Developers must take the lead to build the next generation of sustainable housing
By Qandor member Doug Johnson, founder and Director of Mesh Energy, who gives tips on how to build sustainably.
There has never been more pressure on the construction industry to provide more housing for our growing population, while at the same time preserving the natural beauty of our countryside. The tide of public opinion is now also turning on sustainability, and the government and public alike are demanding for sustainably built, low-impact eco-homes to be prioritised.
Despite genuine enthusiasm about sustainable building amongst many developers, there is often a huge knowledge gap about how low-impact eco-homes can actually be developed. In my work as a low-energy consultant, I often come across construction industry veterans who desperately want to be able to build ‘greenly’ but don’t have the first idea about where to start.
So, I have made a list of some of the key ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ for developers who are looking to lead the way in sustainable development.
Do: Consult the experts early
No one is expecting developers to become experts on low-energy building overnight. However, this isn’t an excuse to continue with the building practices of the past. Low-energy experts need to be included in discussions about new developments from the beginning, in order to ensure that they not only deliver on sustainability goals, but also save money along the way.
There are also architects out there who have experience building sustainable eco-homes, and wherever possible their expertise should be utilised. Building an experienced team is the first step towards achieving a successful eco-build. Using the wrong team can triple the cost of aspects of low-energy design and construction and could set the sustainable building agenda back years!
Don’t: Just aim to meet Building Regulations
Too often with new-build developments, meeting the minimum Building Regulations is seen as a success. This mindset needs to change if we are going to successfully build a new generation of eco-homes.
Developers have a loud voice within the industry and need to lead the way in demanding that projects not only meet the minimum requirements but exceed them. These goals for achieving outstanding energy efficiency on new developments also need to be clearly laid out at the planning and design stage, to maximise the potential returns.
Do: Prioritise sustainable design
One of the most important things to remember is that the greatest opportunity to reduce energy is through building location, orientation and form, using the power of physics in the natural environment, and through fabric element design. The end user’s usage of the building only has a marginal effect on energy usage once the fabric and key technologies for the home have been implemented, so the design process is key.
Too often, developers and other construction industry stakeholders have only focused on the sustainability of a building towards the end of the project, and so have often had to rely on less effective solutions. Sustainability can’t be an add-on only thought about at the end of a project, it needs to be an integral part of the development.
Don’t: Assume that sustainable buildings have to cost more
Poorly executed low-energy building projects have led many within the construction industry to assume that sustainable construction is more expensive, but this doesn’t have to be the case. In low-energy home construction, experience counts for a lot and learning from others can prove invaluable in saving a project’s precious budget.
Expertly designed low-energy buildings can ensure that extra capital expenditure is offset through substantial running-cost savings and unlocking valuable government subsidies. When properly planned and specified, low-energy building can deliver outstanding cost-benefits.
Do: Consider placement and transport links
The overall carbon footprint of a development can be massively impacted by how its occupants can travel to and from it. In the past, far too many new developments were built on the outskirts of towns with no thought given to public transport links, or amenities within walking distance. This has led to new developments being totally dominated by the car and locked into a state of car-dependency for the foreseeable future.
The current generation of home-buyers is more environmentally aware than ever before, and developers need to give them the opportunities to live a more low-impact life. Liaising with local authorities on transport links, as well as future-proofing developments for electric cars, are great first steps.
The suggestions above are only the start, but they offer new ways for developers to start thinking about sustainable design for their projects. There is so much government and public support for this new way of building, and so a huge opportunity for progressive developers to take the first steps and show that they are leading the way.
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