Part of our Green Building Lectures Series. Join us, once a month, for inspiring lectures from extraordinary people. Bringing you the latest developments in low energy and sustainable, design and manufacturing.
In this lecture Tom Woolley will explore how to reduce the impact of the materials and resources used to construct buildings by choosing alternative products and systems. In particular looking at the potential for using natural and renewable construction materials as a way to reduce carbon emissions and to build in a more benign and healthy way.
Tom will explore the nature of renewable materials, the difference between artisan and self-build materials like earth and straw, and more highly processed and manufactured products such as wood fibre insulation boards. The debate over energy usage and embodied energy will be addressed as this is central to the reason why even many environmentally progressive people ignore the case for natural and renewable materials.
Tom will assess materials in light of building physics, energy performance, moisture, durability, health and similar issues. A critical evaluation of assessment, accreditation and labelling of materials and green buildings is central to this as is a review of some of the key research in the field.
Tom Woolley is an architect and educator and self-builder. He has taught at the Architectural Association, Strathclyde University, Hull School of Architecture, Queens University Belfast, University of Central Lancashire, UiTM in Malaysia, University of Umea, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, University of Bath and University of Gloucestershire. His research work and writing has covered housing policy, sustainable materials and design theory. He is active in the Co-operative party, ARC-PEACE and Scientists for Global Responsibility. He has helped to establish the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products in the UK. Working with Rachel Bevan Architects in County Down in Northern Ireland, he is also involved in organic gardening and sustainable woodland management.
Source: Cultivate – Low Impact Building
