Bring on the bling

Should a designer promote a scheme’s sustainable credentials by adding on recognisable green technologies, which do not contribute much to its performance, or would these resources be better channelled to less ostentatious elements that are proven to save energy?

It could be said that a little green flamboyance is no bad thing. These elements often add a sense of fun to a design – such as the bright yellow wind turbines on Melbourne’s Council House 2 featured on the cover. Using renewable technologies also helps drive down their cost through economies of scale, which helps increase their uptake. More importantly, because the public are largely unfamiliar with the principles of low energy design, highly visible clues, such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, are necessary to give a hint of a design’s aspirations.

Conversely, it is easy to argue that time and resources would be better spent getting the design fundamentals right. Rather than being sidetracked by green gesturing, designers should focus on elements that will have an impact. Pandering to the uninformed with frivolous additions risks undermining the credibility of a particular technology, a scheme’s reputation or, worse, calling into question a designer’s capability.

Construction of sustainable, low energy buildings is essential if we are to have any chance of reducing global carbon emissions. These buildings will play a vital role in highlighting the need to save energy to the public. It is important that everybody, not just a few informed individuals, is aware of the existence of pioneering low energy buildings.

In time, helped by initiatives such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, people will start to make judgements based more on hard evidence and less on visual clues. Until then, a little green bling could be just what’s needed.

Andy Pearson