pillars of sustainability
Being environmentally responsible has moved on from being just a fashionable side item; in many locations it has become a necessity and climate change is only a part of the cause. Increasing and more concentrated populations and development in remote locations are contributing to the pressure being put on resources. As such, being environmentally responsible is becoming increasingly important. To meet this demand, we strive to create architecture that embraces sustainability in a sensitive and sympathetic way whilst remaining pragmatic and justifiable.
With qualified green building design professionals in our team, we can advise comprehensively on implementing environmentally appropriate initiatives and manage any green building certification that is required. Our sustainable strategies and green initiatives are embedded within the design process from the start ensuring that these aspects are seamlessly integrated with our designs. Our first steps are to take the five pillars of sustainability into consideration and become location, regulatory, geo-politically, climactically and economically specific. Implementation is then an objective process of evaluation.
...sustainability has to work for all; including the owner...
PILLARS
- Deep shade and overhanging eaves.
- Heavily insulated roofs and walls.
- Design to encourage opening up of spaces to use natural ventilation.
- Reduce amount of hard landscaping exposed to sunlight.
- Use light coloured materials where exposed to sunlight.
- Reduce reliance on artificial light.
- Siting and orientation.
- Minimise carbon footprint.
- Low water usage sanitary fittings and faucets.
- LED and low energy lighting used throughout the resort.
- Buildings designed around the topography and existing landscape.
- Landscaping designed to reduce water consumption.
- Subterranean irrigation systems to prevent evaporation.
- Light coloured and deep pools to reduce evaporation.
- Use recycled materials wherever appropriate.
- Harvest rain water and store as a primary source.
- Use waste heat from air-conditioners for water heating.
- Pre-chill incoming air with exhausted air.
- Recycle grey water for use in irrigation.
- Implement strict garbage separation and recycling policies.
- All timber from certified sustainable sources.
- Local products used wherever possible to reduce transportation.
- Prefabrication of components preferred.
- Use Low-E glass in exposed locations.
- Low maintenance materials and detailing to be adopted.
- Low carbon footprint and rapidly renewable materials to be used.
- Solar hot water systems as the primary source.
- Solar powered external lighting systems.
- Solar powered buggy fleet.
- Primary power generation:
- Geo-thermal power.
- Photo-voltaic power.
- Wind power.
- Biomass power.
- Create a matrix of available green initiatives.
- Analyse which initiatives are achievable.
- Establish requirements for certification.
- Execute cost/benefit audit of achievable initiatives.
- Decide on initiatives to implement.
- Consolidate in Environmental Policy.
- Educate all Stakeholders on its use.
- Constantly Reinforce Goals.
