Self-sustaining buildings (SSBs):

• Are independent of external energy and water supplies, costly waste management services and wastewater drainage
• Offer the same standards of utility service as is expected of any normal developed country building
• Have low to zero environmental impact.

Adopting Self Sustaining Building Practices has the potential for immediate and substantial mitigation of many of the impacts and demands on the environment including savings of greenhouse gas emissions whilst allowing fast moving economic development.  Adopting SSBs has very significant local and global benefits:

• Substantial improvements to the protection of the environment through reduction in many impacts associated with the life-cycle of buildings from material supply, construction and operation through to their maintenance and disposal
• Substantial mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.  Buildings cause c.50% of greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries.
• Improved access to essential services, drinking water, waste disposal and health, which are at the heart of sustainable development and poverty reduction.  
• Less concern over energy security at both building and national levels.
• Faster economic development, as there is no less need to for major energy, water and waste infrastructure though less or nil demand for networked electricity, gas, waste and water supply services
• Better use of traditional architecture, materials and methods of construction creating improved comfort levels, healthy lifestyles, sustainable industries and jobs
• Cost reduction of SSB technologies and practices
• Reduction in location and weather risks due to extreme events (example, flood and earthquakes ) through use/rediscovery of traditional designs and construction techniques
• Opportunities to improve food productivity through waste treatments and better water management

The technologies to do this are available now at close to economic prices and these prices are falling steadily.

The constraints to adoption are neither technical nor economic but institutional and organisational. We promote the awareness of SSB practice to help overcome these constraints.

We use the following criteria when considering sustainability:

These criteria provide a framework for assessing the total environmental and economic value of a building or community.

Click for some examples of self-sustaining building practices.