3. application of timber in environmental building

Application of timber in Environmental Building

The Mint, Sydney

Francis-Jones, Morehen Thorp

Environmentally sustainable building

• Key considerations when designing/building an environmentally sustainable building are:

1. Energy consumption (embodied and operational)2. Water consumption3. Impact on the environment4. Healthy to live and work in

Material considerations

• To construct an environmentally friendly building will require a mixture of the most appropriate materials;

• Good design for the local climate and site is vital to building an environmentally sustainable home.

• In this presentation we use timber as a vehicle to highlight the principles of building environmentally friendly homes.

1. Energy considerations

1. Embodied energy: “The energy invested in the materials and construction of the house.”

2. Operational energy: “The ongoing energy used in the house. Operational energy includes energy used to heat and cool (maintain thermal comfort), as well as energy used by household appliances.”

Embodied energy

Timber has a low embodied energy. So, less energy is ‘invested’ in the building initially.

Reminder:

Energy Considerations > Embodied Energy

1.5 235

435

0

100

200

300

400

500

Fossil fuel energy (MJ/kg)

Rough sawn timber Concrete Steel Aluminium

Indicative embodied energy values for common building elements

Element Description MJ/m2

Floors

Incl. flooring, farming, footings, reinforcement, DPC, membranes..

Timber suspended, timber sub-floor enclosure 740

Timber suspended, brick sub-floor wall 1050

Concrete slab on ground 1235

WallsIncl. as appropriate, framing, internal lining, insulation

Weatherboard, timber frame 410

Brick veneer, timber frame 1060

Double brick 1975

WindowsIncl. 3mm glass

Timber frame 880

Aluminium Frame 1595

Roofs Incl. plasterboard ceiling, R2.5 insulation, gutters, eaves

Concrete tile, timber frame 755

Concrete tile, steel frame 870

Metal cladding, timber frame 1080

Clay tile, timber frame 1465

Thermal comfort

• Maintaining a warm or cool environment inside our homes can consume a lot of energy. We can design thermally efficient buildings by:– understanding the local climate – Passive solar design

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

Thermal comfort

• Homes can be kept comfortable by: – Use of solar energy– Controlling air flow into and out of the building– Controlling heat gain and losses (insulation)

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

• There are two different construction approaches to achieve thermally efficient buildings:

• Thermal Mass• Lightweight construction with correct

detailing

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

Construction approach & thermal performance

High thermal mass solution

• Thermal mass works in association with: – correct orientation– correct window design– sun shading

• Small changes in these can cause large changes in the effectiveness of thermal mass.

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

Lightweight construction options

• Lightweight construction, detailed for the local climate, can offer a more versatile solution as:– The Snug house for

cool climates– The Breeze house for

warm coastal climates– A combination of the

two for inland areasEnergy Considerations > Operational Energy

Benefits of lightweight options

Lightweight construction can provide good options for the following sites:

• Hot, humid climates;• Sloping or shaded sites;• Sites with sensitive landscapes

Zones for each location

Climate-appropriate design

The snug house

• This is a house that is well insulated and sealed.

• Solar access is used to heat and ventilation to cool where available and appropriate.

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

A snug design

• A predominantly timber house in Victoria– Good solar access– Shaded windows– Thorough

insulation – Wood waste for

heating.

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

Studio 101 Architects

Virgo Residence

The breeze house

• This is a house that that is open, light and naturally ventilated.

• Solar access is controlled by shades and ventilation is provided by careful window, door and ventilator placement.

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

A breeze designIt includes:• careful

orientation• shaded

openings• wide eaves• light construction• plentiful

ventilation.

Energy Considerations > Operational Energy

2. water consumption

• Embodied Water:

“The water invested in the production of the materials and construction of the house.”

• Just as we consider embodied energy, we consider embodied water in the same way.

Water Considerations > Embodied Water

2. Water consumption

• The use of timber can effect water consumption in two ways:

1. Timber comes from forests that are also managed to harvest water;

2. No water is required on site to construct with timber.

Water Considerations > Timber construction

3. Impact on the environment

• Timber designs can have a very small footprint on a site. For example, a pole framed home may be suspended over a sensitive landscape.

JMA Architects

Viridian Villas

4. Healthy to live in

• Timber can add to a healthy environment in two ways, (locally and globally):

1. Timber is a natural, organic and inert material for interior and exterior use;

2. Timber production has a positive impact on our global environment.

Using timber in environmentally friendly building

•Timber can help with:1. Design flexibility2. Straightforward construction3. Low energy consumption4. Using renewable resources5. Design for deconstruction

1. Design flexibility

• Standard carpentry practices can be used to create some elaborate designs:

Warwick Donnelly Pty Ltd

The Atrium Roof to the Deerubin Centre

Design flexibility

BKK Architects

2Parts House

Design flexibility

BKK Architects

Frame House

Design flexibility

Dawson Brown Architecture

Bungan Beach House

Design flexibility

Collier & Reid Pty Ltd Architects

Narana Creations Performance Theatre & Exhibition Building

Design flexibility

Inarc Architects

Mount Macedon Residence

Design Flexibility

Lahz Nimmo Architects

Casuarina Beach House

2. Straightforward construction

• Carpenters and builders understand timber, and there are National Standards on timber construction; AS 1684, Residential Timber Framed Construction available in 3 parts.

3. Low energy consumption

• Timber consumes little energy in its production, and little energy has to be used to construct with timber on site;

• Timber can be used to construct innovative and low operational energy houses.

4. Using renewable resources.

• Timber is a renewable resource!

5. Design for deconstruction

• Demolition or adapting a building can be costly in terms of energy and materials. In order to minimise these costs buildings should be built in such a way that they are easy to take apart, and the materials reused where possible.

Summary

Timber can contribute in Environmentally friendly buildings by providing:

• Low energy consumption• Low water consumption• Low impact on the environment;• A healthy material to live with.