Environmental Policy

General Environmental Protection

Introduction and background

The HOCA Practice are fortunate to be associated with Local Authority and Housing Association projects. Since the formation of The HOCA Practice we have endeavour to employ and incorporate the Standards of the Eco-Management culture, something akin to EMAS. We consider these objectives to be appropriate to our activities generally as an architectural practice committed to contributing to the ecological wellbeing of the planet and set about embracing the main ingredients of EMAS as a point of reference. This document is primarily concerned with the design, planning and maintenance of all our projects and with particular emphasis on Local Authority buildings, but the basic principles also apply to all domestic and commercial buildings in both the public and private sector.

	We will eventually exhaust finite fossil resources like Coal, Oil and Gas.

	We widely accept that pollution, caused by the gases released by burning these fuels to be one of the main causes of the ‘greenhouse effect’. Although we cannot accurately determine the results of this CO2 build-up in the atmosphere, climatic change is already proven and worse may be yet to come. We also blame gaseous pollution from these sources for ‘acid rain’ throughout the world.

	Nuclear energy is currently environmentally unwelcome and economically dubious in the long term.

	Renewable energy sources such as wind, wave, solar, and biomass presently only generate a little of our energy needs.

	Inefficient combustion also results in wasted fuel, and even more gaseous pollution.

The Environment is precious and fragile. We must minimise our impact to ensure its prolonged stability.

A reduction in the use of all fuel, and improvements in efficiency will help to reduce the disastrous ecological consequences of pollution.

The Building Research Establishment estimates that energy use in buildings accounts for approximately half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere in Britain each year. We could reduce these emissions by 25% by using existing proven technology. Two thirds of these potential savings would result from improved thermal insulation and the rest would come from increased efficiency of equipment and appliances.

We do not only require action in newly designed and constructed buildings. The Chartered Institute of Building Services has estimated that 80% of the buildings that will be standing in 2000 have already been built. Refurbishment and improvement of existing buildings needs close attention to ensure that we do not miss opportunities for energy conservation and energy efficiency.

There is a growing tendency for dependence on electrical equipment. If we cannot find any other method to provide the service, we should give particular attention to selecting the most efficient equipment and ensuring that we minimise its use.

Any manufactured item requires energy input, even if it is only heating and lighting for the staff and for distribution. We should therefore avoid the use of unnecessary materials. Re-use of, and re-cycling of materials and the use of less energy intensive materials will help to conserve other valuable resources such as wood, metals and basic materials.

There is a critical need to reduce the use of energy, by Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation, in both new and existing buildings and by minimising the use of all materials.

Water too is an often-overlooked resource. We should consider reducing both consumption and wastage. Not only is the water itself a valuable resource, but energy is used to process and distribute it.

The policies set out in this document will help to achieve energy savings, cost benefits, and improved internal and atmospheric environmental conditions by sound ecological and economic methods.

The occupants of an energy efficient building will feel more comfortable, with more natural daylight and ventilation, fewer cold draughts and a more pleasant environment in which to achieve greater human potential.

Fundamental Design Concepts

As a minimum we will meet the requirements of BS EN ISO 14001 which are:

	Be appropriate to the nature, scale and environmental impacts of its activities, products and service;

	We are committed to continual improvement and prevention of pollution;

	We are committed to complying with relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and with other requirements to which we subscribe;

	Offer a framework for setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets;

	Be documented, implemented and maintained and communicated to all employees;

	Be available to the public.

In addition to the above minimum we also adhere to the following fundamental Design Concepts

	The objectives for Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency measures will be to protect both the global and local environments, and to save money. Services using energy within a building will provide adequate heating, cooling, artificial light, and power.

	The basic concept of Energy Conservation will be to provide optimum comfort conditions at minimal operating cost. Frequently both are easy to achieve if, at the building design stage, we use some relatively simple design concepts and we consider, at the outset, natural daylighting, using solar gains during winter, avoiding solar gains in summer and using natural ventilation.

	Electricity is normally the only source of artificial light and power, but we can often provide hot water, heating, and cooling in other ways. We will consider passive and active solar gain, combined heat and power generation, heat transference, and other renewable energy sources and recommend implementation of these whenever practical and cost effective.

	The inclusion of Energy Conservation measures at the design stage will reduce construction and installation costs in most cases. Inclusion of these measures from the outset will reduce heating, cooling and lighting equipment provision, and in many cases reduce the required size of plantrooms, pipework and ducts.

	We will encourage building services to take into account possible variations in patterns of occupation density, solar heat gain, and natural daylight, with adequate zoning and local automatic controls to switch off equipment or, at the very least, reduce output when not required.

	When buildings are well designed for optimum internal summer conditions this generally results in minimal winter heat loss too. We will not design buildings solely on one parameter: we will take an overview of all seasons and usage.

	The usage of certain areas will influence the orientation and internal layout of a new building. If possible areas requiring positive ventilation (toilets, kitchens, laboratories, etc.) will be positioned on outside walls. We will position areas requiring a lower internal temperature, or areas with high internal heat gains on north facing external walls, if practical, and provided these areas with adequate ventilation.

	We will encourage the design equipment and controls so that it is not possible for plant to compete. It should not be possible for example for air conditioning equipment to operate in cooling mode in conjunction with building heating in the same zone.

	Whenever practical we will design buildings incorporating dense building materials. The increased thermal mass will improve summer and winter conditions. Control systems will also work more effectively as the internal temperature will be less susceptible to rapid fluctuations.

	In well-insulated buildings air infiltration can contribute a high percentage of the total heat loss in winter. We will attempt to reduce draughts around doors and windows, and through building fabric. We will consider draught lobbies, of sufficient depth to be effective, at all entrances and exits where appropriate.

	Artificial cooling of overheated buildings is difficult to achieve and costly to install and operate. It is far easier to design for comfort than to try to rectify problems by retrospective measures. We will consider provision of correctly positioned ventilation, rooflights, and openable windows to eliminate or reduce the need for artificial cooling, and to allow for adequate air movement so that mechanical ventilation will often not be needed either.

	Natural daylight is better for the occupants of a building and essential to reduce the requirements for artificial lighting. We will balance this with the need to minimise heat gains and losses and to reduce cold down draughts.

	The perception of comfort is complex. Frequently designers provide excessive heating to offset cold draughts or coldness radiated from surrounding surfaces. A comfortable and pleasing internal environment should result in happier, more contented and more productive occupants.

By following the policies contained in this document we aim to achieve optimum comfort at minimum operating cost both in newly designed, and refurbished or improved buildings.

General Environmental Protection

	Trees We will strive to protect trees and hedges that are on areas effected by our operations. We will leave existing trees in situ where possible, and all landscaping work will, where required include new trees.

	Open Spaces We will ensure, where possible that open spaces are protected, and that new building projects allow for space to be used in such a way as to maximise open areas.

	Pollution of Air and Water We will consider pollution prevention at all times. We will strive to minimise the harmful effects of all projects on the environment.

	Road Transport In our designs for road improvements or alterations we will take into account the needs of public transport and cyclists. We will consider all building projects that include road alterations carefully to ensure that any adverse traffic effects can be minimised.

	Contractor Attitudes We will seek to educate our Contractors to try to develop and promote awareness for the Local Environment. We will consider, when appropriate, Contractors previous environmental attitudes when awarding contracts.

	Staff Awareness We will seek to promote a positive attitude to the Local Environment from all our staff. Appropriate training will be provided to ensure that, where possible, staff are fully aware of the environmental issues relating to their area of work.

	Eco Management and Audit System We will continue with our implementation of EMAS standards and if possible try to ensure that all our activities are covered within our monitoring system. We will provide appropriate training and staff resources to this system to ensure that we gain the most from its implementation. This will enable us to demonstrate that the guidelines that we follow achieve their objectives.

The Practice Principals

January 2008