Why Self Sustaining Building?

The Problems

Environmental degradation

The construction and use of modern buildings causes substantial environmental damage, creating c.50% of greenhouse gas emissions and considerable ecosystem degradation. In the United States, buildings account for 39 percent of total energy use, 12 percent of the total water consumption, 68 percent of total electricity consumption, 38 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions.[1]

The environmental damage from buildings arises across the whole life-cycle of buildings, which have a very wide range of environmental impacts and demands:

Aspects of Built Environment:	Siting, Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Renovation and Deconstruction
Consumption:	Energy, Water, Materials and Natural resources
Environmental Effects:	Waste Air pollution, Water pollution, Indoor pollution, Heat islands, Storm water run-off and noise
Ultimate Effects:	Harm to Human Health Environment Degradation Loss of Resources

The environmental damage can also be summarised as:

• Ecosystem and biodiversity loss and impacts from the global consumption of natural resources for building through the depletion of vital ecosystem services. Essentially a reduction in the environment's capacity to maintain our current lifestyle or to improve the lifestyle of the less disadvantaged
• Climate Change and impact of pollutant - from the greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with buildings

The overuse of modern design rather than sensible use of traditional architecture risks vulnerability to location and weather specific events such as flood and earthquake.  For example ‘modern’ houses may become very hot in sunny climates and so create a need for air conditioning, whilst the more traditional buildings which have evolved over centuries are far more comfortable and need no cooling, so less energy. 

The health of people and communities and the quality of the environment are closely linked. By building in a self-sustaining manner, the quality of the environment can be improved immeasurably with an increase in both the well-being of human kind and bio-diversity.

The reduced use of locally available resources increases environmental impact through material transportation.

Slow government action

Governments worldwide agree the need for action to address this unsustainable environmental damage as rapidly as possible. However, they are large organisations with political conflicts. They do not change easily. Copenhagen 2009 has demonstrated the problem very clearly with the absence of a unified plan of action to address the climate change agenda. The targets set for the Millennium Development Goals have not been met either.

SSB practice addresses these two world issues, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and developing healthy homes, workplaces and contributing to the reduction of poverty.

The Solution

Whilst the practices and technologies for Self-Sustaining Building (SSB) are available now, their adoption is slow. SSB practices enable prompt practical action towards a sustainable future by, building structures, communities and lifestyles with low to zero impact on the environment.

The adoption of the best SSB practices will not only address the environmental impacts of buildings but will allow the rediscovery of vernacular building designs to reduce location vulnerabilities as well improved security, affordability, life-style comfort and health.

Towards Solutions

To accelerate world-wide adoption of SSB practice, both new build and retrofit , the SSB Programme includes the following activities:

• identification and research of research into SSB best practice, international and local government policy, economic, environmental and social issues relating to SSB adoption in both developed and developing nations
• demonstration of best SSB practices for building
• promotion of self-sustaining building practice worldwide
• the support of self-sustaining building practice worldwide by any means, including:
  • The Global Challenge
  • establishing Self Sustaining Building & Environmental Centres
  • networks and forums
  • promoting SSB projects
  • influencing institutional infrastructure support

Scope of Activity

The Programme will be active in both developed and developing economies. The focus of activities will be as follows:  

Developed nations	Reducing the environmental damage of buildings in advanced economies and improving energy security with significant contributions to climate change targets and agendas
Developing nations	Improving health standards through better building design, structure and material use including water and energy supply, waste management; mitigating environmental damage and climate vulnerabilities
Structures:	Homes - single or multiple Workplaces & Communities
Condition:	New build or Retrofit
Sites:	Rural, Peri-urban and Urban

The emphasis of activities will include resource demand, location, climate or specific risks, such as earthquake zones or flood plains.

Achieving high environmental, lifestyle and health standards as well as affordability will be important criteria in promoting the adoption of SSB best practice.