Sustainable Housing - Dissertation Example

? Engineering and Construction By of Table of Contents Introduction 2 Sustainability Sustainability in construction in the UK at current time 2 Legislation: Regulations set by the Government 3 Sustainable Housing 1 General Information 2 Types of Sustainable Construction 3 Renewable energy resources suitable in the UK 4 Energy efficient materials 5 Choice of location and orientation 4 Sustainable Construction in Industry 5 Cost 1 The financial influence of sustainability in construction 2 The estimated cost of the sustainable housing development 6 Data Presentation (AutoCAD, Programme of work etc.) 7 Conclusions and Recommendations Introduction The construction industry in the United Kingdom is faced with myriad challenges related to the establishment and implementation of building and construction techniques and policies that would not only meet the immediate housing needs of the society but also ensure that future generations meet their survival needs (Macy & Young, 1998). As a result, the sustainable housing policies sought would help ensure that houses built are ideal, comfortable and eco-friendly. Besides known stakeholders in the construction industry such as construction companies, the other parties involved in the promotion of sustainable construction are commercial institutions such as banks and housing and mortgage firms, which support green building projects by funding (Cole, 1999). Among the benefits that the United Kingdom’s government and citizens enjoy from sustainable housing are eco benefits such as timber frames from sustainable forests, material recycling and rain water capturing. Notably, solar energy is also trapped by the designing of sloped roofs. It should however be realized that sustainable housing designs do not in any way jeopardize the design and quality of buildings. Importantly, most sustainable housing projects in the United Kingdom are tailored so that they fit into most types of locations where there are as little as possible negative environmental impacts of such projects (Cole, 1999). Before delving deeper into the subject of sustainable housing in the United Kingdom, it is important that the meaning of the term sustainability and its relevance to the housing industry is clearly defined and determined. This paper thus explores sustainable housing in the United Kingdom. An extensive and exhaustive literature review on the subject of sustainable housing reveals that it is a rather multi-faceted subject that faces a bright future, the current and past challenges notwithstanding. Sustainability Sustainability is a term that is quite common and relevant to a number of subjects and disciplines. Generally, sustainability refers to the ability to tolerate or endure certain situations over a period. Human beings are always driven to act in certain ways so that their well-being is ensured or assured. The well-being in this context refers to the economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions of man’s existence (Atkinson et al., 2007). In addition, sustainability in its broad sense implies the idea of unity and interdependency occasioned by the mutual responsibilities among living and non-living things. Although sustainability is used excessively to refer to the various economic and progress-oriented strategies, the philosophical inferences of the term sustainability extend to ecological and biological systems and their diversity, which ensures their productivity and viability over time (Cole, 1999). Therefore, sustainability is more than just the mere economic perspectives that man exploit in providing stewardship in the management of creation and consumption of resources (Atkinson et al., 2007). By ensuring that the environment and the ecosystems remain healthy and safe all the time, humans and other organisms are provided with the necessary goods, service and environments. Housing as an important element in the lives of human beings must be provided either by private citizens for themselves or by governments for their citizens. In the construction of these houses, the need to manage the impacts of these projects on the environment forces governments and the private society to aptly and effectively manage the environment (Ana-MPA Southeast European Stock 2011). Housing project or stakeholders therefore manage the consumption of the resources at their disposal efficiently to ensure housing remains sustainable. Sustainability in Construction in the UK at Current Time The construction industry in the United Kingdom has recorded considerable growth as far as sustainability is concerned. Consequent to the construction industry’s efforts in achieving sustainable construction, the United Kingdom boasts of a number of prominent green or sustainable buildings. Sustainable building in the UK, just like in other regions of the world emphasizes environmental protection within the social and economic developments taking place in the country. In this regard therefore, environmental protection is observed and promoted during site selection, structure designing, construction and occupancy (Atkinson et al., 2007). In the United Kingdom, sustainable housing projects must adhere to certain highly set environmental standards whose objective is to reduce water consumption/wastage, lower energy requirements/use and promote the usage of low environmental-impact resources (Fuad-Luke, 2006). The fruits of the efforts of the construction industry in the UK to construct green house is evident in the number of green houses that adorn the country. The Dalby Forest Visitor Centre in North Yorkshire is one such building. The sustainability of this building is evident just as one enters it. The reception desk in the building is made from recycled Wellington boots, mobile phones and yoghurt pots. Besides its roof being made entirely of old tyres, the building also meet the energy-saving requirement for green building since it gets its electricity from a micro wind turbine and myriad photovoltaic cells. Rain water is also gathered on the roof of the building for purposes such as flushing of toilets. The tapping of rain water for use in the building saves a lot of water at the village well. The uncompromising commitment to sustainability by the building saw it receive the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building award in 2007 (Vikki, 2007). The picture below shows the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre in North Yorkshire, retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/22/ethicalliving.renewableenergy. RSPB environment and education centre in Purfleet, Thames Gateway is the other building in the UK that is committed to sustainability. This commitment is manifested by the building’s wind turbines and the use of sheep wool in insulation in addition to the other locally-made materials, which adorn the building (Vikki, 2007). Day lighting is also maximized in the building by the two translucent roofs, which also happen to glow in darkness. The building’s (in the picture below) commitment to sustainability was recognized when it was listed for the Stirling Prize. The third building that epitomizes the sustainability practices in the UK’s construction industry is the Honingham earth-sheltered social housing scheme in Honingham, Norfolk. The building has zero carbon emissions given that it does not have any conventional heating or cooling system. In addition, the house is earth-sheltered on all its walls (Vikki, 2007). However, its southern end is open to allow in heat and light from the sun. Green Building Regulations in the UK Among the various regulations and laws for sustainable building in the UK are Codes, Acts of Parliament and Statutes. For instance, the Code for Sustainable Homes targeting-(UK Communities and Local Government) focuses on evaluating new homes on the basis of Building Research Establishment’s Eco homes. The Code thus contains a number of levels of performances that home constructors, private and public alike, must adhere to. The seven major areas emphasized in this Code include surface water run-off, waste, water conservation, materials, carbon gas emissions, and health and management ecology (Sustainable Build, 2009). Equally emphasized in this Code is the continuous improvement in the construction and renovation of sustainable homes in the United Kingdom. Much legislation has been enacted in the UK to regulate carbon emissions not only in the construction sector but also in the other sectors of the economy (Sustainable Build, 2009). Nonetheless, the construction industry is equally expected to adhere to the dictates of these legislations. In recent times, the UK legislature and the government have released a number of bills that commit the UK to a reduction of carbon emission by 80% by the year 2050. The legislations enacted to steer the UK to achieve this objective include the Energy Performance Certificates (EPAs), the National Indicator 185 (NI185), the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and the National Indicator 186 (NI186). Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) The Carbon Reduction Commitment’s (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme is a government scheme whose objective is to ensure that the UK meets its target of cutting carbon emissions by 1.2 tonnes per annum by 2020. The area of focus for the CRC is therefore energy efficiency and reduction in emissions, which the construction industry must comply with. In this regard therefore, the industry is required to design and implement carbon reduction strategies and monitor and evaluate their carbon emission levels. Significantly, the CRC requires organizations to highly regard the usage of energy-efficient measures and materials in their operations. Targeted most by the CRC are the high-energy consuming organisations in the public and private sectors with a combined half hourly energy or electricity consumption of more than 6,000 MWh per annum. A three-year introductory phase for the Carbon Reduction Commitment began in April 2010 with qualification being based on an organisation’s half-hourly consumption of electricity. Before the CRC came into effect, organisations were advised to prepare themselves by carry out an assessment of their carbon emission by carbon appraisal and starting to lower the levels immediately. Among the benefits of reducing CO2 cited in the CRC include avoidance of punitive charges, saving on the cost of operation, an opportunity to transform carbon savings into real profits and gains made from marketing differentiation and advantages. The Energy Performance Certificates The Energy Performance Certificates is the other regulation initiative that targets the construction industry in the UK given that buildings account for almost half of UK’s energy consumption. Therefore, the Energy Performance Certificates seek to ensure that the materials used in buildings are those that minimise energy consumption reduce carbon emissions. It should be recognized that most materials used in buildings including insulations, heating, ventilation and building power sources all emit carbon. The Energy Performance Certificates seek out greater awareness on energy efficiency, pressurising home buyers, the public and tenants to promote the construction and use of energy efficient buildings with reduced carbon emissions. The first type of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) targets buildings during construction, sale or renting. On the other hand, Display Energy Certificates (DECs) are required by large public buildings such as those belonging to and occupied by public institutions and authorities. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) thus record and report the energy efficiency of property in the UK. In relation to this duty, the EPCs inform clients, tenants and the public on the energy performance of buildings so that informed decisions and choices are made when buying or occupying a property. Although the legislations on green building are quite many and divergent, they apply equally to all types of sustainable building. Types of Sustainable Construction Sustainable construction is mainly categorised according to the construction materials used. However, for a material to be referred to as sustainable, it must be made from a recycled product or resource. That is, the material or the source of the construction material should be replenished after a given short period. Different types of construction materials referred to as green building materials abound and include stones, paper and metal. The others are straw, bamboo and coconut, which can all be used for the construction of quickly renewable buildings/products (Johnson et al., 1997). The type of the material used on a sustainable home therefore forms one of the bases of classifying sustainable constructions. One type of sustainable houses/buildings is green roof homes. In these houses, the roofs are made of one or more materials of living plants. There are quite a number of benefits that such green roofing offers to buildings and the owners/occupants. The first advantage of green roof house is insulation from outside noises and temperature regulation (cool during summer and warm in winter). Furthermore, the green roofs could be used as gardens for fruits and vegetables for domestic consumption as well as commercial purposes. The second type of sustainable construction is underground homes, which are mostly either partially or fully underground. An exiting feature of these homes is that they could be moss covered and blended with vegetation. Interestingly, underground houses are heated or powered by geothermal energy from inside the earth. Although they are underground, the homes are installed with above-the-ground windows that allow enough day lighting from the sun hence they are often as bright as above-the-ground houses. The third type of sustainable building is the wooden houses, which come in various shapes such as rectangular and square houses made of trees such as oaks. Interestingly, wooden homes are built so that they are blended with naturally growing trees with beautiful sliding doors and windows for lighting and ventilation. The other sustainable type of construction is glass house, often supported by steel frames. The walls of such buildings are always covered completely in glass, greatly improving day lighting. In addition, photovoltaic panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity are synonymous with glass buildings. Glass buildings are thus good examples of energy-saving green houses that not only reduce electricity costs but also reduces negative environmental impacts (Fuerst & Allister,. 2009). Houseboats or floating houses are the other unique types of green houses. In addition to being eco-friendly, floating houses are light, spacious and exploit solar and hydroelectric power to make their own electricity for heating and other purposes. Renewable Energy Resources Suitable in the UK The construction of green houses in the UK has consistently exploited the numerous renewable energy options in the country. A common feature of all sources of renewable energy not only in the UK but also elsewhere in the world is that the energy is obtained from natural flows and is continuously replenished. In other words, such energy sources would never run dry. Among the renewable energy sources for which the UK is renowned are wave, wind and tidal energy. In fact, wind turbines, found in the windy countryside of the country generate about 20% of electricity in UK. In addition, there are other wind turbines in shallow off-shore waters that also contribute a considerably large portion of UK’s energy. The contribution of wind turbines-energy to UK’s electricity has particularly been particularly enhanced by the installation of large and modern wind turbines, which have a rate full power output ranging between 1000-2000 kilowatts. The other sources of renewable energy in the UK are water waves, which are created by wind moving over water bodies. Although this source of renewable energy is not equally exploited as wind energy, installing suitable floating devices in deep sea waters could see the UK harnessing a lot of energy from water waves. The first benefit of such a venture would be the attainment of small quantities of power at equally low costs (Ana-MPA Southeast European Stock 2011). In addition to the above sources of renewable energy, UK could also exploit the energy emanating from the moon and the sun’s gravitational on the sea, which happens to result in about two tides per day due to the rotation of the earth (European Commission SETIS, 2010). The other important source of renewable energy in the UK is solar energy, which is converted to electricity by the use of photovoltaic solar cells. In addition, bio-fuels may also be obtained in the form of ethanol and bio-diesel by extraction and fermentation from plants such as such as sugarcane. The other types of bio-fuels available in the UK are gases such as methane and wood. Energy Efficient Materials The need for energy-efficient materials in green building has also shot the cost of green housing. If energy could be saved by using energy-efficient recycled materials that keep rain and wind outside, all would be well (Allen & Iano, 2008). However the high costs of these materials. Despite the fact that many types of energy-efficient materials flood the markets every year, constructors keep away from them due to their cost. For example, the use of glazed windows or other types of insulation layers could increase the cost of materials by 20 to 30 percent (Allen & Iano, 2008). Nevertheless, energy-efficient materials are argued to result in lowered heating and cooling costs in the long run, hence the extra material costs are recovered after a few years. Recycled steel is an example of energy-efficient material since it saves on the many trees that would be felled to provide beams and pillars. Insulating concrete forms also save on consumed energy by 20 percent, compared to wood-frame buildings in cold climate areas (Saving Energy at Home, 2011). The plant-based polyurethane rigid foam used for insulation, in wind turbine blades, furniture and surfboards is the other energy-sufficient material. Choice of Location and Orientation The government and industry-provided guidelines and regulations on sustainable housing in the UK cover certain vital aspects of green building location. First, the environment is core area accorded considerable attention in the UK construction industry location. Sustainable building should therefore promote not only the conservation but also the enhancement of the ecology and biodiversity at the sites of construction (Kates et al. 2005). Second, energy is the other focus of sustainable building location in the UK. In this regard, guidelines and regulations seeking to promote the minimization of energy consumption at sites have been established. To achieve this reduction in energy consumption, the use of high-level insulations and the orientation of buildings to optimize solar gains while sheltering the structure from prevailing winds are encouraged (Ana-MPA Southeast European Stock 2011). In addition, open sites are favoured for energy-efficient lighting besides the use of appliances that optimize on day lighting. Sustainable location in the UK’s construction industry also emphasizes water availability, accessibility and conservation by advocating for efficient water consumption, reuse, and efficient water appliances. Moreover, water pollution, loss through flooding, attenuation of surface water run-off is the other water-saving strategies encouraged in the UK’s construction industry location policies. The fourth focus area in sustainable location of buildings is transport, in which constructors and their clients are encouraged and advised to locate structures near public routes and in proximity to public social amenities and work places. Furthermore, the allocation and creation of spaces for home working has also been largely recommended (Blewitt, 2008). Importantly non-renewable, toxic materials and those from non-sustainable sources should be avoided. Instead, the usage of recyclable and locally produced materials is recommended. Related to the toxicity of the building materials is health and communal well-being for which non-toxic materials are recommended. In addition, freedom from noise, ample indoor space, green space and natural day lighting are encouraged (Blewitt, 2008). Sustainable Construction Cost Although the UK government and the entire construction industry have policies and strategies that promote sustainable building, many stakeholders question the financial viability or the cost of such construction. Despite the pay offs, the construction of environmentally friendly buildings has been criticized for its prices. For instance, photovoltaic cells, electrical appliances and the modern technological equipment required make such exercises rather expensive. However, the life-long yields of green construction/buildings are estimated to be ten times more than the cost (Soederbaum, 2008). The building life-cycle cost versus the up-front cost has been the main cause of the stigma towards environmentally friendly construction. Nonetheless, it is important that the life-time savings from green housing emanates from the efficient use of resources and decreased energy and water bills. The other source of yields in green construction is in the rent rates of green commercial building, which studies have shown to be higher just like sales and occupancy rates (Soederbaum, 2008). To meet the costs, energy-saving needs and ensure effective sustainable construction, programmes of work intended to change the regulation of green construction from those by ‘deemed-to-satisfy provisions’ to those supported by guidance have been established. Below is the program of work for the Building Regulation (NI) of 2000. Programme of Work for Building Regulations (NI) 2000 The Building Regulations (NI) has been revised several times since April 2001 when it came into operation; 2005 - Amendment to Part E, dealing with Fire Safety; 2006 - Amendments were effected on Parts F (Conservation of fuel and power), L (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems and R (Access to and use of buildings), with consequential amendments to Parts H (Stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact). 2008 - References to Energy Rating Notice were substituted with Energy Performance Certificate 2010 - Amendments done to Parts D and J dealing with (Solid waste in buildings) and (Structure) respectively. 2010 Amendments effected on Parts A (Interpretation and General), E (Fire Safety) F (Conservation of fuel and power) and L (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems). Workload The work to implement these amendments will be done in two phases of public consultation: Phase 1 Technical uplifts to be done on site preparation and resistance to moisture, sound insulation of dwellings, fire safety, stairs, ramps, guarding and protection from impact, drainage glazing. Phase 2 Technical uplifts to be done on areas of conservation of fuel and power, ventilation, combustion appliances and fuel storage systems). The other areas to be focused on during this phase are level transpositions of structures, sanitary appliances and unvented hot water storage systems. The above Regulations are anticipated to be implemented by the end of 2011, and to become operational in the spring of 2012. Conclusions and Recommendations The construction industry in the UK must not only ensure that the population’s housing needs are met; it should also ensure that the well-being of the future generations is assured by not exhausting all the available resources. To achieve this objective, ways of construction that would use as little amount of virgin resources as possible should be encouraged and adopted. In addition, the construction techniques and materials used must have reduced waste and result in little, if any pollution. The above requirements notwithstanding, it is imperative that the products of the construction industry provide comfortable homes and work places for the citizens. To attain sustainable construction, the operational, environmental and financial implications of various green hosing activities and products should be considered. Sustainable construction should thus highly regard energy, materials, design, construction processes, water and pollution. Importantly, the construction sites must not only be assessed but should also be remediated in case of contamination. References Allen, E., and Iano, J. (2008) Fundamentals of building construction: materials and methods. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons Inc. 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