How can you balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals?

1 Assess the whole life cycle

One of the first steps to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to assess the whole life cycle of your design, from the extraction of resources to the disposal or reuse of materials. This can help you identify the potential environmental, social, and economic impacts of your design choices, and find ways to minimize them. For example, you can use life cycle assessment (LCA) tools to compare different materials and technologies based on their embodied energy, carbon footprint, water consumption, toxicity, and recyclability. You can also use life cycle costing (LCC) tools to estimate the total costs of your design over its lifespan, including maintenance, operation, and disposal costs.

2 Optimize the passive design

Another way to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to optimize the passive design of your building or system, which means using the natural elements and features of the site and climate to enhance the performance and comfort of your design. For example, you can use orientation, shading, insulation, ventilation, daylighting, and thermal mass to reduce the need for artificial heating, cooling, and lighting. By doing so, you can not only save energy, but also improve the indoor environmental quality, health, and well-being of the occupants. You can also use passive design strategies to create a sense of place, identity, and harmony with the surroundings.

3 Integrate renewable energy sources

A third way to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to integrate renewable energy sources into your design, such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, or hydro power. This can help you reduce your dependence on fossil fuels, lower your carbon emissions, and enhance your energy security and resilience. However, you need to consider the availability, variability, and suitability of the renewable energy sources for your design, as well as the environmental and social impacts of their production and distribution. For example, you can use energy modeling and simulation tools to evaluate the optimal size, location, and configuration of your renewable energy systems, and use energy storage and smart grid technologies to manage the supply and demand of electricity.

4 Incorporate biophilic design

A fourth way to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to incorporate biophilic design into your design, which means using nature-inspired elements and patterns to connect people with nature and enhance their psychological and physiological well-being. For example, you can use plants, water, natural materials, colors, shapes, and sounds to create a more diverse, stimulating, and restorative environment for the occupants. You can also use biophilic design to support biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate adaptation. For example, you can use green roofs, walls, and facades to provide insulation, stormwater management, air purification, and habitat for wildlife.

5 Engage the stakeholders

A fifth way to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to engage the stakeholders of your design, such as the clients, users, community, and authorities, throughout the design process. This can help you understand their needs, preferences, expectations, and values, and incorporate them into your design solutions. By doing so, you can not only improve the functionality, usability, and satisfaction of your design, but also foster a sense of ownership, participation, and empowerment among the stakeholders. You can also use stakeholder engagement to promote education, awareness, and behavior change towards sustainability. For example, you can use surveys, interviews, workshops, focus groups, and feedback mechanisms to collect and communicate information, ideas, and opinions.

6 Learn from the best practices

A sixth way to balance energy efficiency with other sustainability goals is to learn from the best practices of sustainable design, both locally and globally. You can find inspiration and guidance from the examples of successful projects, standards, certifications, and frameworks that have achieved high levels of energy efficiency and sustainability in different contexts and scales. For example, you can use the LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, or Passive House rating systems to benchmark your design against the industry best practices and criteria. You can also use the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda, or the Paris Agreement to align your design with the global sustainability goals and targets.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?