Environmental Assessment of
Buildings and Building Developments
- a logical methodology for the world.
Preface (modified for the internet edition)
This report presents the core of a methodology for environmental assessment of buildings and building developments. Publication in the present form is intended to encourage discussion and further refinement of the methodology, as well as acting as the basis for ongoing assessments.
The methodology was developed during 1992 and 1993 in response to requests for assessment of major new building developments. It was first applied in the UK but is intended to be used worldwide and to integrate contributions from disciplines such as architecture, building and materials science, ecology, landscape design and town and country planning. These will necessarily reflect diverse concerns in different countries. Comments from around the world would therefore be welcomed.
The methodology will appeal to many special interest groups as well as to architects and designers. In particular, developers may be attracted by the logical way that small local concerns about environmental damage may be set in perspective. Conservation and wildlife groups will find much to their liking, as the methodology is centred upon the importance of 'primary environmental issues' which are often the principal concern of groups opposed to development on sensitive sites.
It is not a paradox that both developers and conservation groups - often seen as necessarily opposing forces - could be attracted to use of the same methodology. Where either side has a strong case the methodology will highlight this, and without avoiding contentious topics such as habitat and countryside destruction or the responsible use of air conditioning as a part of inner city redevelopment.
Emphasis is placed on classifying issues using the concept of ultimate consequence and on defining the scope of assessments to highlight important details, rather than on using a simple tick-sheet or point scoring approach. Clients' dissatisfaction with other methods, in particular their illogical basis, avoidance of habitat issues, inability to deal with mixed-use buildings and preoccupation with minimising use of electricity, led directly to the new methodology.
Stephen J Wozniak
England
August 1993