For sustainable construction to become a
reality, there are two communication tasks to complete:
- Let everybody know what we mean by sustainable construction; and
- Show how sustainable construction can contribute to
environmental, social and economic goals
Another way of looking at the awareness and
understanding of sustainable construction is:
- How sustainable construction can affect each household, internally
- How sustainable construction affects us externally as
members of the wider community, whether at neighbourhood, village/town,
regional, national or international levels
These questions can help us evaluate the
extent to which we now, or might in the future, contribute to sustainability through
our approach to construction:
For the individual/household
- When you moved into your home, did you think about:
- How well it fitted into the surroundings?
- Whether it saved energy - cutting the cost of your bills?
- How much water would be used? eg in maintaining a big garden or having a bath rather than a shower
- The feasibility and benefits of walking/cycling to work, school, shops etc?
- Whether you need that amount of space and could maintain it cost-effectively?
- Can you connect the method of
construction and location of your home to issues like
saving energy and water, reducing pollution and congestion, maintaining a
peaceful environment and preserving green space?
- Can you make any changes now which could help?
- Do you or could you join with neighbours in action which
might lead to achieving sustainable construction, ie as a member of an amenity
or similar society; or in helping in the preparation of village design
statements or community appraisals?
For the Construction Industry
- Do you tell clients about the benefits they can get from
sustainable construction and could sell on to consumers? (eg more attractive
and individual appearance from local materials, ease and cheapness of
maintenance, reduced energy needs, less pollution and improved accessibility)
- Could you contribute to the understanding and awareness
of other professionals, clients and consumers of what sustainable construction
means? (eg by supporting the aims and objectives of the House Builders’
Federation)
- Do you support initiatives which increase public
awareness of examples and benefits from sustainable construction? (eg the
Architecture Centre in Bristol)
The benefits of increasing public and professionals’ awareness of
sustainable construction include:-
- Awareness of increased competitiveness
- Higher standards of construction
- Conservation of scarce resources, reduced waste and reduced pollution
- Public demand for more sustainable homes and workplaces
- Wider perception of the local, regional and international benefits of sustainable construction
- A more saleable property
- Poundbury, which has received considerable public exposure
- DETR: Agenda 21 Initiatives “Think Globally, Act Locally” (1994)
- DET (COI) “Helping the Earth Begins at Home” Series of pamphlets (1994)
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