Building in the environment

Ecological architecture is the science of how a building relates to its environment - what it takes in and what it gives out. Ideally a building should be a self-supporting system which heats itself, supplies its own water and creates food.

Use natural materials

Consider the energy involved in creating the building products you use. Materials arrive with energy in them and the more synthetic they are, and the further they've travelled, the more energy used. Ideally you need to choose natural local materials. Natural materials are also better for your health and the planet. We advise against aluminium and PVC, which is used in windows, piping, wiring and on the backs of carpets. It uses lots of energy and toxins in its manufacture and is difficult to dispose of.

Make it, then break it

Interiors and furniture should be designed so that they can be dismantled at the end of their natural life and reused. A shop fit-out will last for around five to 10 years and then everything is thrown into a skip. To create things that can be dismantled, they should be bolted or clipped together instead of glued or bonded.

Use the sun's power

Our practice is called Solenergy because solar energy is the only power we should be using. In Ireland it is easy to get 70 per cent of your hot water from the sun with equipment that goes on your roof and costs £3,000. It pays for itself in eight to 10 years and lasts for around 20 to 25 years. Lots of people in Europe have these. Wind power is achievable in Ireland - especially outside cities - as are pumps that draw heat from the ground.

Collect water no, really

It's hard to believe that there is a water shortage in Ireland. It's because we've effectively put a lid on the tank by putting tarmacadam on roads, and so on, so that rain can't get into the ground. Instead, it finds its way to rivers and the sea where water companies have to go and retrieve it. You can collect your own water from your roof. The easiest way is to have down pipes coming into a tank which you can use for gardening.

Don't lag behind

You should do all of those things we have become familiar with such as insulating your attic and walls, lagging the boiler, installing double glazing, recycling domestic waste and draught stripping. It makes a huge difference (contact ENFO (01-888 2001 or LoCall 1890 200191 for information). You can also buy insulation made from recycled newspaper - two Irish companies sell it. It is blown into the space wet and dries trapping air.

Compost and grow your food

A third of our waste comes from food so it makes sense to compost. I live on the second floor of a Dublin apartment block and compost everything (so long as you don't put in meat and bread the compost won't smell). It all turns into soil which I grow tomatoes in during the summer. We should all grow some of our own food, even if it's just a few herbs. Going green is not an all or nothing thing - just doing something has a major effect.

The shape of heat loss

The shape and size of your house dictates how much heat it will lose. Think about what you need - you won't really require three living rooms, three bathrooms and loads of storage space. The more walls exposed to the elements, the more heat you will lose. The shape of a building dictates the ratio of exterior walls to interior space.

Choose light

When choosing a home or site, avoid north-facing slopes which have poor sun exposure. If you have a two-storey, 5 to 6m high house you shouldn't have any high obstruction, such as a wall, on the ground to the south for 20 to 25m, as this will block out the sun. Beyond that you should have a fence that will carry the wind over the house.

Manifesto

All of this requires a mind shift - Ireland is lucky in that we missed out on the industrial revolution, except in Belfast, so we can change to alternative technologies more easily than most. At the moment Ireland is so far behind that we face a fine for our carbon over-runs. These measures help you save money and your health by having a less toxic home, and offer you future security from fuel price fluctuations. It will also give you more comfort with less draughts and more heat and light.

Brian O'Brien is an architect at Solearth Ecological Architecture, 68 Dame Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-677 1766.