As sustainable building consultants, we know that growing demand for sustainable buildings is putting more emphasis on the supply and demand of quality, low embodied building materials that are also aesthetically pleasing. Encompassing the entire production process from “cradle to grave”, low embodied materials are those that are designed, manufactured, delivered and constructed using minimal energy throughout the life of the product. Other determining factors of embodied energy materials include their total life span, maintenance and ability to be recycled once expired.
With that said, ulitising these low embodied materials and systems can often present an architectural challenge when it comes to striking a balance between aesthetics and building performance. Although it requires in-depth investigation and analysis, common sense must prevail when determining which product should be used to gain aesthetic appeal without compromising on areas of building performance such as energy consumption and thermal comfort.
As sustainable building engineers, our consultative processes prove time and time again that “simplicity” is key, particularly when it comes to sustainable façades. This is where the balancing act of design versus performance of low embodied materials is at its most prominent. For example, a designer may choose to include external aluminum sunshades on the standard windows of a building. Initially, this may appear to offer a higher level of thermal performance however, upon further investigation the sunshades may not be a necessary addition. Although they may offer some visual appeal, an alternative design solution could be to utilise double glazed Low Emissivity windows in replacement of the regular glass and sunshades combination. Low emissivity double glazed windows alone, are an efficient, sustainable, long lasting and cost efficient façade material that would simply reduce the overall embodied energy of the structure. The decision to add or exclude features based on their visual appeal remains however, it’s imperative to the embodied energy of the building that it’s appearance does not compromise its overall sustainability.
In essence, the lower the embodied energy of a building, the less impact it has on the environment. As sustainable building consultants, we are excited to see more and more manufacturers, designers and architects joining the quest for innovative and attractive, low embodied energy solutions. With Australia and the world offering so many ecologically sound design alternatives, the future of the “carbon-neutral building” is no longer just a pipedream.
