Attachment 4- Sustainable Design Report.pdf

Understanding Noosa’s Sub-Tropical Climate

The climate of the Noosa area is moderate, and mostly sub-tropical. This results in a macro climate
of winters that are cool and dry, and summers that are hot, wet and humid. Weather statistics are
often misinterpreted. There appears to be a large under heating period during winter at the site
location, but closer analysis of the diurnal shows that most of the sub-comfort periods are at night.
The clear dry days result in comfort though bright, weather. The better local architecture responds
to these winter conditions by controlling glare, and admitting early morning and evening sun to
provide warmth. Sheltering from cool westerly winds is also a necessary response, once sheltered,
there is enough solar energy in the sun to combat the lower air temperatures.

The summer weather events are difficult to respond to with building form alone. Humidity is often
in the range of 60-100% making still air temperatures at 27-30°C uncomfortable, and the search for
breeze a psychological as well as the physiological, necessity. However more often than not breezes
are not necessarily available for a variety of reasons and in particular those reasons often have to do
with micro climatic effects and don’t take into consideration that the source of the breeze can also
be the source of noise or pollution. The temptation therefore to reach for a fan or an air conditioner
noting that a fan is a good low energy alternative to Air conditioning in the absence of natural
breezes) is becoming a more common strategy that obviates the need for passive design. For those
that seek the passive design route, the role of micro climate, envelope control and site planning
become design generators to maximise the prevailing breeze; thus location and proximity to
mitigating impacts of prevailing breezes is everything. The pattern of rainfall also causes further
complications with the humidity; alternate patterns of rain and sun during the summer fuel the high
humidity levels, with only the rare sub-tropical storm providing high cooling potential.




Key Ecologically Sustainable Design Strategies

The design proposal set out for the Noosa Springs Boutique Hotel project has been based on
addressing a number of sustainable design principals appropriate to the sub-tropical climate, the
site itself and incorporating many energy efficiency initiatives. It represents a new generation of low
rise resort hotel developments which acknowledge Noosa’s sub-tropical climate in a meaningful way
and by their construction and occupation minimises impact on the environment. The specific
principles and initiatives incorporated or under consideration for this project are as follows:



The Site

•       Revitalisation of an under used site
•       The provision of open space as landscaped gardens within the site;
•       Rehabilitation of the existing landscape
•       Removal of rubbish and noxious plant species from the existing landscape
•       Provision of ongoing passive surveillance to Resort Drive
•       Minimisation of paved areas and provision of some porous treatment to driveways where
        possible to limit contaminated stormwater;
•       Provision of bio-retention swale drains to filter pollutants from driveway water stormwater
        run-off.


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Understanding Noosa’s Sub-Tropical Climate

The climate of the Noosa area is moderate, and mostly sub-tropical. This results in a macro climate
of winters that are cool and dry, and summers that are hot, wet and humid. Weather statistics are
often misinterpreted. There appears to be a large under heating period during winter at the site
location, but closer analysis of the diurnal shows that most of the sub-comfort periods are at night.
The clear dry days result in comfort though bright, weather. The better local architecture responds
to these winter conditions by controlling glare, and admitting early morning and evening sun to
provide warmth. Sheltering from cool westerly winds is also a necessary response, once sheltered,
there is enough solar energy in the sun to combat the lower air temperatures.

The summer weather events are difficult to respond to with building form alone. Humidity is often
in the range of 60-100% making still air temperatures at 27-30°C uncomfortable, and the search for
breeze a psychological as well as the physiological, necessity. However more often than not breezes
are not necessarily available for a variety of reasons and in particular those reasons often have to do
with micro climatic effects and don’t take into consideration that the source of the breeze can also
be the source of noise or pollution. The temptation therefore to reach for a fan or an air conditioner
noting that a fan is a good low energy alternative to Air conditioning in the absence of natural
breezes) is becoming a more common strategy that obviates the need for passive design. For those
that seek the passive design route, the role of micro climate, envelope control and site planning
become design generators to maximise the prevailing breeze; thus location and proximity to
mitigating impacts of prevailing breezes is everything. The pattern of rainfall also causes further
complications with the humidity; alternate patterns of rain and sun during the summer fuel the high
humidity levels, with only the rare sub-tropical storm providing high cooling potential.

Key Ecologically Sustainable Design Strategies

The design proposal set out for the Noosa Springs Boutique Hotel project has been based on
addressing a number of sustainable design principals appropriate to the sub-tropical climate, the
site itself and incorporating many energy efficiency initiatives. It represents a new generation of low
rise resort hotel developments which acknowledge Noosa’s sub-tropical climate in a meaningful way
and by their construction and occupation minimises impact on the environment. The specific
principles and initiatives incorporated or under consideration for this project are as follows:

The Site

. Revitalisation of an under used site

. The provision of open space as landscaped gardens within the site;

. Rehabilitation of the existing landscape

. Removal of rubbish and noxious plant species from the existing landscape

. Provision of ongoing passive surveillance to Resort Drive

. Minimisation of paved areas and provision of some porous treatment to driveways where
possible to limit contaminated stormwater;

. Provision of bio-retention swale drains to filter pollutants from driveway water stormwater

run-off.