Environmental Responsibility

StruXi prides itself on delivering buildings that exist on the cutting edge of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles, combined with cost effective Life Cycle measures. 

Sustainable principles are used such as natural heating and cooling, efficient water use, natural day-lighting and many more. You can expect to receive a design which ensures an outcome that is comfortable, liveable, economical to use and maintain, and one which does not impact significantly on our fragile environment.

Building Life Cycle.  Life Cycle considerations are important in cost control as they balance capital, operational and maintenance costs.  Design considerations include utilising low-maintenance materials and fittings such as the following and are a benefit to our environment as well as for economical reasons:

• Colorbond custom orb cladding;
• Powder coated finish to external steel;
• Quality external masonry / concrete panel construction; and
• Electrical light fittings; and
• much, much more.

Passive Solar Design.  This describes the creation of a building that reduces the need for external energy input through:

• Northern orientated glazing where possible with large overhangs allowing access to the building by northern winter sun for warmth and excluding hot summer sun;
• Limiting glazing orientated towards the west and east;
• Providing windows to the south to allow ambient natural light to enter the building to assist artificial lighting; and
• Utilising a linear building mass where possible to ensure natural light can access the depth of the building.

The above techniques are further assisted by the following to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling:

• Utilising thermal mass to store heat energy from the sun; and
• Design for breeze paths/cross ventilation, by creating high and low pressure areas around the building to direct breezes, and through convective air movements.

Responsibility for the environment in design extends well beyond the time a product is used.   The Design Team has to view the entire history of a product from materials extraction, through manufacture, transportation, sales, use, and post-use.   Design consideration needs to be made to:

• the materials used.  Are they recycled, can they be recycled, will they decompose, be reused, are they toxic in manufacture, use or afterlife?;
• is the product useful, does it fulfil a real need, is it robust and durable, easy to repair, use the least amount of materials for the most performance?;
• does it generate pollution, is it energy efficient, is the least amount of packaging used to transport and display the product?;
• is the styling going to date too quickly, can the product be upgraded easily as technology improves?; and
• at the end of a useful life can components be salvaged for use in newer version?

It is all about protecting the environment now and in the future.