Green design is a virtuous circle. The buildings it creates are more attractive places in which to live and work.

They are cheaper to run in the long term and they are environmentally responsible. For successful building projects now and in the future, green design is a fundamental part of the design philosophy, as integral as drains and wiring. It is no longer an optional extra.

To be sustainable, design and construction will need to meet three key criteria, ‘the triple bottom line’ whose objectives may be summarised as:

Social : to design, build, maintain and adapt buildings to meet the changing needs of society; to support and encourage working and social communities by taking account of the impact of development on the local community in respect of eg land use, employment, community development, transport.

Economic : to develop a more holistic costing framework that takes account of whole life costing and best value.

Environmental : to meet a ‘green agenda’ globally, locally and internally; to limit global threats such as the greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer, protect aspects that people need and value, and take stewardship of natural resources.