There is no doubt that sustainability in construction has become a "buzz" word, along with eco. To many it conjures up images of the "beard and sandals brigade" professing that the end is nigh and that we must put an end to our wicked construction ways. But what does it mean to be sustainable, to be eco? Even bog standard concrete puts forward its sustainability credentials these days.
When it comes to sustainability, let's not be foolish. A burgeoning economy has needs; the tiger's appetite must be satisfied. We have to maintain levels of economic growth & employment while recognising the needs of every one. However, normally this is done without effective protection of the environment.
You could define sustainable construction, to paraphrase the accepted and at this stage clichéd definition of sustainable development, as being about meeting the needs of today, through the prudent use of natural resources, and thereby not compromising the ability of our children to meet their own needs tomorrow.
It's the end of 2005 and currently there are no incentives available to a private citizen of this State, who wishes to build their own home to an energy standard better than that of the Building Regulations. We await the detail of the renewable energy heating grants for the domestic market with great interest, with an announcement expected early in the new year.
Cast your mind back to November 1955. Renewable technology is unheard of, houses are built with no consideration to heating systems, insulation & ventilation, and there's only one way to build: unsustainably. Not a lot has changed in the last 50 years, except the fact that we are building houses at a rate of knots; 70,000 knots per year. About 75% of these are built to an unacceptable standard and we are all contributing to global warming. The most significant greenhouse gas contributing to global warming is CO2, primarily from energy use, and over 40% of such emissions derive from energy use in buildings. This is largely through our acceptance of poorly built houses, using antiquated building technology, with only self-regulation for guidance. During the construction boom it has been a sellers market, with a culture of people frantically looking to buy, with little attention to the standard of what they're buying.
You could argue that it might as well be 1955 as little or nothing has changed, but has it? We do have building standards, or the worst possible standards permitted by law.
Given our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, The fact that Ireland is currently 29% above the 1990 levels, one of the top 3 worst performers in Europe, with substantial penalties to the tune of e600 million in the pipe line surely it makes sense to promote and encourage low energy demand buildings & renewable technology, especially when you consider that climate change is a reality. That three of hottest years since records began have occoured in the last 8 years is testament to this fact. (see graph).
Currently the only program that looks to promote best practice is the "House of Tomorrow" program operated by SEI. Unfortunately however this only applies to developers who wish to build a scheme of 20 - 100 houses.
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