Environmentally Sustainable Design is not an optional extra. We build it into the design from the onset and see it as our responsibility to do so. Our strategy towards green design involves both a scientific and holistic approach. Our team consistently keeps up-to-date with modern trends, emerging technologies and innovations in the field of energy efficiency. At the same time we look at how our behavioural habits can be considered with regards to living greener lives. A house that requires minimal maintenance, for example, will use less energy. Flexibleو multi-purpose spaces can reduce buildings’ energy consumption footprints whilst also encouraging its users to share and be mindful of others.
While the industry has set 6 Stars as the standard, WOLF ARCHITECTS’ houses often aim to achieve 8 Stars. We focus on minimizing the need for mechanical heating and cooling, providing good insulation and considering the orientation of double glazed windows. Various internal walls can also be insulated to enhance zone control and thermal performance. Most spaces should benefit from the ingress of daylight from multiple directions, eliminating the use of artificial lighting during day time hours. Vital to overall performance is having numerous operable windows in strategic locations allowing the house to breathe. All WOLF designed houses allow for night purging.
Sustainable Building Design
With consideration to embodied energy, we have a preference for materials and technologies available locally. We incorporate recycled and recyclable materials with a preference for those with low VOC levels. Even plants from demolished homes have been rescued to be replanted in the new house’s landscape. Solar, geothermal and wind power are further options that we try to consider with all our projects.
Further to incorporating many energy saving measures, a WOLF house is designed to embrace flexible use of space. This avoids the costly and premature renovations commonly seen. Utilizing low maintenance finished materials also contributes to minimizing embodied energy.
