Sustainable Design
Sustainable design (also referred to as "green design", "eco-design", or "design for environment") is the art of designing individual properties, and the built environment in general, in a way that complies with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.
Sustainable design aims to reduce the possible negative effects on the environment
as far as possible and makes the most of social and economic benefits.
Sustainable development can be described as “development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It has increased in importance in both national and European policy guidance and is a pivotal consideration in the planning process.
The 2012 Olympic Stadium promises to be the most environmentally sustainable to date.
The needed aim of sustainable design in building is to construct properties in a way that
reduces use of non-renewable resources, minimises environmental impact, and relates people with the natural environment. Sustainable design can be viewed as a necessary stepping stone towards achieving sustainability...
BBM Sustainable Design, award winning, Sussex-based architects, is one of the interesting new practices making the management of natural resources a priority. With modesty, economy and intelligence they adapt existing buildings to new realities. They design new
buildings which work with the environment, not against it. 'Houses used to
be machines for living in. Now they are organisms for living with. Altogether
more wholesome’
BBM Sustainable Design, have demonstrated how local natural resources can be transformed into beautiful, affordable buildings.
‘We are entering a new age of energy and resource awareness and sustainability
is a hot topic across all genres,’ says Duncan Baker-Brown, director of BBM.
‘There is a sea-change in attitude to how we value what we have. Amongst architects
there is a discernible shift towards a more regional approach. We are stepping back
into the vernacular tradition of sourcing local materials.’
(Duncan Baker-Brown RIBA and co-director, Ian McKay RIBA, have been creating environment conscious buildings for 15 years and in practice together for ten. As well as
practicing sustainable architecture, they both teach and conduct research on the subject.)
Eco Construction
Building a structure that is beneficial or non-harmful to the environment.
This is done by increasing
the use of recycled and reclaimed products and materials in construction and being resource efficient
in the energy required to build it. Eco-friendly construction has developed in response to the often negative impact that buildings have upon our environment
and our natural resources.
This includes the transportation of materials and so Eco Construction will rely more on a local supply of materials.
In more conventional building construction, the key to green success is the combining of new technology with the use of simple
and readily available building materials.
Architects, engineers and builders worldwide are now using construction techniques
that have been developed throughout human history, in response to local environmental concerns .
Local Councils and Housing Associations in the UK are now exploring the benefits of ecological construction
and several estates constructed on these principles have been built in London.
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Working towards Zero Carbon
Renewable Energy
Building Structures
Structure Completion
Finishes and Fittings
External Works
General Materials
Professional Services
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The way the construction industry is changing
Being efficient with our energy will reduce our household and business energy bills,
reduce the amount of energy we need to produce in the first place and cut energy related greenhouse pollution.
The Code for Sustainable Homes (and a similar code which is expected to address non-domestic buildings), puts the notion of carbon reduction and ‘zero carbon’ as its ultimate goal.
On the 27 February 2008 the Government confirmed mandatory rating against the Code will be implemented for new homes from 1 May 2008.
The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the ‘whole home’ as a complete package. The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home. The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The Code also gives new homebuyers better information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs, and offer builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.
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