The DTI has defined the goals of sustainable construction as achieving:

• Maximum energy efficiency
• Maximum user health, satisfaction and productivity
• Minimum whole life cost

by a sequential integrated approach using these steps:

• Well insulated, air tight structure
• Efficient, responsive heating and controls
• Appropriate glazing and shading
• Controlled ventilation
• Energy efficient lighting and appliances
• Passive or energy efficient cooling
• Efficient water heating
• User involvement during the design, remaining committed and knowledgeable during use
• Passive solar design, with renewable energy incorporated as all the above
• The starting point is to have an environmental voice within the specification process – both in human terms and by some kind of formal environmental assessment of the building. This can be done in two main ways:

As part of the general process of assessing quality, fitness for purpose etc – the Design Quality Indicator approach is the best example.

Through a specific environmental/sustainability assessment which then feeds into the general process.

The best known example of the latter is BREEAM. The NHS has also developed a sector-specific version of BREEAM known as NEAT.

Other building assessment tools include EcoHomes, CEEQUAL and SpeAR in the UK and LEAP in the US.

Very few buildings in further and higher education have been subject to such an assessment – the University of Newcastle's Innovation centre, which achieved an excellent BREEAM status being one exception.

The University of Gloucestershire has also won a Sustainable Construction award for its Oxstalls campus.

Some examples of buildings outside the sector which are generally though to embody the principles of sustainable construction are:

• The BedZED residential development in South London
• The Mail Box in Birmingham. This conversion of a former Royal Mail sorting office (MORE)
• Millennium Green
• Lichfield's new Garrick Theatre – natural ventilation has cut energy costs significantly and improved the theatrical experience.
• Chiswick Park – this Stanhope Properties's development is said to have increased the speed of letting and sale
• Milton Park in Oxford
• Great Western Hospital. Here insulation was increased so that radiators could be removed, reducing capital cost and life costs of energy and maintenance.

As 90% of current buildings are likely to be in use in 30 years time, sustainable refurbishment is likely to be of even greater importance than new build.

Examples here include:

The Edinburgh Norton Park upgrade converted a redundant Victorian school into offices, specified to a high environmental performance, including materials, energy and water. The client, Albion Trust, and The Carbon Trust have both supported studies of the project, through a CIBSE document 3 and an Action Energy case study 4 .