This document discusses the AGL Sustainable Living Project and Competition hosted by UNSW. The competition is open to all high school students and offers $30,000 in rewards. It also provides information about sustainable architecture and living. Some key points made are: 1) Buildings provide shelter and also meet human needs like light, water, waste disposal, and more. 2) Sustainable design considers the environmental context and interdependence of all systems, which traditional design has neglected. 3) Meeting our needs in a sustainable way considers the entire lifecycle and reduces environmental problems.

1. THE SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROJECT
&
AGL SUSTAINABLE LIVING COMPETITION
sustainable
architecture
This presentation was produced by SOLARCH in SOLARCH- The
the Faculty of the Built Environment, UNSW. Centre for a
Sustainable Built
For more information about the AGL Sustainable Environment
Living Competition (open to all High School
students providing $30,000 worth of rewards)
slides produced by:
please contact Ph: 02 9385 4979 or check out:
david tickle
http://www.sustainableliving.com.au davidtickle@mail.com
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

2. architecture
sustainable
architecture
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

3. windows allow
sunlight and fresh
air to enter the
roof and walls building and allow
allow privacy, a sense
views outside
protect from rain of place
and wind, and (within a
stop intruders community) kitchen has clean
drinking water
what do buildings provide ?
kitchen for cooking
outdoor space for
and storing food
recreation and
table for gatherings
relaxation
and for eating food
interior
lighting
and
bathroom for washing
heating
and cleaning and for
sewage removal
couch for relaxing
raised floor keeps
and talking
things dry and clean
Images: COLORS magazine,
issue 27 „home‟ (not on ground) Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

4. things provided
by buildings
light and warmth
energy
energy supply
clean water
water all of these
bathing and cleaning supply factors
inter-relate
waste disposal and should
be seen as
protection from rain
waste and contributing
and cold water disposal to and
feeding
from the
privacy and security
others
storage, cooking and
building
eating of food materials
socialising and
recreation
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

5. the natural environment
sustainable
architecture
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

6. A FEW BASIC TRUTHS:
As a result of
• WE NEED A CLEAN neglecting to
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR consider the
SURVIVAL environmental
consequences of
• EVERYTHING IS INTER- our actions, we
DEPENDENT AND INTER- „resources‟ now find many
RELATED serious
environmental
problems
soil emerging.
Traditionally, technology
decisions and If we want to have
designs have ecological
knowledge
been based on resources to use in
economics, form the future, and
and function. The oceans water ensure a high
broader quality of life, we
environmental culture must start
context – in considering the
which all things broader
exist, and on environmental
forests context in our
which all things
rely- has not designs and
adequately been
society choices.
considered.
the
we are biodiversity
part of the environment,
natural
and not separate from it environment
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

7. In most cases, it is not our „needs‟ relating to the built
environment that cause environmental problems – Where do
rather it is the way we choose to meet them. present
materials
come
waste and from?
water water disposal
supply
building
materials
How
energy much do
we
supply currently
use?
Images: National Geographic, Vol 195, No 3, March 1999; Oz Green World Water Day Poster, 1997;
“Greenhouse News”, Vol 3, Issue No 2, Winter 2000, published by the Australian Greenhouse Office; “The Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW
Challenge”, Issue No 16, Winter 2000, published by the Australian Greenhouse Office

8. what are the impacts of unsustainable design & building practices ?
INCREASED
AIR POLLUTION - EFFECTS ON sustainable
chemicals and gases PUBLIC HEALTH -
architecture
we all need clean air
and water, good food looks
PRODUCTION to find new
OF WASTE - ways to
rubbish, materials, GREENHOUSE
chemicals, etc
provide our
GAS EMISSIONS - INCREASED
global warming WATER needs
and climate change POLLUTION - without
raw sewage creating
UNNECESSARYD
rubbish
ELEPLETION OF
chemicals
these
NATURAL impacts
RESOURCES -
forests, water, INCREASED SOIL
minerals, soil CONTAMINATION -
chemicals, dirty water,
loss of nutrients
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

9. technology
the design process
sustainable
architecture
people
sustainability
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

10. ecologically sustainable development:
accommodating the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
(Brundtland Report, World Commission on Environment and Development 1987)
appropriate technology:
making and using technology that meets human
needs while taking into account long and short
term consequences for society and the environment
sustainable design process:
1. understand the needs of the users of the building
2. look at the capacity of the site and the environment in
supporting those needs
3. make design decisions and use appropriate technologies to fulfil
the above
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

11. using an environmentally conscious
design process to achieve
sustainable results
case studies
sustainable
architecture
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

12. General
• from the street,
Solar access the house looks
• windows face north to like any other on
front of the street
allow good natural sunlight
inside (less energy needed
house • from behind,
environmental
for lighting and heating)
design aspects
Rooftop Solar
• family room below is
protected by overhanging Panels be seen
can
bedroom above - this • on north facing roof
blocks summer sun, but for maximum sunlight
allows winter sun to enter • photovoltaic panels
the room are used to create
clean and non-polluting
electricity
• hot water panels are
used to heat water
without using coal-fired
(polluting) electricity
Mobbs House,
Chippendale
Images:
rear of ww.abc.net.au/nr/science
/earth/handouts/
For more info, check out house chippendale.htm
the website:
www.abc.net.au/science/
planet/house/default.htm
NORTH
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

13. Water Treatment
Rainwater collected • reused water and sewage
from roof from toilet is stored in a
composting tank under the
deck
Water stored in tank • within this tank, the water
under house Water
and sewage is „broken down‟
Supply clean and hygienic
to form
Water used for drinking, • compost - is compost can
rainwater this
cooking, showering collected used on the garden
be safely
from roof
„Used‟ water stored and stored in
filtered and stored in Water Recycling a water tank
under the
second tank • within the house
tank under house
water is „recycled‟
This water used for
house cooking,
• used for
toilet and washing drinking and showering
machine • used water is then reeds
filtered and stored
Reused water and toilet • used water is then
waste are treated in a used for flushing the
composting tank on site toilet and washing • the cleaned liquid is treated
clothes further by reeds in the back
Clean compost made yard - the reed help to
for use on garden remove any bacteria
• if the system overflows, it
„Cleaned‟ water treated
Mobbs House, goes straight into the mains
sewage (just like normal
further by reeds in back Chippendale houses)
yard
Images:
ww.abc.net.au/nr/science/earth/ha
ndouts/chippendale.htm
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

14. Natural gas
• used for the majority of
the resort‟s energy
requirements
• causes less pollution Landscaping and
ENERGY MANAGEMENT and greenhouse gases
CONTROL SYSTEMS revegetation
than coal-fired electricity • any damaged areas
• used to integrate, monitor and control the production of the site revegetated
different sources of energy in the resort • less damage on site, • plant types used
• power used in the resort is two thirds of no powerlines or cables were sourced from
that used by most resorts of the same size needed to bring around the site, to
electricity onto the site minimise the effect on
ecological systems
Solar hot water
panels
• used for heating water
for use in buildings
• additional heat used to
heat up the swimming
pool
• solar hot water heating
creates no pollution or
Wind turbine greenhouse gases
• produces up to 12% of
the resort‟s energy
requirements
• used to supplement Images: Forest and
Wood Products Research
the main energy source and Development
Association, 1998
- natural gas
Couran Cove
Resort, South
Stradbroke Island Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

15. Timber Structure
• all timber sourced • buildings are
from plantations or supported on timber
from sustainably piers for minimal
managed forests impact on the site
•timber is renewable • piers are made from -
Verandahs
and uses less energy comfortable outdoor
hardwood timbers,
in its manufacture and which are resilientarea
living to
transport saltwater - therefore
• roof blocks hot
•has low greenhouse have a longer lifespan allows
summer sun,
gas emissions than other materials to enter
winter sun
(such as steel)
• opened to breezes for
summer cooling
• natural light and cross
ventilation help to heat
and cool and light the
inside of the building
Couran Cove
Resort, South
Stradbroke Island
Images: Forest and Wood Products Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW
Research and Development Association,
1998

16. Energy system
• heating is via gas,
rather than from a coal- Glass Roofs
Building height
fired plant (creates less • allow sunlight and warmth deep
pollution) • kept to a into the building (reduce need for
• no air-conditioning in
minimum to artificial lighting and heating)
building is needed prevent outdoor • allow plants to grow within the
because of ventilation from being
areas building (creates appealing and
and gas heating over-shadowed healthy interior)
(therefore much less
electricity used)
natural
light to
all
levels
Vegetation sunny Sloping walls
around building outdoor • deflect noise from busy
• helps to keep air
spaces close road
cleaner • redirect winds to prevent
to the ground-level turbulence
Images: “Green Design”, Dorothy • provide buffer to
Mackenzie, (1991), London: Laurence King
the wind buildings • made from brick (natural
Publishing
• creates pleasant material)
outdoor areas for
NMB Bank workers
Headquarters,
Amsterdam Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living Project, UNSW

17. NMB Bank
water
collected Headquarters,
Materials from roofs Amsterdam
• include natural
materials such as
timber, marble and
copper
• create a warm and Rainwater
pleasing environment • is collected from the roof
(social benefits) (reduces mains water
• are locally produced, consumption)
Hello!!
therefore reduce • used for water features and to
transportation pollution water plants inside the building
and resources
natural breezes (creates a cool, healthy and
pleasing environment)
water
fall
Windows Staircases
• allow natural sunlight into designed to be appealing, in
the building (less electricity order to:
used for lighting) • reduce reliance on lifts
• can be opened to allow (reduces electricity
cross-ventilation consumption)
(building has no air- • allow for interaction between
conditioning, and uses much co-workers (social benefits)
less electricity) • create an architectural feature
Images: “Green Design”, Dorothy
Mackenzie, (1991), London: Laurence King Project, UNSW
Teacher Resource: The Sustainable Living
Publishing