Content
Sensitive climatic design of buildings
Orientation and building depth
A natural axis has been developed that orients buildings approximately north-east, in order to strike a compromise between an ideal due-north orientation for solar control and the preferred direction for the capture of cooling breezes. As the development of the campus has shown, minor variation within these controls does not dilute the Master Plan provided the alignment of arcades to the Commons is maintained.
While building depth is partly a function of the building program it is also constrained by the need to minimise eastern and western exposure, and also by the need to bring daylight to the interior, making something of the order of 20m depth the most practical for buildings aspiring to daylight and aspect.
ESD principles
The orientation and relative placement of buildings and the shape of floorplates will dictate the typical heating and cooling loads experienced, access to natural ventilation and access to natural light.
To provide access to natural light, buildings should typically have a north orientation (ie long in the east-west direction). This promotes daylight penetration to the rear of the building. Buildings without a north orientation can still achieve daylight penetration to the rear of the building with some kind of roof treatment that allows this to occur. Lot layout and building location should also be mindful of heat loads through east and west facades. Low angle solar radiation is difficult to protect from and so minimising exposed east and west facades should influence lot orientation or likely building placement as well.
Sub-topics
Passive design
Materials
Energy
Shade
Passive design
Master Plan principles
Unchanged since the inception of the Master Plan have been the principles of design for climate to minimise energy consumption While not all principles can be implemented in all buildings (laboratories must be mechanically ventilated, for example), it is the intent of the University that deviations from these principles are the exception, not the rule.
ESD principles
The following passive design features should be considered:
- Shading: Fixed or controllable shading devices offer thermal protection by reducing heat gain on the building and also assist in mitigating glare. Building cooling loads can be significantly decreased and therefore so can energy consumption. Verandahs, balconies and roof overhangs are also shading devices which provide an additional benefit of offering breakout space.
- Insulation: Optimum insulation levels will minimise heat gain during summer and provide adequate protection from the cold in winter. It is recommended that due to the warmer climate in Sippy Downs, insulation levels be predominantly designed for warmer conditions to minimise heat gain and protect from radiant heat.
- Thermal mass: The effects of thermal mass should be engineered to provide positive benefits to building occupants. Care should be taken to avoid the negative effects of thermal mass, such as re-radiation of heat when it is not desirable.
- Glazing choice: A building's glazed areas are the most vulnerable part of the building envelope so the choice of glazing is important. A balance between the thermal and visual properties of glass is recommended.
- Natural light: The introduction of daylight reduces energy consumption by reducing artificial lighting requirements, and, in addition, ready access to daylight promotes wellbeing.
- Natural ventilation: The zero energy solution to the introduction of fresh air and cooling into indoor environments. Occupants should be encouraged to open windows where possible to enjoy the benefits of natural ventilation. In a mixed mode scenario building controls should ensure that open windows and air conditioning of the space do not occur simultaneously. Naturally ventilated spaces should be designed to ensure the thermal comfort of the occupants.
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Materials
Generally
As noted elsewhere, this Master Plan neither prescribes nor proscribes materials. However, designers should take into account the palette of materials already used on-campus when taking decisions about appropriate materials..
Generally materials and material assemblies that shed rather than trap heat; that retain their integrity under conditions of high humidity; and that allow flexibility and user interaction will be preferred.
ESD Principles
Specific ESD principles for this sub-topic are found in other sub-topics (eg passive design).
Materials should be chosen with consideration of the following ESD principles:
- recycled content
- durability
- low VOC
- ESD credentials of manufacturer (eg Environmental Management Plan)
- potential for disassembly
- product stewardship
- avoid the use of environmentally damaging chemicals in the content or manufacture of materials
Energy
Generally
The University is committed to the reduction of its energy consumption to the maximum degree possible commensurate with achieving its other objectives.
ESD Principles
To reduce building energy consumption, several strategies are recommended:
- Design buildings to maximise their passive design attributes. For example, optimise daylight contribution to reduce artificial lighting, and design for natural ventilation to eliminate the need for air conditioning.
- If air conditioning must be provided, ensure that the mechanical plant is designed for energy efficiency and energy minimisation. For example, consider mixed mode, or cooling using chilled beam technology.
- Use lighting controls: This includes sensor controls, automated switch-off and zoning in larger shared spaces.
- Enable energy save mode on all office equipment to allow standby mode.
- Install timers on water boilers, coffee machines, water chillers and all other equipment which do not have to operate overnight.
- Encourage staff to turn off their computers and monitors after hours.
- Use on site generation of renewable electricity, for example domestic solar hot water or self sufficient solar powered public lighting lamp posts.
- Use sub-metering: This assists in tracking energy consumption for specific and larger consumers of electricity.
- Avoid light spill: This means the design of outdoor lighting to eliminate light pollution onto adjacent sites and the sky.
Although currently natural gas supply to the site is an expensive and unfeasible option, the future possibility of natural gas as an energy source should be considered an alternative to electricity use. Natural gas emits about one quarter fewer carbon emissions than of electricity.
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Shade
Generally
With the exception of verandahs and covered walkways (which are addressed in Building Controls), opportunities for shade at the ground plane will largely be found through the landscape rather than building structures. This topic addresses the shading of vulnerable building elements such as windows.
Wherever possible permanent fixed or operable sun shades should be provided to the openings of all buildings. While high performance glass can often deliver equivalent performance it is not easy to replace in the event of breakage and the embedded energy is higher. Further, the use of shading devices satisfies the objective that the University should not only pursue ESD principles but should be seen to be pursuing them.
ESD Principles
ESD principles for this sub-topic are covered under other sub-topics (eg energy or passive design).
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