To achieve sustainable design, material selection, and construction are no different to those required to achieve any other aspect of good design. The process relies on an understanding of the potential environmental issues, to compliment and contextualise what is already known among these professional experts.
Sustainable construction has straightforward aims: to minimise waste on and off site; reuse materials and make use of those reused or recycled; avoid complex components that are difficult to recycle at end of life; and choose construction systems that can be delivered by local operatives by existing or new skill sets.
Design is a holistic process that seeks to create the best solution across a broad range of requirements, which includes social and economic sustainability as well as environmental responsibility. A good designer will always look first at exploiting the opportunities of the site and the client's brief to produce a building which, as far as possible, works passively to minimise energy and resource use. The next step is to incorporate technologies for minimising resource demand that are appropriate to the site, the building occupants’ needs and their capacity to manage and operate them. Also, designing to enable future change of use, easy maintenance, and eventual disassembly and reuse will lengthen the lifespan of a building and minimise its overall impact.
EAUC-Scotland's Sustainable Construction Topic Support Network (TSN) is open to all, providing an opportunity for those working in or with the further and higher education sector to share ideas and questions and to get together to hear from particular speakers or discuss topics of interest.
The Strategy for Sustainable Construction (June 2008) which is intended to promote leadership and behavioural change in sustainable construction.
The Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team’s first Annual Report (2011).
The Oxford Brooks environmental report 2005 which covers the entire university and draws together examples of good environmental practice/behaviour.
A chapter from the The Presidential Perspectives Series on how campuses can leverage sustainability for institutional gain in a competitive marketplace.
Schneider Electric published research on the value of BREEAM green certification to clients, consultants and contractors.
A case study from the University of Warwick on the investment of new halls of residence and the integration of sustainability within them.
A case study from Southampton University on meeting the sustainable needs in a new build.
This case study from the University of Leeds illustrates how to engage staff and students into strategic plans to reduce carbon.
The Green Consultancy successfully tendered to the University of Oxford for a programme to create a new Five Year Carbon Management Plan
Lauder College has built a unique construction workshop (ECOspace) and training centre for educating students in environmental best practice for the construction industry.
The University of Glasgow and the Carbon Trust worked together on a Carbon Management Programme which identified opportunities to reduce energy consumption and make the...
A University of Bradford led project stimulating strategic change & operational improvements by working with estates & other departments with energy/environmental...
Keble College is one of the largest of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford with 410 undergraduate and 235 graduate students. It was the wish of the founders in...
A case study about Queen Margaret University’s Corstorphine Campus which was relocated and how it embraced the challenge to deliver the most sustainable campus in the UK.
The modern, eco-friendly library represents a significant investment in the future of their students. The building, in the centre of the campus, is designed to be conductive...
Survey results from Heriot-Watt University's Energy Performance and Estates Condition Survey.
The University of St Andrews implemented a compulsory in-house recycling scheme for staff and students. Working closely with the local authority they undertook a rationalisation...
A case study of Elmwood College which used the golf course and farm as living/working educational resources to increase environmental awareness.
A short talk on the environmental values of urban green walls focusing on the animal biodiversity, air quality, building insulation (thermal, noise and light) and human well-being.
Purpose-built to house the School of Computing, a simple, low energy design, which saves energy, reduces environmental impacts and enhances productivity