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banksia grove - exterior_

Sustainable Design_

Sustainability of buildings and landscape is of paramount importance in the school culture. Design principles included:

• Use of green 'living' walls and seasonal shade structures to provide shading and insulation to external walls and assist in reducing heating or cooling requirements throughout the annual seasonal changes
• Use of steel framed joinery utilizing materials with lower embedded energy than conventional aluminium products in combination with high performance thermal glazing and polycarbonate sheeting, providing energy savings through reduced thermal losses and solar radiation.
• Utilizing reverse masonry veneer to provide a well-insulated internal thermal mass, in combination with appropriate solar orientation. The result is a series of buildings that respond well to ambient climatic conditions - cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
• Use of natural ventilation and fans in lieu of mechanical air-conditioning
• Water capture and re-use - collection of rainwater run-off from roofs and piping to a central 'tank farm' - which also serves as a meditation-based labyrinth. Water is gravity-reticulated to a sub-soil landscape irrigation system, and to recharge toilet cisterns
• Fixtures and fittings have been selected for energy and water efficiency including low energy T5 lighting and WELS rated taps
• Use of waterwise plants and consideration of nature corridors in site planning providing environmental and educational design features.