Embodied Energy
Architect’s working on a plethora of buildings types in the western world are sure to have encountered Energy Efficiency, Green Star Ratings etc. etc. blah. blah. blah.
I am a strong believer in steps toward energy efficiency as it is obvious that these more ‘considered’ environments contribute to better workplaces and higher standards of living. Though the whole process is still lacking credibility.
For instance. Although still in their early stages of development, no Energy rating systems take into account the concepts of Embodied Energy.
It boggles the mind that a residence with a total livable footprint of close to 700m2 can be rated in the same fashion a residence one third of its size accomodating the same amount of people. What about all the extra concrete, the extra energy used to create all that extra steel, the extra water used on site to prevent dust, the extra energy used to create the vast quantities of glazing? Bricks? Timber? Ikea furniture?
But then the whole concept of carbon trading waters down any “Green” thinking. How can you justify polluting, by offsetting it somewhere else?
I’m sure all of this will settle eventually.
I think the greatest benefit from “Energism”** is an awareness of the pollution in the first place. Speaking of awareness, I’ve sourced this image from the blog AnArchitecture. They wrote a succinct little summary including these figures on carbon dioxide per metre square of construction technique;
Adios amigos!
**Energism. I coined this word just then. As the “green” in our society could be a passing movement. Urgh, I hate how green Architecture has this kitschy aesthetic. More on this later.
Í´m fairly sure Basix takes into account block/house size as one of the main factors, which is the standard Eastern States model rating system, and the one on which WA is trialing a similar model in various Landcorp developments a the moment.
Sorry to be annoying, it´s just that it´s not often that I know things, and I feel the need to tell everyone on the odd occasion that I do.
I don´t know how effective these systems are either, but I guess I´d prefer be asked to prove my design is energy efficient than to demonstrate why federation red and cream and a gable roof is the answer to an Australian architectural identity.