ENVIRONMENTALLY RESTORATIVE ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHITECTURE… IS A DYING PROFESSION

1. ENVIRONMENTALLY RESTORATIVE ARCHITECTURE OR ARCHITECTURE… IS A DYING PROFESSION Source: Paul Hawken

2. GREENHOUSE GASES NZ • In the 1990s in NZ, CO2 produced for energy use increased by 22%. • Contrary to our ‘Clean, Green’ image, if the entire world lived like New Zealand we would need 4 planets to sustain human life. • Yet NZ has been ranked No: 1 in the world terms of it’s environmental performance by the Pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index (EPI).

3. MATERIALS • 40% of the 7.5 billion tons of raw materials annually extracted from the earth is used by the building industry. • The rate of timber deforestation has almost doubled in the past 10 years. • 25% of all timber harvested each year is used for construction. • Buildings consume 40% of the world’s energy consumption and produce 40% of the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide that causes smog and acid rain

4. WASTE • New Zealand currently land fills sufficient waste to fill the Westpac Stadium 3 times over per year. • New Zealand has signed the Kyoto Protocol but we have yet to meet any of the targets set including waste reduction. • As long as we regard waste as being taken “away” we will not solve this issue. In nature Waste = Food and we need to embrace that thinking.

5. POPULATION • In 1900, there were approximately 0.5 billion people on this planet. • In 2006, there are approximately 6 billion people on this planet. That is a 12-fold increase. • 1 billion of those use approximately 80% of the world’s energy • It is estimated we will build more buildings in the next 50 years than we have in last 500 years.

6. CLIMATE CHANGE • Climate change is not a threat, but a scientifically agreed reality. • The damage done to date may take hundreds of years to repair. • Ignoring our impact on the environment will not make the issue go away. • Climate change will be the first natural disaster which man-kind knew was coming.

7. IN SHORT, OUR IMPACT ON THE PLANET IS NOW FAR GREATER THAN AT ANY TIME IN HISTORY POPULATION

8. ENERGY EFFICIENT • Low energy design strategies are normally assessed by their payback period i.e. the length of time it takes to pay back the cost of the low energy design • computer energy modelling allows payback periods to be estimated with reasonable accuracy • Today mechanical engineers can thermally model the design of a building ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY HQ “Our present age of information and ecology suggests an architecture of less substance and more information, less exclusion and more inclusion, less objectification and more fragmentation, less Euro-centrism and more cultural diversity.” – Source: James Wine

9. ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY

10. LOW ENERGY STRATEGIES ARE NOT ALWAYS MORE EXPENSIVE PARAPARAUMU LIBRARY ESPECIALLY THE LONGER THE BUILDING IS USED BY OWNER

11. HEALTHY BUILDINGS • High levels of natural ventilation to improve internal air quality • High levels of day lighting throughout the plan • Good user controls to allow users control over their environment • Low toxicity materials to improve indoor air quality GLEN EDEN LIBRARY

12. MATERIAL SELECTION • Specify sustainable sourced timber (via FSC) • Avoid the use of environmentally damaging materials –PVC etc • Support the NZ Environmental Choice labelling scheme • Use durable materials and minimise paint finishes • Note companies that are making an effort i.e. Interface, Resene • Use locally manufactured products • Use recycled materials or materials with recycled content ALFRISTON COLLEGE

13. WASTE MINIMISATION • Waste = Food • Design using 100% recycled products e.g. carpets, fabrics, insulation, concrete • Provide space for waste separation, waste recycling, waste storage • Waste mining RICCARTON LIBRARY

14. WATER USE • Low water use plumbing fittings • Low water use equipment • Rainwater collection and reuse • Solar water heating • Disconnection from potable water supply for all non-drinkable water. • Water as a coolant and heat sump • Water filtered and treated on site prior to discharge into public stormwater system SOUTH CHRISTCHURCH LIBRARY

15. SITE ECOLOGY • Maximise biodiversity • Retain valuable existing landscape and mature vegetation • Use of local indigenous planting • Stormwater management reducing erosion, flooding and loss of habitats • Filter all stormwater on site for re-use within the buildings and landscape • Maximise site location / orientation to reduce energy use WHANGAPARAOA LIBRARY

16. SOCIETY • The act of building as practiced at present is the ultimate violent act, producing vast amounts of toxins, waste and on-going damage to the environment. • Buildings should be sources of pride, of joy, rejuvenating the social and built fabric not just for humans but for the environment and the future generations to come. • Life is right, and the architect is wrong. • Architects and the building professions can change and be a source of inspiration in this Age of Ecology. “Virtually no form of shelter constructed today can be credited as authentically green. Everything that technologically dependent societies assume is essential for survival as plugged into the same diminishing sources or power.” – James Wines

17. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN? The benefits of sustainable design strategies can be categorised into three groups • Future proofing: • Durability and flexibility • Future energy targets • Future health demand • Political / marketing: • Bragging rights • Brand loyalty • Financial: • Running costs – financially small, environmentally huge • Staff costs – financially huge savings

18. WHAT DOES SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MEAN FOR THE FUTURE? • New ways of thinking about how buildings operate and are designed. A whole new series of design opportunities • New buildings which have a beneficial / positive effect on the environment. This is…

19. …AN ARCHITECTURE which is: • 100% self sufficient in power- in fact producing energy. • 100% self sufficient in hot water supply • 100% self sufficient in potable water – in fact producing more water than it needs • 100% free of toxins, VOCs and other irritants. • Naturally lit, non air-conditioned • All materials 100% demountable and recyclable.

20. Mobbs House: Sydney, Australia

21. WHY? After 11,000 years if building to protect ourselves from the environment, the delicate environment must now be protected from us. - Source: Dr Joseph Billelo, Ball State University

22. Source: Mum and Dad - Dr Joseph Billelo, AIA WHY? • We have no choice • We want to create a viable future for the next generations • It is a win-win scenario • It will lead to wealthier and healthier communities and environments What will you tell your grandchildren you did at the beginning of the 21st Century?

23. economic strategy social strategy economic social environment environment HOW? Changing the mindset from this: to this: - Source: Dr Peter Cole, University of British Columbia

24. THE RESULT Buildings as nett generators of energy, manufactured from waste materials and which improve the environment around them We call it a new ‘ERA’ – Environmentally Restorative Architecture