Sustainable Design9 December 2010
Work for the council in Melbourne and you'll find yourself housed in a living, breathing green machine.
The city's new Council House 2 building has set a new standard for sustainable design.
Outside, on the west facing wall of the 10 storey building, recycled timber louvers - powered by photovoltaics - shield the building from the sun.
On the inside, air is drawn into five "shower towers" and then cooled through evaporation from water droplets.
At night, wind-powered turbines help cool the building, and waste heat generated inside the building is recycled for their heating and cooling system.
Oh, and it contains a black water sewage recycling system, where water is drawn from the sewer, treated and used for anything other than drinking.
Is there nothing this building can't do?
For a photographic timeline of the building process, check out the City of Melbourne.
The Green Building Bible has for tips on how to make your home & buildings less harmful to the environment
© David Ritter
