The building dimensions and materials used in its construction will be a significant factor in determining the energy and water usage requirements of a facility.
There will not be a one size fits all solution. Buildings for waste facilities will be designed to contain the needs of the waste process activity and scaled to fit the size and throughput of waste required to be treated. It will be important to strike a balance between designing the most appropriate size and type of building with appropriate techniques for achieving high energy and water efficiency standards.
A traditional steel portal construction building commonly used for warehousing, industrial or large retail purposes will often be suitable for housing a range of waste process activities including in-vessel composting, materials recovery, mechanical biological treatment and some thermal treatment technologies. The use of reclaimed materials in new buildings would be a good starting point for energy savings and resource efficiency.
'The energy used in constructing, occupying and operating buildings represents approximately 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK' Sustainable construction: |