Low Energy Construction Approaches

Previous journal posts have discussed Carbon Zero buildings
and the three European systems that aim to produce low energy buildings. These
systems include the French Effinergie System, the Swiss Minergy System and the
German Passive House System.

Other building approaches worth mentioning include “Zero
Energy  Buildings” which are buildings
that do not use more energy than they generate and “Energy Plus Houses” that
put “emphasis on the production of more energy per year then they consume”.

“The Living Building Challenge” is an interesting building system.
It again has a scientific approach to energy use, but views this within the
full life of a building including to end of life of the building. There is also
a non-tangible poetic and humane side of the Living Building Challenge, that
incorporates social justice issues, with a biophilic design approach. The
“Living Building Challenge” is a wholistic utopian vision of building that
offers hope in the built environment for a Carbon Positive future. There are
very few fully certified “Living Buildings”, due to the complexity of the
process, but the approaches offer a utopian vision of what an ideal future energy
positive building can be.

Biophilic design is something that is also interesting from
a poetic point of view. Biophilic means love of nature. “”Biophilia”
is an innate affinity of life or living systems. The term was first used by
Erich Fromm to describe a psychological orientation of being attracted to all
that is alive and vital.” (Wikipedia) Therefore in architecture and design it
can be used passively or quite consciously. I would say that without knowing,
our design for along time has had a connection with Biophilia. We love the use
of timber and expressing the natural grain and warmth of timber. We use natural
finishes and materials, as they are healthy and not toxic to human health. Our approach
to planning homes is with the intent of providing easy connections between the
interior with the exterior, where the outdoor landscape (whether at ground or
at sky level) is an extension of the interior of a building.

With all these different approaches in mind, how do we
approach the process of designing new homes or alterations to existing homes
with a sustainable zero carbon future in mind. 
There are so many considerations that it may seem overwhelming, and sometimes
conflicting information can make it difficult to make decisions.  We think ultimately it is simple to design
and build comfortable, liveable and beautiful homes that are able to align with
the natural environment. We believe that buildings can easily be designed with
very low energy usage, and if energy is being used, that the energy is sourced
without  producing carbon. We know that recycled
materials can have a beautiful timeless quality and that they are also the best
way to reduce more emissions. We believe that building materials and products
should be kept as much in their natural state as possible, and local handmade products,
or local manufactured products should be sourced where ever possible (it seems
that one of the upsides of Covid has been the move towards an increase in local
manufacturing, as suppliers seek local products to fulfill demand). What seems
to us to be most important is that as technology changes and as understanding of
the climate develops we need to be quick to adapt our knowledge and approach to
the design and construction of buildings. It is at once a daunting, but also an
exciting, time.