Green buildings need green occupants

The government, along with the Building Research Establishment, recognizes that there is considerable scope for reducing energy consumption by addressing the environmental performance of public buildings, such as schools and universities. It is acknowledged that substantial savings in terms of energy consumption and gaseous emissions can be realized through the construction of low-energy design or ‘green’ buildings. These low-energy designs should have produced relatively low annual energy running costs. However, in England alone, it is estimated that in 1997 universities spent £200 million on fuel. The increase in the construction of low-energy design buildings has not witnessed a subsequent reduction in the energy consumption of these buildings. A detailed study of the electrical consumption of the Queen's Building at Anglia Polytechnic University was undertaken, using the Building Research Establishment's latest environmental School Tool-Kit. Surprisingly, the actual electrical consumption of the building was found to be 2.5 times greater than the amount originally forecast. Poor housekeeping measures were identified as the most likely reason for this. The education of the occupants of buildings in good housekeeping is the key to successfully reducing electricity consumption and hence, enabling the buildings to function as intended. When occupants display good housekeeping techniques, buildings will perform in an environmentally benign and efficient manner. So, green buildings need green occupants. Technology alone cannot and will not save the environment; it needs to be complemented and supplemented by a change in people's lifestyles and attitudes towards the environment. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.