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

Resource and materials conservation considerations
• 
Using materials and products that have low embodied energy in manufacturing and 
operation.

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Positive Development
• 
Designing in the capture, storage and reuse of rainwater from roofs.
• 
Developing a system for collecting, storing and distributing surface water runoff.
• 
Treating greywater on-site with low-maintenance organic systems (eg Living
Machines).
• 
Dedicating basement space to local organic waste treatment plant.
• 
Retrofitting an existing building in lieu of new construction.
• 
Reusing materials of buildings to be demolished nearby, if feasible.
• 
Using easily replaceable parts and ‘design for disassembly’.
• 
Designing for durability (reusable, compostable, recyclable parts and components).
• 
Designing for long life and ‘loose fit’ (flexibility of future use).
Timber usage considerations
• 
Avoiding rainforest timbers and native forest timbers or timber from forests with high 
ecological value.
• 
Specifying sustainably-managed timber products and biobased material substitutes.
• 
Specifying timber products with low gaseous emissions during manufacture.
• 
Using ‘woodless’ timbers (eg from hemp, bamboo) and engineered timber alternatives.
• 
Minimizing timber waste (offcuts) through design for generic sizes or correct 
specification. 
• 
Planting trees to replace those used in the construction.
Energy and heat conservation considerations
• 
Designing for local climate – wind, humidity, ‘worst case’ conditions.
• 
Considering co-generation (heat from a process used to power/heat another function).
• 
Using passive solar heating and cooling technologies throughout.
• 
Considering (partially or totally) underground building for energy conservation.
• 
Specifying green lights, products and appliances in fit out.
• 
Ensuring high-efficiency electrical office equipment is used.
• 
Using double skin walls to expel hot air out of the building or absorb warm air.
• 
Using service areas for solar shading (lifts, stairs and toilets at the periphery).
• 
Considering wind scoops to channel wind into interior spaces through ceiling plenums.
• 
Ensuring structural air-tightness and avoid thermal bridging (breaks in insulation).
• 
Using optimum insulation serving multi-functions (eg noise and heat control).
• 
Reducing temperature swings with exposed thermal mass (eg floor slabs, walls).
• 
Optimizing low embodied energy and thermal storage capacity of building form itself.