Sustainability for learning environments

Abstract

Every brief and every client anticipates that building designs will be informed by sound environmental decision making. Quantitative research, particularly from the USA, has confirmed our commonsense notion that learning improves with good lighting, ventilation and water proofing as well as thermal comfort and acoustic control. In this paper, Dominique Hes provides an introduction to and critique of the relatively new Green Star rating tool for education buildings. One of the aims of the rating tool is to provide a road map for designers and clients to help them make good environmental decisions. Dominique concludes with a critique of the current rating tool for education and a suggestion fo..