode for Sustainable Homes

14. A Practical ApproachA Practical Approach

15. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

16. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Solar thermal
Photovoltaic panels
Biomass heating, CHP
Ground and air source heat pumps
District Behaviour and communal
solutions
Biogas – from biodegradable waste
Fuel cell powered boilers

17. The 6 aspects of sustainableThe 6 aspects of sustainable
constructionconstruction

18. The 6 aspects of sustainableThe 6 aspects of sustainable
constructionconstruction

19. Focus on affordabilityFocus on affordability

20. Focus on affordabilityFocus on affordability

21. Sustainable costsSustainable costs
..

22. Point foundations save money and groundPoint foundations save money and ground
disturbance and meet building regulationsdisturbance and meet building regulations

23. Government policyGovernment policy
Since the Kyoto Agreement, government
has gradually moved towards reducing
the environmental impact of building
design and materials in the drive to
moderate the consequences of global
warming.
This is reflected in various policies &
initiatives such as:
ousing Forum.

24. Government policyGovernment policy
Annual changes to the building
regulations regards insulation
Landfill tax
Publication of government strategy in
"Building a better quality of life"
The Egan Report 'Rethinking
Construction'
Establishment of the Housing Forum.

25. AlsoAlso
Sustainable Buildings Task Group report
to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
• Revised Planning Policy Statements such
as PPS1 and PPS22 regarding sustainable
development and renewable energy
The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act
The Sustainable Development
Commission, which covers building
design.

26. Government policyGovernment policy
Target for Zero Carbon housing 2016
Zero Carbon housing consultation paper
The new Code for Sustainable Homes

27. Materials & DesignMaterials & Design
Timber is one of the most versatile
building materials used around the world
having the advantage of being "carbon
neutral"
Timber can also be dismantled and re-
used.

28. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

29. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

30. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

31. Straw baleStraw bale

32. Straw baleStraw bale

33. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

34. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials
PVC
From Building for a Future magazine: The
Austrian Supreme Court classed PVC as
"an environmental poison".
60% of poly vinyl chloride is produced for
use by the construction industry.
Chemical phthalates contained in PVC
leak out and are banned from certain
baby toys in the UK.

35. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials
Newhaven Council are phasing out the
use of PVC in their building stock.
In addition, Nike, Volvo and Ikea are
taking steps to minimise the use of PVC
in their production lines.
Alternative plastics are available.

36. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials
In addition to the chemical content, PVC
also contains heavy metal fillers such as
cadmium and lead.
All of these materials give rise to concern
about the potential harm in the case of
house fires.

37. CementCement
"Cement manufacture is very polluting
and is responsible for between 7% & 10%
of all global Co2 emissions.
This is the result of a "double whammy" -
firstly the ingredients have to be heated
to very high temperatures (1500c), which
takes a lot of fossil fuels;

38. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials
secondly the chemical reaction which
takes place in the kiln also releases Co2.
"In addition, all the big cement companies
are now

39. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials

40. Less desirable materialsLess desirable materials
Added to this is the environmental
impact of quarrying the clay.
On the other hand, because brick is very
durable it is possible to recycle it to be
used again.

41. Sustainability and daylight designSustainability and daylight design
What is daylight design
Where does daylight design sit within
sustainable building design
Worked example of daylight design
Sunlight and daylight design products
Typical case studies
Conclusions