Environmental Impacts of Multi-Storey Buildings Using Different ...

- 16 -recycling and use of demolition waste for the further displacement of fossil fuels – in thecase of wood, by burning waste materials.• Compare the New Zealand Green Star Office rating tool with LCA results to check forconsistency, and make recommendations as to possible improvements to the Office ratingtool.• Engage an accredited Green Star consultant to provide a review of the comparisonbetween LCA and Green Star.• Determine and report on the type of timber used in construction and maintenance of thefour building designs and the source of this timber, together with any applicablesustainable source certification.• Broadly determine the amount and level of treatment of timber used in the constructionand maintenance of the four building designs, with emphasis on the use of CCAtreatments.• Report on the current status for burning treated wood.3.2 Research TeamThe University of Canterbury (UC) was in a unique position to lead this research.• UC is at the forefront of research into innovative design of large-scale, multi-storeycommercial timber buildings.• Existing research (from March 2007) at UC mirrored the proposed MAF-fundedresearch.The University of Canterbury provided overall project management and engaged a number ofother research establishments and specialist consultants to provide expert information andadvice.In order to fulfil the Research Objectives, the research was organised in a number of distinctsub-programmes (with main contributors shown);• Structural design of Timber, TimberPlus, Concrete and Steel buildings; UC andothers.• Architectural design of building; Victoria University of Wellington.• Assessment of quantities of materials in each building by Quantity Surveyor, DavisLangdon Shipston Davies of Christchurch.• Operational energy modelling and analysis of all four buildings; N. Perez, VUW.• Life cycle assessment (LCA) of alternative building designs; Scion.• Assessment and review of timber use in Timber buildings; Warren and Mahoney,Christchurch.3.3 Government Policies Supporting ResearchListed below is a summary of the government directives around sustainable buildingpractices. These directives have supported the growing interest (“push”) for moreinformation, consideration and action on construction of commercial and large-scale timberbuildings in New Zealand.