‘This is a wonderful book that should be on the desk of every architect and planner. It shows how

Box 22 Green Building Guidelines 
General design considerations vary according to climate, topography, annual and diurnal tem
-
perature range, wind, humidity, and so on. Generalized notes do not apply in every situation, 
and those below
1
generally assume a temperate climate. Such green design considerations 
are for convenience only and should 
not
be applied in a ‘tick the box’ fashion.
Broader social considerations
•
Including public uses like childcare facilities, galleries and restaurants.
•
Reflecting traditional design elements that characterize the region, where appropriate.
•
Designing for crime prevention through people-friendly design.
•
Creating mixed-use development, as in the existing ‘urban village’ model, to increase 
access to services with reduced transport.
•
Ensuring access and use by the disabled and elderly (usually required by legislation).
•
Laying out residential developments to encourage a sense of community by creating 
communal open space and park areas.
•
Respecting the need for privacy and outdoor semi-private space (by the use of patios, 
porches, conservatories, trellises, etc).
•
Providing for public environmental education tours of green buildings if appropriate.
Broader environmental considerations
•
Ensuring adaptability of design for future uses, including future solar technology such as 
fuel cell heating and cooling systems.
•
Rehabilitating existing homes instead of demolishing them, where feasible.
Ensuring the maintenance of urban biodiversity in infill development.
•
Reinstating diversity through landscaping, façade articulation, increased ‘edge’ and vertical 
gardens.
•
Designing for allowable envelopes of adjacent buildings to ensure 
future
solar access.
•
Minimizing dependency on urban infrastructure (water, gas, electricity, sewers).
•
Considering embodied and ecological waste in all design decisions [Chapter 4].
•
Clustering of buildings or units where appropriate to reduce the need for energy and 
materials etc.
•
Conducting an energy efficiency site analysis which details site parameters, microclimate, 
shade, slope, drainage, wind, relative humidity, diurnal and annual temperature range, etc.
•
Avoiding development on green-field sites and geographically or ecologically sensitive 
areas.
•
Ensuring the site is not on a flood plain or landslide area.