Sustainable building design intentionally aims for the most positive outcome for the environment, the community and the occupants throughout construction, for the life of the building and beyond.
4305 Design considers the following attributes when developing a design to assist the client to make better informed decisions. chevron_rightOperational Energy (cost of living) chevron_rightEmbodied Energy (carbon footprint) chevron_rightResilience (climate change, future use) chevron_rightIndoor Air Quality (health) chevron_rightAccessibility chevron_rightWater collection, use, disposal chevron_rightEcological diversity chevron_rightSocial design chevron_rightEconomic benefits chevron_rightEthical choices
Energy Efficient Design
Building design that uses the least amount of energy required to maintain healthy and comfortable occupants year round is energy efficient. How much energy or power a building needs to use to keep the occupant comfortable is called Operational Energy. A highly efficient building, or high performance building, uses little power to maintain comfort and operate services.
4305 Design supports (we always aims to exceed) the targets of Australia's National Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.
Energy efficient design begins with passive solar design, and then goes deeper with the application of suitable insulation and shading in the correct areas, selection of specific glazing options, external color schemes and airtightness.
It is very important in an energy efficient home to develop a plan for indoor air quality and condensation control both in the home itself, and also in the structural cavities. This is managed through a combination of design, construction detailing and specifying automated fixtures or appliances.
Low Carbon Design
Low Carbon Design aims to reduce unnecessary contributions to emissions that cause global warming. Carbon is produced when a material is sourced, produced, processed, prepared, manufactured, transported, installed, maintained, decommissioned or discarded.
Carbon reduction by design is achieved by researching and specifying materials with the lowest possible emission producing record. The ideal design is actually carbon negative - using or storing carbon (sequestering) rather than producing 'less' carbon.
Working with a designer who understands construction materials and how to verify supplier claims will help you negotiate the pitfalls of greenwashing (false or misleading statements regarding the environmental benefits of a product or process).
Passive Solar Design
Passive Solar Design*
Building design that utilises the building's structure and fabric to harness the energy of the sun, earth, water, air and building materials to stabilise internal temperatures and maintain air quality.
Passive design starts with some basic local environmental conditions research, and then is developed through a combination of building orientation, positioning of glazing types, shading and thermal mass, in conjunction with capturing or deflecting natural breeze paths.
* Not to be confused with PassivHaus - a very rigorous certification system originating in Europe. PassivHaus is a metric modelling based method for maximising building thermal performance and thermal comfort through air infiltration and thermal envelope controls.
Accessible Design
Accessible building design caters specifically for differently abled people.
Every design includes aspects of this from concept stage, because retrofitting accessible design as an afterthought can trigger significant structural alterations and the associated costs are prohibitive.
4305 design incorporates a plan for occupant aging in place as a founding principle.
Inclusive design has many levels of speciality, from low level ambulant to high physical dependancy, or custom solutions such as visual or audible support, high durability, automation or social and cultural requirements...
