Sustainability Strategy

Hot topic at the moment is our Sustainability Strategy. Put simply, it is all about how we recognise the need for reducing our ecological impact on the environment.

Buildings (homes, offices, and industrial facilities) account for over 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Most of these emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels to provide heating, cooling, and lighting and to run electrical equipment and appliances. The manufacture of building materials and products, and the increased emissions from transport of materials, people and waste, also contribute a significant amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

I'm suggesting that our strategy focus on reduction in burning of fossil fuels, emission of greenhouse gases, consumption of water and contribution to urban spread. The City's proposed strategy would recognise that these effects are relevant to all areas of Town Planning and to the Design, Construction and Operation of buildings, including waste disposal.

The intention of this Policy would be to:

• Encourage design that minimised life- cycle costs, including the use of materials that will maximise durability and longevity.
• Use resources efficiently by designing buildings that minimise energy and water use and optimise use of natural daylight and cooling breezes.
• Use environmentally preferable products, including, (but not limited to) those without toxic ingredients and those which contain recycled content.
• Create healthy indoor and outdoor environments for building occupants, users and communities.
• Minimise adverse impacts that development may have upon natural and built systems.
• Make buildings adaptable for future inclusion of innovative energy and environmental technologies as they become commercially viable.

It would be really good if others could add their thoughts by clicking on the "Comments" link below.