Comments on: So just what is sustainability?

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:50:11 +0000

The simple test of how well the Code works in practice is the question:

At what point is the distinction made as to which areas are air conditioned and which are not?

If the views to the west were incredible views out over the ocean, while the other three orientations had lesser views of the city to the south and east and mountains to the north

What approach would be taken by the design team (architecture, landscape…and M & E) to the requirement at Part 1. Energy Efficiency NRB 1-3, Enhance overall thermal performance of building envelope…..

(a)Minimum direct west facing facade through building design orientation.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:59:43 +0000

Re Singapore, my recollection was inaccurate. See Appendix C Section RB 3-2 Greenery of the Singapore Code for the Environmental Sustainability of Buildings 4.0:
Up to 4 points can be scored for the provision of greenery within the
developments including roof top/ sky garden and green roof.
Greenery Provision (GnP) is calculated by considering the 3D volume
covered by plants using the following Green Area Index (GAI) :
Grass GAI = 1 ; Shrubs GAI = 3; Palms Trees GAI = 4; Trees GAI = 6
Greenery Provision (GnP) = total green area / site area
GnP = 2.0 to < 3.0 – 1 point GnP = 3.0 to < 3.5 – 2 points GnP = 3.5 to < 4.0 – 3 points GnP 4.0 – 4 points See the worked example 3.2a

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:38:54 +0000

Haringey Council’s sustainability statement also does not address garden design as a sustainability issue other than in broad elemental terms ie. land contamination, drainage and water, trees/landscape, biodiversity and ecological heritage, local character (parking in front gardens), open space, food production, SUDs (green roof)…[ http://www.haringey.gov.uk/spg_9_-_sustainability_statement_guidance_notes.pdf ]

So are we to conclude that garden design (in the traditional sense) is an unsustainable activity?

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:02:32 +0000

Good question. Where are the boundaries to the property? In the absence of a traditional designed garden it is a little difficult to determine…does this represent a new trend in landscape design where the absence of gardens functions as a ‘ha ha’ device?
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha-ha ]

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:52:21 +0000

It would seem by the visuals access to Orchid House is by boat
[ http://www.lowermillestate.com/howells_mere_properties.html ], and car with under-tree parking for the car? [ http://www.lmearchitecture.com/featherstone-floorplans.htm ] also [ http://www.lmearchitecture.com/featherstone-house-movie.htm ] and by plane.[ http://www.lowermillestate.com/docs/Geographical%20Map.pdf ]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:39:25 +0000

I would also like to see Sustainability Statements for garden designs and for external works. A friend said recently that in Singapore there is a law specifying a multiple of the plot area which must be vegetated. My recollection is that three times the plot area must be vegetated (by the use of green roofs and green walls. The old requirement for Zero Runoff Increase should also be maintained. See information from the International Green Roofs Association

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:35:02 +0000

I would also like to see Sustainability Statements for garden designs and for external works. A friend said recently that in Singapore there is a law specifying a multiple of the plot area which must be vegetated. My recollection is that three times the plot area must be vegetated (by the use of green roofs and green walls.
The old requirement for Zero Runoff Increase should also be maintained.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 04:50:45 +0000

Thanks Tom. I agree planning for the re-use of sites after they have been used for natural resource extraction, land fill or other uses which may be considered to require remediation prior to re-development is an essential step in achieving good environmental outcomes, cost effectiveness within the process and optimising human health and saftey throughout the different stages of the sites use.

Yes, sustainability is a very broad concept which the McKinsey Cost Curve doesnt quite capture – so the understanding how people come and go from a site is also important within a sustainable transport framework. It is good to see cycling has been considered at Cotswold Water Park.

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:33:23 +0000

Maybe we need JD Power to include Sustainable Housing in the list of consumer products which they rate. They already have a section for Homes but I could not find much about sustainability on the website. I think the Queensland Government have made a great start but the list is too short, as you say, and I don’t see that home-owners can be trusted to be honest – unless there are penalties for dishonestry. The recently-rejected Labour government in the UK had a system of Home Information Packs which has just been cancelled by the incoming Coalition government. The criticism was that the system did little more than provide work for surveyors.
Re the McKinsey Cost Curve, I was disappointed to see that it does not include cycling or other approaches to sustainable urban transport.
I have taken a slight interest in the Cotswold Water Park for a long time – but from the standpoint that the afteruse of gravel extraction pits should be planned BEFORE the excavation works begin.