Energy and Resource Efficiency

A highly integrated street pattern encourages high levels of air movement. Winds are ‘smoothed’ over low, densely built areas

A highly integrated street pattern encourages high levels of air movement. Winds are ‘smoothed’ over low, densely built areas.

With greater spacing winds are forced down to make open spaces potentially uncomfortable

With greater spacing winds are forced down to make open spaces potentially uncomfortable

This is intensified by tall freestanding buildings,creating eddies that also result in building heat loss (adapted from Gehl, 1987)

This is intensified by tall freestanding buildings,creating eddies that also result in building heat loss (adapted from Gehl, 1987)

Building form can also affect the quality of public space by channelling wind along streets . . .

Building form can also affect the quality of public space by channelling wind along streets . . .

. . . or creating vortexes in plazas in front of tall buildings (from Lang, 1994).

. . . or creating vortexes in plazas in front of tall buildings (from Lang, 1994).

Sun, rainwater, ground, wind can all be used to create renewable energy resources. It is important to minimise environmental demands and ensure the efficient conversion or disposal of waste.

Solar Design:

  • Use daylight to reduce need for artificial lighting
  • Use passive solar gain to reduce need for space heating
  • Use photovoltaic modules to generate electricity from solar power
  • Use active solar panels for water heating

Water:

Collect, store and recycle surface water to reduce the need for drainage infrastructure and energy pumping.

Earth:

Utilise underground energy resources for heating and cooling:

  • Heat pumps can be use the temperature differences between the ground and the air for heating and cooling
  • Aquifers can be used to cool the temperature of buildings that produce a great deal of heat internally.

Wind:

Design to harness the natural potential of wind to ventilate buildings and minimise heat loss through funnelling. Utilise wind as an energy source.

Waste:

Consider how to deal with waste using less energy, less land and less water. Reed bed filtration, recycling, use of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants are all ways this can be achieved.