Book description
This guide to the designs, technologies and materials that really
make green buildings work will help architects, specifiers and clients
make informed choices, based on reliable technical information.
Low Impact Building: Housing using Renewable Materials is about
changing the way we build houses to reduce their 'carbon' footprint
and to minimise environmental damage. One of the ways this can be done
is by reducing the energy and environmental impact of the materials
and resources used to construct buildings by choosing alternative
products and systems. In particular, we need to recognise the
potential for using natural and renewable construction materials as a
way to reduce both carbon emissions but also build in a more benign
and healthy way. This book is an account of some attempts to introduce
this into mainstream house construction and the problems and obstacles
that need to be overcome to gain wider acceptance of genuinely
environmental construction methods.
The book explores the nature of renewable materials in depth: where
do they come from, what are they made of and how do they get into the
construction supply chain? The difference between artisan and
self-build materials like earth and straw, and more highly processed
and manufactured products such as wood fibre insulation boards is explored.
The author then gives an account of the Renewable House Programme in
the UK explaining how it came about and how it was funded and managed
by Government agencies. He analyses 12 case studies of projects from
the Programme, setting out the design and methods of construction,
buildability, environmental assessment tools used in the design,
performance in terms of energy, air tightness, carbon footprint and
post-occupancy issues.
The policy context of energy and sustainability in the UK, Europe
and the rest of the world is subjected to a critical examination to
show how this affects the use of natural and renewable materials in
the market for insulation and other construction materials. The debate
over energy usage and embodied energy is discussed, as this is central
to the reason why even many environmentally progressive people ignore
the case for natural and renewable materials.
The book offers a discussion of building physics and science,
considering energy performance, moisture, durability, health and
similar issues. A critical evaluation of assessment, accreditation
and labelling of materials and green buildings is central to this as
well as a review of some of the key research in the field.
Tom Woolley is an architect and educator and self-builder. He has
taught at the Architectural Association, Strathclyde University, Hull
School of Architecture, Queens University Belfast, University of
Central Lancashire, UiTM in Malaysia, University of Umea, the Centre
for Alternative Technology in Wales, University of Bath and University
of Gloucestershire. His research work and writing has covered housing
policy, sustainable materials and design theory. He is active in the
Co-operative party, ARC-PEACE and Scientists for Global
Responsibility. He has helped to establish the Alliance for
Sustainable Building Products in the UK. Working with Rachel Bevan
Architects in County Down in Northern Ireland, he is also involved in
organic gardening and sustainable woodland management.
