Sustainable Construction Kate Mills Principal Consultant, Sustainable Development BRE Scotland, East Kilbride

“Meeting the Needs” 2002 “Sustainable development is about holistic thinking and promoting integration rather than about making trade-offs. It will not be achieved simply by weighing competing demands in the balance. It is not a matter of economic development versus environment but of development based on proper management of environmental resources and consideration of full life cycle impacts and costs. We are committed to development but it must be development which both protects our environment and enhances our quality of life.”

National Planning Framework for Scotland 2004 “The Executive is committed to integrating the principles of sustainable development into all of its policies.” “Action is required to address the threat posed by climate change and on the sourcing and use of materials and waste recycling. There is a need to use resources more efficiently, reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and develop renewable sources of energy. We need to move towards more environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive modes and patterns of transport.”

UK sustainable development strategy - March 2005 Priorities: Sustainable consumption and production Climate Change and Energy Protection of Natural Resources & Environment enhancement Creating sustainable communities And three key themes: Involving people Government leading by example Getting serious about delivery

One future – different paths The UK’s shared framework for sustainable development 2005 “The goal of sustainable development is to enable all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations.” “that goal will be pursued in an integrated way through a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of employment, and a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal well-being. This will be done in ways that protect and enhance the physical and natural environment, and use resources and energy as efficiently as possible.”

Scottish Executive Guidance “Choosing Our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy” – Dec 2005 Ch 12: Making the Links: Built Environment Principles applied through building regs

Scottish Executive Construction Procurement Manual - Sustainable Development section of website – Nov 05 Applies if audited by Auditor General for Scotland 10% of total value of materials used in projects over £1m should derive from recycled or re-used content Targets for energy consumption Targets for water consumption Targets for waste management

Scottish Executive Construction Procurement Manual - Sustainable Development section of website – Nov 05 Targets for construction pollution Use of BREEAM or similar Take account of current future govnt legislation Take account of views of stakeholders Supply team should give evidence of knowledge/competence of sustainable construction

Planning (Scotland) Act D Sustainable development: exercise of functions by Scottish Ministers (1) This section applies to the Scottish Ministers in the exercise of their functions of preparing and revising the National Planning Framework. (2) The Scottish Ministers must exercise those functions with the objective of contributing to sustainable development.

Planning etc. (Scotland) Act E Sustainable development (1) This section applies to a planning authority in the exercise of any function under this Part. Part 2—Development plans (2) The planning authority must exercise the function with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. (3) The Scottish Ministers may issue guidance to a planning authority for the purposes of this section and that authority must have regard to any guidance so issued.

Building Regulations 2007 Revised tougher Building Regs 2007 – energy and environment sections Ongoing revisions to support policy documents

Climate Change Bill On June , the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney announced that the Scottish Government would consult on a Climate Change Bill to set a mandatory target of cutting emissions by 80% by The Scottish Government hopes to introduce a draft Scottish Climate Change Bill to Parliament before the end of 2008.

EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Requires: Minimum energy performance standards for new blgs and large existing blgs subject to major renovation Energy performance certificates –Provided to prospective purchaser/tenant –Prominent display of the energy certificate in all public buildings and institutions providing public services

Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland New buildings Net zero carbon buildings by 2016 – 2017 U-values and airtightness standards to match those of Nordic countries by 2010 “Total life” zero carbon buildings by 2030 Existing buildings Developing practical performance standards for existing buildings (aligned with EPC’s)

Guidance on Planning and Sustainable Development Consultation Paper 2007 Planning’s Contribution Location of new development Assess the potential of existing settlements to accommodate further development and regeneration Promote urban regeneration Promote rural development and regeneration Reduce the need to travel and encourage public transport Encourage re-use of existing buildings Promote efficient use of land through higher density dev Maintain and enhance open space

Guidance on Planning and Sustainable Development Consultation Paper 2007 Protect and enhance the cultural heritage Prevent further development with significant flood risk Consider long-term impacts on coastal areas Consider energy systems on a strategic basis Manage waste effectively Conserve air quality Take account of the capacity of existing infrastructure

Guidance on Planning and Sustainable Development Consultation Paper 2007 Buildings: Accessibility Energy efficiency Water efficiency Waste reduction Lifecycles Building materials and performance

Achieving a Low Carbon Future 2008 Work underway to consider the first stage of reducing carbon emissions by 2010 inline with Sullivan Report. Consultation in Spring 09 on improving building regs compliance Scottish Govnt leading by example 50% renewable electricity by 2020 Removal of barriers for microgeneration

Planning Policy Docs Designing Places: a policy statement on design 2001 and Building our Legacy 2007 SPP1: The Planning System SPP3: Planning for Housing SPP6: Renewable Energy SPP7: Planning and Flooding SPP17: Planning for Transport NPPG14: Natural Heritage Annex to PAN 45: Planning for micro-renewables

Other drivers Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative Corporate social responsibility Insurance – climate change and risk Consultation on Carbon Reduction Commitment (carbon trading scheme schools/NHS likely to be included)

Other bodies Scottish Funding Council all new major capital projects must achieve BREEAM Excellent Supplementary Planning Guidance from Local Authorities NHS Scotland looking to achieve BREEAM Health excellent on all new builds – The Scottish Govnt Health Directorates support that from July 2008 all new BREEAM healthcare blgs must achieve an Excellent rating and very good for refurbished.

What is sustainable construction Long life, loose fit Places, communities where people want to live and work Buildings well built and maintained Flexible adaptable buildings Reduce demand for energy, water Reduce waste Social Whole life cost decisions Efficient Economically sustainable

Lessons learnt?

Lessons learnt -1980’s Estate

Public spaces - Manchester

Flexibility and future proofing: Average residency is 7 years (home.co.uk). Length of residency increases with age (require less mobility) People often have to move to increase the size of their family – but frequently move locally (JRF) Less well off tends to mean less mobile Importance of garden increases and then decreases with age 91% of single pensioners and 53% of pensioner couples do not own a car and are dependent on public transport (DFT) Turn over of housing stock Embedded energy and water in materials Climate change

Stewart Milne’s Sigma Home Code Level 5 – Design Three bedroom house Split floor design Closed panel timber frame system Wall U value: 0.15 Bathroom pods Windturbines, solar water heating and PV panels Dupont’s Energain system

The Osborne House

designed to comply with Housing Corporation Scheme design standards and Lifetime Homes requires just one-third of the energy for heating and cooling required by a house constructed to the 2006 Building Regulations. airtight to one-tenth of the 2007 Building Regulations and has a whole house heat recovery system. The house achieves a 40 per cent improvement on target carbon emissions as assessed in the 2006 Building Regulations.

The Osborne House Siberian larch has been used to clad the front of the house, with recycled plastic slates to the side, Eternit boarding to the rear, and a zinc finish to the roof, permeable paving heat recovery ventilation system, under floor heating using hot water circulation, electric skirting board heating, low use sanitary ware and temperature control taps. Smart technology is used throughout, including a data delivery system showing energy consumption, live public transport information and the ability to manage an on-site car club.

The Barratt Green House

Designed to meet both level six of the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Government's criteria for zero stamp duty won the 2007 Home for the Future Design Award, run by the Mail on Sunday. Architects had been invited to design a home that would have excellent sustainability credentials, excellent design qualities and be buildable by a mainstream volume builder

Offices – Great Glen House Inverness

Procurement Good advice at the start Sustainability expertise as part of core team Budget Choice and use of procurement method? Site and transport Orientation

Writing the brief Quantifiable benchmarks Reporting requirements Environmental Management System Monitoring strategy

The process Use the procurement method Measurable benchmarks Selection of developer Evaluation process and interviews

Monitoring and reporting Environmental policy Environmental Management System Monthly reporting by constructor Use of BREEAM Considerate Constructors Scheme Client monitoring

Eastside Locks, Birmingham

Eastside Locks, part of Eastside,15.24 acres alongside the new Learning and Leisure Quarter and the proposed City Park 55,000 sq m of Class B1 office/science and technology uses Residential Leisure and amenity uses Hotels High quality public space Car parking

Eastside Locks, Birmingham Sustainable Development Framework Contract Targets Process

Eastside Locks, Birmingham

Putting a price on sustainability – BRE/Cyril Sweett 2005 Many sustainability measures can be implemented at little or no additional cost Cost increase significantly if sustainability advice is received too late Site conditions have major impact on achieving Very Good or Excellent rating Effective management ensuring all low cost options are met

Low or no-cost options at design stage: Water efficient appliances Timber procured sustainably Considerate Constructors Scheme Low energy lighting Enhanced thermal performance through insulation Avoiding a/c, use of mechanical or passive ventilation

‘Putting a price on Sustainability’ Naturally Ventilated Office

‘Putting a price on Sustainability’ Ecohomes

% increase in capital cost for a secondary school to achieve Pass, Good Very Good and Excellent BREEAM schools – BRE/Faithful Gould 2008

Key points to a higher BREEAM rating Acquire knowledge of BREEAM Build relationship with Assessor over several projects Present a clear definition of responsibilities at the design team mtgs Obtain clear pre-assessment advice Bring the Assessor in at an early stage to influence design process Draw up RIBA Stage B strategic brief preparation Advise on site choices/transport facilities

Costings – SBSA Research SBSA Report -

Other factors Productivity Sick buildings Retention of staff Future proofing Climate Change Insurance Saleability Operational costs Whole life cost Social value