As an award winning sustainable architectural practice we make environmentally sound, beautiful places to shelter, live and work.

 

 

 

stephen sainsbury architect

SSa Logo            We undertake the architectural process in the belief that environmentally aware buildings can be luxurious, inspiring and delightful places to live, work and play.  The practice aim is to achieve the highest possible aesthetic return for the lowest achievable ecological impact.

 

 

 

 

A Book for Living Sustainably

 

There are unending piles of data creating mountains of information surrounding us nowadays. 

These vantage points should give us a clear view of what to do and where to go from here,

but good advice from this information can be appallingly difficult to find.  

 

Most of the advice available is buried in impenetrable jargon, interpretative philosophy or shields of self defensive litigative disclaimers.  

Well, here at the peril of disparagement is a collection of advice, mostly tried and true, from many sources, collected through working in

the practical world towards achieving the goal of sustainable aescetism.  The more general and esoteric notions are collected from the

philosophical treatises of numerous thinkers in environmental sustainability.  The design considerations and personal strategies devolve

from the work and living of many much admired cultural icons.  The practical minutae come from the field and site experiences of many

who struggle to bring the reality of sustainability into being.   

 

This book is designed as a ready reference Guidebook of strategies for minimising our impact on the natural world. 

It attempts to bring together a broad array of researches and understandings of ways in which each and all of us can

the reduce the impact of our living in this place.  From the overall structural processes, through the mundane and the spiritual,

to some minutae of detail, these Rules of Thumb seek to present individuals and entire communities with simple and straightforward

strategies and actions they can take to improve the quality of our environment and the sustainability of our culture.

 

The idea is ... If a question arises and some sort of advice is needed, then look up an appropriate pattern,

read the Rule of Thumb, have a little think about it all, read a bit of the story if more info is needed and then off you go ..

 

 

 

A Book for Living Sustainably................................................................ i

 

1. Data … Information … Advice ?....................................................................... i 

2. How Do You Use These Things?....................................................................... ii 

 

CONTENTS........................................................................................... iii 

 

SOME FOREWORDS........................................................................... 1 

 

THE BARE ESSENTIALS.................................................................. 38 

Ideas for some of the structural changes required of our culture to achieve sustainability 

 

3. Consensus of Vision......................................................................................... 39 

4. Create a Sense of Identity and Continuity..................................................... 40 

5. Set Sustainable Time Horizons....................................................................... 41 

6. Adapting to Change......................................................................................... 42 

7. Repair the Damage.......................................................................................... 43 

8. A Fair Share of the Biomass............................................................................ 44 

9. Set Viable Population Limits........................................................................... 45 

10. Y.I.M.B.Y........................................................................................................ 46 

11. Successful Practical Projects........................................................................ 47 

12. Appropriate Technology................................................................................ 48 

 

LIVING................................................................................................ 49 

If you don’t go any further have a look at these, they give some insights into minimal things you can do to save the world.  

 

13. We Are The Problem..................................................................................... 50 

14. Everything in Moderation.............................................................................. 51 

15. Seek Quality................................................................................................... 52 

16. The Evolution of Cooperation....................................................................... 53 

17. War................................................................................................................. 54 

18. Plant a Tree.................................................................................................... 55 

19. Waste Not, Want Not.................................................................................... 56 

20. Get A Bike...................................................................................................... 57 

21. Walk, Catch a Bus, Train, Ferry, Anything!................................................ 58 

22. Power Your Life Yourself.............................................................................. 59 

23. Sirens, Bells, Whistles & Rings  … NOISE!................................................ 60 

24. Flashing Lights............................................................................................... 61 

25. Plastics Everywhere...................................................................................... 62 

26. Small Buildings For No Reason..................................................................... 63 

27. Covenants....................................................................................................... 64 

28. Dying............................................................................................................... 65 

 

CONSUMERS GUIDE........................................................................ 66 

Some brief guidelines on what to consume and how to consume it sustainably.  

 

29. Ecological Evaluation Systems...................................................................... 67 

30. Buy Locally..................................................................................................... 68 

31. Buy Quality..................................................................................................... 69 

32. Avoid Packaging............................................................................................. 70 

33. Minimal Impact Eating................................................................................... 71 

34. Natural Clothing............................................................................................. 72 

35. Energy Efficient Appliances and Fittings..................................................... 73 

 

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES..................................................... 74 

 

Some strategies for engendering understanding that will be vital to the future of our children and ourselves.

 

36. Make Sure Everyone Understands the Issues............................................. 75 

37. Network of Advisors and Technicians.......................................................... 76 

38. Communication............................................................................................... 77 

39. Developer Training Systems......................................................................... 78 

40. Designer Training Systems............................................................................ 79 

41. Maker Training Systems............................................................................... 80 

42. User Training Systems................................................................................... 81 

 

SOCIETY............................................................................................. 82 

Ideas for assisting the evolution of our society into a sustainable, aware, inclusive culture.

 

43. Create a Sustainable Society........................................................................ 83 

44. Social Justice Infrastructure......................................................................... 84 

45. To Get A Job, or Not to Get a Job ….......................................................... 85 

46. Internet Community Access.......................................................................... 86 

 

GOVERNANCE................................................................................... 87 

Ideas and principles for achieving long lasting, fair and equitable governance of, for and by the people.

 

47. Sustainable Governance................................................................................ 88 

48. A Green Constitution..................................................................................... 89 

49. Rights With Responsibilities.......................................................................... 91 

50. Glass Bureaucracy......................................................................................... 92 

51. Community Participation............................................................................... 93 

52. Virtual Community Governance Senates..................................................... 94 

 


ECONOMICS...................................................................................... 95 

Ideas and strategies for changing the way we perceive value and our methods for apportioning resources and wealth.  

 

53. Create a Sustainable Economy..................................................................... 96 

54. A Fair Division of Wealth.............................................................................. 97 

55. Remove Economics from Politics.................................................................. 98 

56. An Absolute Monetary System..................................................................... 99 

57. Ecological Balance of Trade........................................................................ 100 

58. Use Real Indicators...................................................................................... 101 

59. Ethical Corporations.................................................................................... 102 

60. Sustainable Personal Financial Strategies.................................................. 103 

61. Local Area Business Network..................................................................... 104 

62. Sustainable Internet Trade.......................................................................... 105 

 

RESOURCES..................................................................................... 106 

Some principles for the environmentally sound procurement and development of resources.  

 

63. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.............................................................................. 107 

64. No Supply Lines in or Pipelines Out........................................................... 108 

65. Localise, Integrate and Diversify Resourcing............................................ 109 

66. Small is Better.............................................................................................. 110 

67. One Systems Output is Another Systems Input......................................... 111 

68. Kerbside Recycling...................................................................................... 112 

69. Waste Stockpiles for Future 'Mining'......................................................... 113 

70. Localise Sewage Treatment and Recycling............................................... 114 

71. Integrate and Layer Water Use.................................................................. 115 

72. Localise Food Production............................................................................ 116 

73. Eat Endemic Foods....................................................................................... 117 

74. Use Renewable Resources.......................................................................... 118 

75. Timber Supply as Urban Planting................................................................ 119 

 

TRANSPORTATION........................................................................ 120 

Our vehicles are killing us and our planet, here are some suggestions for beginning to solve this problem.  

 

76. Transport  ... The Problem with Cars is ..................................................... 121 

77. Communal Cars............................................................................................ 122 

78. Smarter Cleaner Cars.................................................................................. 123 

79. Pedestrian Ways.......................................................................................... 124 

80. Reduce Traffic Path Distances................................................................... 125 

81. Bike Paths..................................................................................................... 126 

82. Low Speed Vehicle Ways............................................................................ 127 

83. Appropriate Public Transport..................................................................... 128 

84. People Powered Movement......................................................................... 129 

 


ENERGY............................................................................................ 130 

Incident sunshine is the one clean, renewable resource we have on this planet, here are some ways of harnessing it and reducing the impact of current energy use patterns.  

 

85. Energy Is Green........................................................................................... 131 

86. Use High Energy Products.......................................................................... 132 

87. Energy Producers not Consumers............................................................... 133 

88. Minimum Energy Consumption................................................................... 134 

89. Minimise Peak Loadings.............................................................................. 135 

90. Put in a Solar Hot Water System................................................................ 136 

91. Eliminate Super Voltage Grids................................................................... 137 

92. Localise Energy Generation....................................................................... 138 

93. Diversify Local Energy Generation............................................................ 139 

94. Energy Generation Everywhere................................................................. 140 

95. Energy Sharing............................................................................................. 141 

96. Match Energy Sources to User Needs........................................................ 142 

97. Heat Exchangers.......................................................................................... 143 

98. Sun Powered Living..................................................................................... 144 

99. Alternative Energies.................................................................................... 145 

100. Big Scale Stuff............................................................................................ 146 

101. People Powered Buildings......................................................................... 147 

 

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT......................................................... 148 

Ideas and concepts for creating a sustainable infrastructure for our villages, towns and cities.  

 

102. The City as a Natural Ecosystem.............................................................. 149 

103. Create a Sustainable Infrastructure......................................................... 150 

104. No More New Subdivisions........................................................................ 151 

105. Spaces at the Centres................................................................................ 152 

106. Increase Densities...................................................................................... 153 

107. Variety of People and Buildings Everywhere.......................................... 154 

108. Smaller Houses........................................................................................... 155 

109. CoHousing Schemes................................................................................... 156 

110. Conduiting of Information Technology..................................................... 157 

 

HEAL SICK BUILDINGS................................................................ 158 

Some strategies for improving the quality of the interiors of our buildings to avoid and repair the problems that lead to the so called “Sick Building Syndrome”  

 

111. Diagnosis..................................................................................................... 159 

112. Change the Air........................................................................................... 160 

113. Avoid Wall to Wall Carpeting................................................................... 161 

114. Avoid Polymer Finishes.............................................................................. 162 

115. Avoid Glues................................................................................................ 163 

116. Pesticides, Insecticides, Fire Retardants and Herbicides........................ 164 

117. Avoid C.C.A. Treated Timber................................................................... 165 

118. Natural Paint and Oil Finishes................................................................... 166 

119. Porous Wall Surfaces................................................................................. 167 

120. Real Polish Finishes for Timber................................................................ 168 

121. Radon Gas.................................................................................................. 169 

122. Ozone.......................................................................................................... 170 

123. CFC............................................................................................................. 171 

124. PVC............................................................................................................. 172 

125. Dust Build Up.............................................................................................. 173 

126. Mites........................................................................................................... 174 

127. Minimise E.M.F. Radiation Exposure....................................................... 175 

128. Radiation From Microwave Ovens........................................................... 176 

129. Radiation From Television......................................................................... 177 

130. Radiation From Computers....................................................................... 178 

131. Radio Telephones and Mobile Phones...................................................... 179 

132. Mobile Phone Transmitter Towers........................................................... 180 

133. Fluorescent Light Quality.......................................................................... 181 

134. Incandescent Lights................................................................................... 182 

 

THE NON BUILT ENVIRONMENT............................................... 183 

A series of strategies for minimising impact on the environments surrounding our buildings, cities and rural areas.  

 

135. A Natural Landscape................................................................................. 184 

136. Do Nothing Landscaping............................................................................ 185 

137. Mix Natural Ecologies with Urban Patterns............................................ 186 

138. Habitat Preservation and Recovery......................................................... 187 

139. Land Tenure............................................................................................... 188 

140. User Pays Degradation.............................................................................. 189 

141. Land Tax as a Transition Mechanism....................................................... 190 

142. Sustainability Covenants........................................................................... 191 

143. Reuse Redundant Land.............................................................................. 192 

144. Decontamination, Rehabilitation,.............................................................. 193 

145. Develop Bioshelters for Land Regeneration............................................ 194 

146. Community Gardens.................................................................................. 195 

147. Remove Fences.......................................................................................... 196 

148. De-Pipe Street Stormwater Disposal........................................................ 197 

149. Don’t Interrupt Ground Water Flow........................................................ 198 

150. Weed Out Weeds....................................................................................... 199 

151. Natural Toxins............................................................................................ 200 

 

ECOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE SYSTEMS............................. 201 

Alternative environmentally sound, sustainable systems for just about anything technical.  

 

152. Living Machines......................................................................................... 202 

153. Sewerage Processing as a Work of Art.................................................... 203 

154. Plants as Environmental Controllers........................................................ 204 

155. Living Machines for Buildings................................................................... 205 

156. Water Saving Devices & Systems............................................................ 206 

157. Use Composting Toilet Systems................................................................ 207 

158. Integrated In House Recycling.................................................................. 208 

 


DESIGNING...................................................................................... 209 

Thoughts about sustainable design principles in general and the designing of buildings in particular.  

 

159. Develop an EcoCost Budget...................................................................... 210 

160. EcoCost....................................................................................................... 211 

161. Minimise The EcoCost of Buildings.......................................................... 212 

162. Make Buildings Better............................................................................... 213 

163. Re-Use Existing Building Stock................................................................ 214 

164. Minimum Accepted Specifications............................................................ 215 

165. Watch for Natures Little Signals.............................................................. 216 

166. Look to the Indigenous and the Vernacular............................................. 217 

167. Touch the Earth Lightly............................................................................ 218 

168. Building for Now......................................................................................... 219 

169. Communal Places and Spaces at the Centre............................................ 220 

170. Closing the System..................................................................................... 221 

171. Building a Place to Be................................................................................ 222 

172. Design to Fit............................................................................................... 223 

173. Building for Long Life................................................................................ 224 

174. Natural Environments Inside Buildings..................................................... 225 

175. Controllable Personal Space..................................................................... 226 

176. User Altered Buildings............................................................................... 227 

177. Lightweight Building.................................................................................. 228 

178. Minimal Enclosure...................................................................................... 229 

179. Open Up to the Sun.................................................................................... 230 

180. Natural Lighting......................................................................................... 232 

181. Direct Sunlight............................................................................................ 233 

182. Natural Ventilation.................................................................................... 234 

183. Catch the Breezes...................................................................................... 235 

184. Mass at the Core........................................................................................ 236 

185. Massing Around Heat Sources.................................................................. 237 

186. Masses of Stone and Space Reduce Stress.............................................. 238 

187. Keep Roof Water for Drinking................................................................. 239 

188. Wide Eaves................................................................................................. 240 

189. Insulate Yourself from it all....................................................................... 241 

 

BUILDING......................................................................................... 242 

Strategies for actually putting up buildings with minimum environmental cost.  

 

190. Spare the Soil............................................................................................. 243 

191. Employ Local Tradespeople...................................................................... 244 

192. Something Close By................................................................................... 245 

193. Minimise Site Wastage.............................................................................. 246 

194. Supervise Minimal Materials EcoCost..................................................... 247 

195. A Good Joint.............................................................................................. 248 

196. Natural Insulation....................................................................................... 249 

 


MATERIALS..................................................................................... 250 

Some in depth discussions and information about the procurement of materials.

 

197. Re-Use Materials....................................................................................... 251 

198. Use Re-Usable Materials Re-usably......................................................... 252 

199. Longevity.................................................................................................... 253 

200. Minimal Processing.................................................................................... 254 

201. Toxic Materials.......................................................................................... 255 

 

SPECIFIC MATERIALS DETAILS................................................ 256 

Details on the impacts and environmental effects of specific materials used in building today.  

 

202. Concrete..................................................................................................... 257 

203. Masonry...................................................................................................... 259 

204. Stone........................................................................................................... 261 

205. Corrugated Metal Sheet............................................................................ 263 

206. Glass........................................................................................................... 264 

207. Ceramics..................................................................................................... 266 

208. Timber......................................................................................................... 268 

209. Composite Timber Products...................................................................... 270 

210. Straw........................................................................................................... 271 

211. Rammed Earth........................................................................................... 273 

212. Plywoods..................................................................................................... 275 

213. Fibre Cement Sheet................................................................................... 277 

 

MAKING IT HAPPEN...................................................................... 278 

Advice for bringing these ideas into being and a general passionate rounding off.  

 

214. Making it Happen....................................................................................... 279 

215. Selling Sustainability.................................................................................. 280 

216. Making it Possible...................................................................................... 281