Our responsibility as architects and designers extends beyond the completion of construction as we focus upon the lifecycle of a building.
This is reflected in our commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability.
Environmental Management System
Woodhead’s Environmental Management System (EMS) aims to reduce the environmental impacts that may result from our operations and from the projects we design.
Our EMS has been tailored around our existing ISO 9001 Quality Assurance system, and focuses primarily on actions needed to address our Climate Friendly commitment.
We are working towards our Environmental Management System accreditation ISO 14001.
Triple Bottom Line
We understand that our work can only be sucessful if we balance our projects needs with those of the community and the environment.
To prosper in the 21st century requires that we recognize the importance of living in balance with our physical environment and treating our people, projects and planet with dignity and equity.
Greenhouse Impacts from Projects
Our core service is in the delivery of world-class design. The built environment has a significant impact on global warming and water use, and we believe that we can drive positive change in our industry, ultimately to the point where sustainable development is part of the solution to global warming.
Our Climate commitment objectives have been incorporated into our design process, whereby every project is assessed for sustainable benefits and outcomes. These outcomes are balanced between environmental, social and economic benefits.
Woodhead are increasingly raising the sustainability value in all of our projects – we believe that every client should benefit from improved building performance, improved user comfort, and reduced environmental risk.
ESD Performance Targets
The ‘Woodhead ESD Performance Targets’ are quantifiable measures relating to energy, water and materials.
The ‘Woodhead ESD Essential Requirements’ capture additional initiatives to lower the overall environmental impact of the building during design, construction and operation.
The Woodhead ESD Performance Targets cover energy, water and materials.
Energy
Achieve a 20% improvement on the minimum energy efficient performance requirements using either one of the Verification Methods (Stated Values or Reference Building) described in Section J of the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
The 20% improvement target is generally consistent with the minimum 4.5 star NABERS rating for commercial office buildings.
A building meeting the minimum BCA energy efficiency requirements should achieve an approximate 3 star NABERS rating.
A 4.5 star NABERS rating represents an approximate 20% to 25% improvement compared to a 3 star building.
Water
Achieve a 30% reduction in potable water consumption compared to a design reference building.
NSW: the residential planning scheme (BASIX) sets a water target of 40% reduction compared to average water consumption. This is calculated using a complex web based database.
The simple method for calculating the water target is described in the Defence Water Target Calculation Methodology document.
Materials
During demolition and construction works at least 70% of all waste by weight (except hazardous materials) should be either reused or recycled. Recorded by the contractor each month:
- weight of all wastes leaving the site;
- weight of waste that was recycled/reused (i.e. not sent to landfill); and
- destination and/or name of recycler/waste hauler.
- Soil stockpiled on site for reuse as fill shall not be counted in the calculation of waste.
- The definition and calculation of waste shall be in accordance with the current Green Star – Office Design Technical Manual.
ESD Essential Requirements
Energy
Appliances shall meet the following minimum energy efficient ratings;
- Dishwasher: 3.5 stars
- Refrigerator: 4 stars
- Washing machine: 4 stars
- Clothes dryer: 2.5 stars
- Domestic air-conditioner: 4.5 stars for cooling
- Hot water systems shall have solar pre-boost with the system sized to provide a solar contribution of at least 50% of total annual hot water energy consumption.
- Where natural gas or LPG is available to the site the hot water system shall be gas boosted.
Water
- All taps, toilet, showers and appliances shall have a minimum AAA rating or equivalent star rating.
Materials
- All refrigerants and insulation shall have an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero.
- All timbers shall be sourced from either post consumer reused timber or from plantations complying with the Australian Forestry Standard.
- All internal paints shall be low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) (g/litre).
- No PVC products shall be used in floor coverings (unless there is no other alternative).
- A dedicated storage area shall be provided to allow segregation and collection of recyclable waste generated during occupancy of the building.
