You might think a sustainable build includes swathes of eco-friendly measures such as reclaimed timber, earthy natural stone, and any number of energyefficient gadgets. While those things certainly have some ecological clout, that's only part of the story.
Sustainability really is an all-inclusive approach to design and building. Shaun Lockyer from Shaun Lockyer Architects says the first principle of sustainability is the way a home responds to climate, context, breezes, thermal mass and heat loads. “That really goes to the heart of things, being intelligent with the way you compose the building, then you get into devices that can aid sustainability such as batteries, solar and water tanks, then appliances,” he explains.
Designing and building thermally efficient homes, and reducing waste and pollution in building them, is vital. Madeline Sewall from Breathe Architecture says building operations make up 28 per cent of global carbon emissions. “At Breathe we focus on balancing light,
