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Environmental Policy
Our approach
Our Practice was founded with the idea of promoting and conserving sustainable architecture, extending the life of existing buildings by careful repair and adaptation for new uses. Today this approach has been extended to include consideration of the impact on the environment of all aspects of design, specification and energy usage.
The following issues are drawn to the attention of our clients, as well as our own professional teams from the inception of each project, so that informed judgements can be made on the environmental consequences of all design decisions:
Reducing energy in use
Maximising insulation and the use of low-energy lighting and electrical fittings, efficient low-pollution heating systems (including harnessing passive and active solar energy) and energy from other renewable sources, and designing for natural and passive ventilation.
Minimising environmental impact
Protecting and enhancing a building's setting, including retention of natural habitats of flora and fauna, reducing water wastage by recycling rain and waste water, minimising waste and the proper disposal and/or recycling of waste materials, minimising use of extracted materials, and avoiding chemical treatments where possible.
Use of sustainable materials
Use of locally-sourced materials, second-hand or recycled materials, materials from sustainable sources (particularly timber), materials involving low energy use in manufacture, and the reuse of existing buildings and structures.
Promotion of healthy working and living environments
Provision of good natural daylight and ventilation, reduction of dust, choice of materials to promote good internal air quality, including use of natural, rather than synthetic materials, and involvement of users in design and end management of the building.
Credentials
Donald Insall Associates is on the Green Register of Construction Professionals, and has a qualified member of staff who is the first point of call for in-house queries on environmental issues. The Practice is coordinating its environmental initiatives and objectives to form a consistent policy which complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 14001.
Ecological and environmental topics are included in regular in-house CPD lectures.
Advice on many of the above matters is contained in our standard specification clauses; and we have particular expertise in the specification of masonry, timber (including for sustainable sources), natural paints and lime-based mortars and plasters.
