Sustainable Building Materials (Draft) 1
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‘Sustainable Materials’ for Building and DIY work at home
3rd DRAFT
Introduction: applicable in most circumstances, although there may be the occasional case for which This handout presents a series of the recommendation doesn’t apply. practical strategies and choices you can take to assist you in making improved Key questions you should be asking when sustainable material choices, when selecting a building product or component: building or renovating your home. - first – do I really need it? For example in a renovation, is it a worn out feature or The handout is divided into three just an unfashionable feature, to be sections: replaced. Make your change reasons Section A: Selecting more sustainable explicit! materials - some general rules and tools Section B: Key material issues typically If you really do need it, then: faced in renovation projects - can it be recycled material, e.g. found Section C: Choosing the right designer for re-use from a demolition yard? and building contractor – to ensure good results, including energy-efficiency. Perhaps the easiest way to make a positive contribution to the environment is What this handout does not do is to re-utilize previously manufactured provide a product or brand listing of building materials. Usually, this requires a environmentally preferable materials. bit of advanced planning – your particular This largely due to the fact that the material need may not be always catered environmental impact of a material can for at your local building materials recycler, be very dependent on how it is used although several such firms exist in most and whether there is wasted material, cities. Also, it may involve advance due both to design and handling. purchase and some careful, longer-term storage before your construction begins. Remember, there is not just one Alternatively, you may be able to negotiate correct approach (or right answer) to your own deals and salvage materials from ‘eco-building’ - so be creative in local demolition sites directly. Using your thinking on material options! recycled and pre-used materials also has the added benefit of ‘personalising’ the character of your home, more than you A: Selecting More-Sustainable could using off-the-shelf new materials. Materials Next, there are some basic rules of product selection (whether for new or used Background materials) to help you minimise your negative environmental impacts: In choosing appropriate environmentally ‘greener’ building materials for new and These include: renovation projects, common sense must Minimising the amount of waste apply. The recommendations provided generated on site. This is particularly within these notes should be viewed as important for standard sheet-size
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materials – such as plaster board and most important issues, in order to choose engineers’ boards (such as plywood). the most eco-friendly material. Room re-size choices to fit multiplies of 1.2 m, can drastically reduce the THE ECO-HIERARCHY amount of off-cuts in these boards. Choosing materials and systems Research has shown that, when choosing which can be replaced easily, as a building material, its in-building (or use) they reach the end of their life. Thus, is usually the most environmentally mechanical fasteners such as screws significant stage. This is because of the are used in preference to glues, relatively long lifetime of 50+ years over open-able partitions instead of some which most building materials stay in use. fixed interior walls, etc. The next most environmentally important Choosing materials that are life stage is manufacturing, especially for durable and will need little or no highly processed materials. This is then maintenance (such as repainting) in followed in significance by the raw use, over time. Some materials age materials extraction stage, where gracefully, and cope with scratches sometimes there was significant damage to and knocks well – use them for high land and waterways from mining or wear locations. harvesting. The demolition stage is usually the least significant stage – however, given the shorter life-times of New Zealand Looking At the Whole Life of a wooden houses and the long-term Building Product environmental care-taking required for sealed landfills, this should not be What makes one building material regarded as insignificant. environmentally friendlier than another? To determine this, the material’s life cycle The following stepped sequence or (raw materials extraction, manufacturing, hierarchy is a useful guide for selecting the use and demolition) must be looked at in least environmentally damaging materials. detail. This is considered the best way to This knowledge has been gained from properly appraise a product, as it is the many field trials by BRANZ and others. For most comprehensive. each stage, the issues to be considered are listed in order of decreasing importance. Take Make & Use Waste BUILDING ‘IN USE’ (First 3 Steps) Changed, preferably, to: Step 1: Energy Use – will the material in Take question have a measurable impact on the Make & Use building’s energy demand? If not, proceed to step 2. If yes (for materials such as Re-use glazing and insulation), avoid options that fail to minimise energy use. (See additional notes on Energy topic.)
When choosing materials based on life Step 2: Occupant Health – might this cycle principles, the following simplified product affect the health of the building’s tool can be used for most applications, occupants – is it toxic or represents provided you know something about the another safety hazard? If not, proceed to material. This ‘eco-hierarchy tool’ was step 3. If yes (e.g. flammable interior published in Environmental Building furnishings and chemical surface finishes), News (Jan 1997, page 12-15) and is avoid materials that off-gas harmful designed to help the user focus on the chemicals and pollute the air indoors (e.g. some coating products such as alkyd paints, polyurethane, and reconstituted
Sustainable Building Materials (Draft) 2 04/06/18 www.sustainableliving.org.nz wood board products like MDF and chip- If large amounts of solid waste are board, that give off gases). produced (such as tailings and overburden from metal-ore mining) seek alternative Step 3: Durability and Maintenance – materials or obtain the materials from is this product likely to need replacement, companies with progressive recycling special treatment or repair several times programmes. during the life of the structure? If yes (e.g. roofing, coatings, cladding and gap FURTHER STEPS: RAW MATERIAL sealant), then avoid them unless they are SOURCES made from low-impact ingredients (e.g. natural paints, natural stone), renewable Step 7: Resource Limitations – are any materials (durable plantation-grown of the component materials from rare, timber, wool or wood-based insulation, endangered, or non-renewable resources? cork, jute, bamboo) or are easily recycled If not, proceed to step 8. in New Zealand (e.g. 1 and 2 category plastics). PVC is durable but not yet If yes (e.g. most native NZ timbers and recycled in New Zealand. many overseas sourced tropical hardwoods), avoid these products, unless NEXT STEPS IN CHOICE: THE they can be sourced from recycled MANUFACTURING STAGES materials. Often the demolition yards will have a great range of durable and good Step 4: Hazardous By-Products – are looking NZ timber, with minimal insect significant toxic substances created damage. during manufacture, (as is the case with PVC plastic)? If so, how significant is the Step 8: Impacts of Resource Extraction risk to either the environment or worker – are there significant eco-impacts health? If not significant, proceed to step (pollution, habitat loss, landscape) from 5. the process of mining or harvesting the raw materials? Where toxic materials are either generated in large managed quantities If yes, (e.g. damage from clear-fell timber (e.g. smelting of zinc, production of harvesting) seek supplier of material from petrochemicals, wood preservatives) or recycled stock or those with credible third in small but uncontrolled quantities, the party certification (e.g. Forestry building material should be avoided or if Stewardship Council for wood). unavoidable, sourced from a company with high environmental standards, These steps usually account for the more indicated by some benchmark such as important environmental issues, holding ISO1401 compliance. true for most materials – but not all. For example, where materials are used in an Step 5: Energy Use – how energy un-processed state (e.g. non-preserved intensive is the manufacturing process? wood and natural quarry stone), the raw If not intensive, proceed to step 6. material extraction stage becomes relatively more significant. For plastics, If it is very energy intensive (aluminium laminates, and many synthetic materials, smelting, copper and plastics), try to the most important environmental impacts source one which uses renewable are at the manufacturing stage. Also, for a energy sources to minimise impact. few products such as preservative-treated timber (e.g. copper,chrome,arsenic), the Step 6: Waste from Manufacturing – most significant stage may be at disposal. how much solid waste is generated? If not much relative to the quantity of Further steps cover impacts of demolition, product manufactured, proceed to step 7. when a building is no longer needed at that location. Is it recyclable?
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The NZ Institute of Architects TOOL: building. The higher the insulation “R So, what tools are available that can be number” value that is achieved (through applied to examine building materials? both good product and how it is New Zealand has only one installed), the better insulation is environmental auditing tool for materials environmentally. available to the public at present. The tool, named ‘Environmental 1. Thermal mass Comparison of Building Elements’ is 20th C NZ homes, light-weight timber paper-based and is available through the framed, tend to warm up very fast and New Zealand Institute of Architects for overheat in summer and then be too cold $56. overnight in winter. When the sun’s radiant energy reaches a solid material it is It comprises a series of 20 charts, absorbed, and the capacity of the material each with details of the environmental to hold heat available in this form is its issues associated with a generic thermal mass. Concrete and stone have building product. For example, where higher thermal mass than wood or straw. roofing tiles are examined, they are only If a house has plenty of double-glazed broken into “clay”, “timber shingles”, north and west-facing windows and fewer “concrete”, etc, rather than sorted by on the colder east and south sides, the brand name, so to use it, you need to gain of heat from the sun shining inside distinguish these broad types in the trade can be stored overnight by thermal mass in literature. The charts mainly provide floor and walls, providing protection against descriptive info. This system avoids the the chilling effect of lower outside air most difficult aspect of environmental temperature. This works best if the thermal accounting – that of ranking numerically mass of floor and walls is insulated on the the importance of diverse environmental outside surface. In a hot summer’s day it issues and comparing one against the helps to keep the house cool, as well as other, for example, trying to compare accumulating warmth on sunny days in the ‘carbon content and global warming winter. Most traditional Mediterranean impact’ to ‘recyclability’. The user is left homes were built this way. to weigh up the pros and cons of each material themselves – and this is where 2. Timber and timber treatment the Eco-Hierarchy Tool comes in, as a way to prioritise your attention. Destruction of tropical rainforests across the world is running at an un-sustainable 130 million tonnes per year (from 11 million B: Key Material Issues hectares logged). If you have furniture to buy or building work that requires Introduction hardwood timber, and have been unable to Five of the more environmentally- obtain second-hand rimu or similar important construction and renovation recycled timber, the Forest Stewardship issues will be addressed here: Council is one logo you can trust, to ensure Thermal mass & orientation that sustainably-managed plantation forest Timber and timber treatment sources are used instead of tropical Coatings and finishes rainforest timber. FSC is an international Embodied energy body with members including WWF, Double glazing Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and indigenous peoples’ organisations. Note that thermal insulation is not examined here as it is well covered in a separate Sustainable Households handout: Energy no.5). The critical eco- issue for thermal insulation is how effective its performance is, once in the
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For the guidance on the appropriate It is generally recognised that wood selection of timber, processing and timber treatment industries see the 1999 have made huge improvements in the last ‘Aotearoa New decade, in how they manage their Zealand Good Wood treatment operations, in terms of Check to see Guide’ (an update of eliminating chemical sludge and treated timber is an original 1992 wood waste and overall management certified as Guide), available from operations. The emphasis for the sustainable, in Friends of the Earth, consumer should now be on – the furniture PO Box 5599, choosing the least harmful timber you are Auckland, or from treatment, if no other option is practical purchasing. Rainforests Action making sure that the treated timber This Forestry Group Box 11964, wastes are properly handled and Stewardship Wellington. Related disposed of. Council logo is information such as a a useful guide. survey of plantation The treatment standards for timber have timber suppliers and a been revised recently, and the result is that list of old growth there are several new ‘hazard classes’. (native, non-plantation) timber varieties Five hazard classes are available, to generally avoid, appears on the web: depending on the intended situation the www.converge.org.nz/gwg/ timber is going to be exposed to - H0 requires no treatment, while H5 for ground Acceptable plantation timbers use requires extreme treatment. For some available in NZ include: Australian hazardous classes, there are several blackwood, chestnut, Douglas fir, elm, possible methods of wood treatment. eucalyptus species, larch, Lawson Naturally, where possible, you should cypress, macrocarpa, oak, poplar, choose the least environmentally radiata pine, redwood, spruce, sycamore, damaging timber treatment which still walnut and western red cedar. The Good meets the NZ Building Code standard. Wood Guide also has a listing of many suppliers, although it’s becoming dated. Here is a process to help you select the To locate small quantities and find least environmentally damaging treated knowledgeable local and small sawmills, timber which will still meet the Code contact your nearest branch of the NZ requirements: Farm Forestry Association, Box 1122 Wellington ph. 04 472 0432. A. Is timber treatment necessary? Can less durable woods which require The environmental impact of timber is treatment be replaced with more durable dependent on many things – its use, how heart-woods (such as macrocarpa or durable the timber and any preservative cedar, or recycled native hardwoods, or used is, how it is disposed of at the end concrete or steel? (You do also need to of its life, and what environmental impact make sure that NZ Building Code is is being examined – humans, plants or complied with, or work and wood materials waterways? All exterior treated timber could be wasted.) (look for gold or green colour stain) B. Use the timber treatment of the should be handled with care as it can be lowest Hazard Class rating required – an eye and skin irritant – some are also do not overdo the chemicals unnecessarily. potentially carcinogenic. Therefore, wear C. When a hazard class has more than gloves, goggles and a mask when one option available, chose the least handling it. Don’t burn it, or cook with it, environment- impacting treatment. nor use sawdust for mulch on the garden. Make sure that you wash clothes The main timber treatments, in order of used separately and dispose of wood off- increasing environmental impact, are: cuts at a controlled landfill. - Kiln dried but with no other treatment.
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- Boron (salts). will often outweigh other environmental - ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary). characteristics. - LOSP and CCA (light organic solvent preservative and copper chrome arsenate: the most toxic two).
Note that this list is a guide only, due to trade-offs between different environmental impact to humans, plants, atmosphere and waterways.
Table1: Adapted from Waitakere City Council’s Sustainable Home Guidelines (1997) Hazard Alternative solutions to Class use of preservative -treated timber H1 Kiln Dried Pinus Radiata, variants Douglas Fir, Lawson Cypress, Macrocarpa Beware: Paint solvents are potentially (sapwood), hazardous – read the labels carefully, H3 Macrocarpa (heartwood), open windows, and wear protective gear, variants Lawson’s Cypress which may need to include gloves. (heartwood) and Eucalypt species Good durability means the surface is H4 Use concrete piles or strip painted less often and therefore less paint foundations, or recycled is used over time. hardwood (e.g. Jarrah from When using coatings and finishes, Aus.), or Concrete Block consider also: H5 NZ Totara (recycled) or Aus. Using only the appropriate material, for Jarrah (recycled) its intended purpose. Careful estimation of the requirement Three key things to remember: amount of coating to minimise waste. When using recycled timber or timber Disposing of the brush-cleanings which is untreated, seek an OK from carefully – and never down a drain – your local authority Building Inspector first onto paper and once that’s dry to first. landfill. If you are offered inexpensive Using low volatile (low VOC) options imported hard timber, the chances where possible, to reduce irritating air are that is it not sustainably pollutants. grown/harvested – so stay away! Remember that when buying water If you absolutely need to get based paints and finishes, they don’t hardwoods from overseas, make sure require additional solvents when brush they have a Forest Stewardship cleaning. Council (FSC) certification, and pay Disposing leftover oil paint (which out with confidence. cannot be reused / recycled) as a ------hazardous waste if still liquid or leave open to completely dry before 3. Coatings and finishes disposing can to landfill. When choosing coatings (e.g. paints, Choose NZ EnviroChoice certified lines stains, varnishes, seals), using the least from Resene, Bio Paints, Eco Paint Ltd, amount possible over the lifetime of the or NVF Oils if possible, where the product you are protecting should be a manufacturers have placed emphasis high priority. This is because, as a on producing materials using less general rule, maintenance requirements harmful processes and resources.
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Wood surfaces can be finished with water- Contact the producer of the product, if based sealers or by using natural oils the retailer isn’t able to answer your mixed with beeswax as alternatives to detailed questions about the product. polyurethane (which can be an irritant Their web-sites can often help, too. while drying, although inert once dry). (Note – sealing oils are often better than Water based paints remove the need for paint if a finish is required on wood; and solvents in thinning paint or cleaning outside, natural weathering of eucalypts brushes and equipment. German wax or macrocarpa to grey may be OK) finish imports include OSMO OS-color. When renovating, take special care if removing or disturbing old lead paints. Never pour paint down the drains, whether Most house paints in NZ dating from they are water or solvent based. Dispose before 1965 and some still used until to land or pour onto a tray or thick 1980 contained lead, which is a newspaper and allow it to dry before significant brain poison (neuro-toxin). It’s disposal in refuse. Do not burn dried paint not a problem if the paint is not peeling or or painted wood from house demolition, as you don’t attempt to scrape or sand it off, the smoke is often toxic. but if you renovate old plaster or ------woodwork you will need to protect your lungs and mouth with a dust mask. 4. Embodied Energy Particularly avoid children and pets being exposed to the paint flakes. A useful free Embodied energy is the amount of energy advisory leaflet Repainting (code 4157) is which goes into the creation of a material available from Crown Public Health or or product. It takes into account the energy Occupational Safety and Health Service. ‘invested’ in the material’s extraction from (More info on the facilitator’s CD) the Earth’s crust (or growing it, e.g. timber), transportation, manufacture and final New paints don’t have lead in them, but processing. It is considered to be important may contain different hazards, especially in the choosing of more sustainable volatile solvents such as the aromatic materials as the embodied energy is hydrocarbons, which may be usually a good indication of the amount of carcinogenic. Good ventilation is non-renewable resources invested within essential, especially when gloss-painting that material. Thus, the higher the indoors. Take care with thinners and embodied energy value, the higher the paint stripping chemicals too - methylene likely associated resource depletion, air chloride, a common ingredient in paint pollution, etc. removers, is apparently dangerous to people with certain heart conditions. Thus, a material’s embodied energy is Low-volatile solvent and water-based seen as an indication of just how large a paints are available as alternatives material’s overall environmental impact is in all its manufacturing stages. Embodied A small number of specialist retailers aim energy values are commonly expressed in to sell water-based, low volatile- Joules (a unit of energy) per kg of finished compound interior paints that have materials. Thus, a material might have, say minimal environmental impact (we have an embodied energy of 10 million joules not independently tested these claims). per kg of material (MJ/kg). Here are some They include The Natural House NZ figures for building materials, Company, based in Nelson, ph 0800 approximated. 112030, www.naturalhouseco.com; BioPaints NZ at 0800 472 468 Table 1: Rounded figures, sourced from www.biopaints.co.nz and Eco Paint Ltd, Andrew Alcorn, 2001 on the Hibiscus Coast: 0508326724, Material Embodied Energy www.ecopaint.co.nz type (MJ per kg) Quarried rock 0.1 Concrete 1
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Brick & Tile 3 ed_energy.html (Note underlines between Recycled Steel 10 three words. click ‘NEXT’, then ‘Table of Glass 16 Coefficients’). New aluminium 192 ------
As can be seen from the Table, the 5. Double glazing & glass coatings embodied energy values for the less processed materials are smaller than Glazing has a major influence on the for the highly processed materials. thermal efficiency, and therefore comfort, Aluminium is especially high as the of a building. In terms of heat transfer from chemical process to separate metal the interior to the exterior, they are the from ore within the manufacturing is ‘weak point’ in a house design. Typically, energy intensive. single pane windows allow about ten times the heat loss per square metre compared There are pitfalls using embodied energy to a wall. NZ houses tend to have too figures for direct comparisons much glazing for this climate and overheat between materials, however. in summer whilst being cold in winter. Remember that energy use is only Double-glazing can substantially reduce one part of the environmental picture this heat transfer, both through the window – the other material attributes should panes, (and in good window frame also be considered, such as its in- designs, also cut losses through the frame use energy performance, waste itself) Window insulation value is made during production, toxicity environmentally important (see the Eco- during production, etc. The Hierarchy: Step 1 : energy demand in use). embodied energy value gives no indication, for example, of how that Window insulation is mainly provided material is used at the end of its through the trapping of air between the two lifetime – can it be recycled or panes of glazing. An inert gas (such as reused easily, into a similar product? argon) can be used in place of air, as it has These additional issues have to be better insulating properties. A lower cost considered carefully, if a proper alternative is to use a thin transparent assessment is to be made of a plastic (such as Perspex or polycarbonate), product. which takes the place of the inner pane and is secured using a magnetic strip, and this is handy for ‘secondary’ double Taking aluminium as an example, it is glazing, added some years after a window made in New Zealand using (mainly) is installed. a renewable resource – hydro- generated electricity. It also can be th After double glazing, insulating the window recycled indefinitely – at only 1/10 frame is next on the list of priorities. There of the initial energy requirement per are a variety of choices – aluminium, Kg. It is also extremely durable, and uPVC, fibre reinforced polyester and as a result, in many circumstances timber. They have varying tradeoffs in does not require protective chemical terms of durability, and maintenance, cost, coatings. looks and thermal performance. You will have to weigh these issues up yourself, as The best way to account for embodied everyone has differing needs/tastes. energy is just to consider it alongside the other environmental issues that you One of the best ways you can determine consider important. It is less significant the window type for your thermal needs is than energy required in use of the to consult the independent WERS (Window building during its life. If you seek the Energy Rating Scheme). This gives the detail, for a listing of embodied energy summer cooling and winter heating energy values of more materials, visit requirements (and is listed in the reference www.arch.vuw.ac.nz/cbpr/index_embodi section at the end).
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Households workshops and associated Selective glass coatings are available for documents will go a long way toward new windows that will increase or providing assistance in terms of tools and decrease its heat gain, and are information”, says BRANZ. In 2007 we are affordable if you specify the coating such linking these materials with a ‘Smart Build’ as ‘low emission’ at the outset, before the website (from MfE, Consumer Institute and windows are constructed. You could use Beacon) that will provide extra information different glass surface coatings when you need it. depending on the orientation of each wall – but make sure you label each window Note that there is a difference in the frame carefully in that case, as they may services/expertise that can be provided by still look the same on the building site! those involved in the design process (the Avoid installing any roof-skylight windows DAAs). An ‘architect’ is a professionally unless they are double- or triple-glazed trained and registered person, who can (to keep in the winter warmth) and also provide full design and project selective coated to reduce summer heat management services, carry professional gain or designed so that they get shade indemnity insurance and has more in summer from the building structure. extensive continuing training. A ‘designer’ may not necessarily be professionally For further information on double glazing, trained, while an ‘architectural including the insulation effectiveness of draughtsperson’ is trained but more various window frames, and glass ‘low- familiar with the technical side of things, emission’ coatings, see NZ Consumer such as producing detailed drawings. It is magazine issue 401, of March 2001 and best to look at their track record (especially BRANZ Building Information Bulletin 387 previous houses constructed from their ‘Double Glazing’. The free booklet ‘How designs) to determine whether they are the to choose the most energy efficient right person for you. windows for your home’ (which describes their Window Efficiency Rating Star Questions to ask your potential DAA System) is available from BRANZ in editions for different regions of NZ: ph. The questions you will ask your DAA will 0900 59090 depend on the role they play in your ------construction project – e.g. how is the - building process going to be managed? Who is going to play what role, and take on what responsibilities? C: Selecting a professional There are a few generic questions that you Since ‘sustainable design’ is a relatively can ask as part of the selection process, new field, not many no matter what role the DAA plays: designers/contractors will be set up to Has the DAA ever worked on a address it, let alone be fully familiar with environmentally conscious project the concepts. Choosing a designer or before? If so, how much registered architect or architectural experience/training do they have in this draughts-person (or DAA, for short) who area? has a good understanding of How did the DAA incorporate sustainability issues is very important, sustainable principles into the previous and will assist greatly in the planning and projects? What sustainability priorities execution of the project. Knowing what did they consider (and how do these (informed) questions to ask will also match up with yours?) assist the process. The better informed How would the sustainable goals be you are, the greater the likelihood that communicated to subcontractors your design will reach your involved on the project, who might be environmental goals. “These Sustainable less informed and committed?
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If renovating, what materials does the There is no one-stop-shop available in NZ DAA think can be salvaged from the yet, for identifying who the likely experts existing structure for re-use on site in are within this field. However, as a start, go the new building work? to: Through the NZ Institute of Architects. The DAA need to demonstrate their They have a directory of practices who professional capabilities and enthusiasm. advertise as providing Eco Design At the very least they will have to be work. enthusiastic – but if this is all, you will Through www.eeca.govt.nz web-site have to diplomatically educate them under ‘renewables’, for energy-related about needs for resource efficiency, consultants, products and services. avoiding toxics, recyclability, durability, Through word of mouth and local etc. media articles.
The first thing you (as the client) needs to do is to set achievable environmental Resource List for Choosing more- goals, which can become part of the sustainable materials written design brief. Typically, these There are several excellent guidance goals will include descriptive and documents that will be a great assistance quantitative information on aspects of: to the renovator or builder. They are: Water – maybe: rainwater collection, efficient use, recycling and disposal 1. The Green Home Remodelling of potable, grey and black-water Guides, which specifically target green Energy – passive and active solar remodelling. They are available for collection, efficient use, and perhaps kitchens, bathrooms and roofing – and will storage extend soon to paints and finishes, and Waste – planning, effective landscaping. Freely available in PDF reduction, sorting, reuse and removal format. Although written in North America, Material – selection process/criteria most of the approach suits NZ and efficient use, avoiding waste, http://oikos.com/news/2004/03.html#Ancho using recycled? r-35882
The next is to develop this brief with the 2. The Sustainable Home Guidelines DAA. Explain the established energy, $35 for the whole set (or downloadable in water, waste, and material goals to those sections from their web-site for free) from involved in the construction process. Waitakere City Council, Private Bag 93109, Clear and effective communication is Henderson. (Email: critical. Since the building process is time [email protected]) Website: and energy intensive – you will need to www.waitakere.govt.nz/ecocity. ensure that there is a good See especially the sections on: understanding between all parties plastics/paint/timber/building involved in the project. materials/assessment for ‘eco’ building materials/earth building The ideas of sustainable design are best introduced at the start of the design 1. NZ Institute of Architects Comparison process. This is when you (the client) can of Building Elements charts; previously ask for ideas on how the design can mentioned. Cost $56. Ph 09 385 6728. meet your environmental objectives and negotiate through the contracting 4. The BRANZ Green Home Scheme – an process. Remember – the choices you independent assessment scheme to rate make now you have to live with for a long just how sustainable your house design is time! – from ‘Fair’ through to ‘Excellent’. Certificate provided. Ph BRANZ 04 237 Identifying possible experts 1170 or 07 839 5360. Other building
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5. The Easy Guide to Eco-Building – Design, build and live with the environment. A free 24 page guidebook containing the essential o sustainable building with many great references. Available through BRANZ 04 237 1170 or as PDF downloadable from website: www.branz.co.nz/main.php?page=Eco- Building. The facilitator CD has a sample
6. The Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS) ranks the energy performance of a window in New Zealand. It is an independent and credible. It uses a star system – with the more stars, the better performance. Pick up a copy of the brochure from your local glazing agent.
7. Building Comfortable Homes. Free pamphlet, or full handbook $22.50, from Cement and Concrete Association NZ, Freepost 94722, PO Box 448, Wellington. (Phone 04 499 8820) An associated publication is Desiging Comfortable Homes, also $22.50
8. Architects or engineers can calculate the likely annual energy performance of the building’s design before it is constructed, using a computer programme called ALF3, available from BRANZ.
9. Refer to the notes in Energy Actions for references to low energy lighting (compact fluorescents) and choice of efficient ‘star rated’ whiteware appliances.
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