#existingsystems

Through some internet-based research, I came across a not-for-profit organization, titled ‘New Zealand Green Building Council’. The council’s role is to promote the active use of frameworks which can rate working environments on multiple criteria. These are often set up in a way which surrounds both energy efficiency, sustainable build tactics, etc.   

They have three key methods on which they operate but also a set of values that commit to encouraging the sustainably within the practice of building greener:

“Promoting the benefits of sustainable buildings by creating a common language and demonstrating the value.” (NZGBC)

“Assisting the property and construction sector to acquire the skills and knowledge to be able to deliver a sustainable built environment.” (NZGBC)

“Motivating and rewarding the sustainable development and operation of buildings across New Zealand.” (NZGBC)

During some analysis of the ‘Why Green Building?’ section of the New Zealand Green Building Council website. The organization mentions that they believe in many benefits of green building. Besides providing better overall outcomes for the environment, I found it important that human health was also discussed. They state, “For example, international studies suggest an 8 – 11% improvement in productivity as a result of better IEQ.” (NZGBC). IEQ stands for Indoor Environmental Quality, alongside this statistic, they express that green spaces are beneficial for general spatial satisfaction and can offer benefits to the extent they made above. 

There are multiple rating systems within certain criteria that NZGBC use to certify whether a building is ‘green’. However, the one system they use which attracted a lot of my attention is the ‘Green Star’ system. “Energy, Water, Materials, Indoor Environment Quality (IEQ), Transport, Land Use & Ecology, Management, Emissions, and Innovation.” (NZGBC). These are nine areas which form somewhat of a guideline as to where I could use some critical thinking whilst designing. 

‘Indoor Environment Quality’ is something which I am investigating further within the Green Star manual 3.2, “targets the wellbeing of building occupants by encouraging a healthy indoor environment.” (NZGBC, 97). Within this section the contributing factors listed toward generating a space of well-being are “lighting, ventilation, noise levels, external views, and thermal comfort” (NZGBC, 97-101). 

It is important that along with aiming for mainstream construction of self-sustaining domestic dwellings that adopt a number of biologically informed processes that I am able to generate a space which takes into account these components which acknowledge the IEQ.         

Website Link:

https://www.nzgbc.org.nz/