ESD Report
ESD report is proof that your building design complies with Ecologically Sustainable Development principles. You will need an ESD report when applying for a permit to undertake medium to large-scale construction projects. The ESD consultant creates a cost-effective strategy for your project to meet the requirements. In this article, we cover all you need to know about ESD requirements and responses.
What is the ESD meaning?
ESD stands for Ecologically Sustainable Development. It is a principle that is widely used in Australia that assures the current development does not compromise the future development. ESD meaning is often attributed to the following efforts:
- For the builders to commit to a long-term environmental and social protection.
- To conserve biological diversity and indigenous life.
- For building industry to be more resilient to climate change.
- For the occupants to reduce the use of energy for heating or cooling purposes.
- To provide a comfortable environment to work or live in.
- For the energy industry to transition to renewable sources of energy and eliminate the need for fossil fuels.
Do I need an ESD report?
Residential buildings
With residential buildings, you don’t need ESD report if you are building a single dwelling.
You need an ESD report if you are building 2 to 9 dwellings. This ESD report is called SDA (Sustainable Design Assessment).
You need an ESD report if are developing 10 or more dwellings. This ESD report is called SMP (Sustainable Management Plan).
Commercial buildings
You don’t need ESD report if your commercial (Non-residential) buildings, building has a gross floor area of less than 100m2.
You need an ESD report If you are developing a building with a gross floor area of less than 1000m2. This ESD report is called SDA (Sustainable Design Assessment).
You also need ESD report if you are developing a building with a gross floor area of more than 1000m2. This ESD report is called SMP (Sustainable Management Plan).
Note that each council has its requirements for environmental sustainability and the above are commonly applied by most councils.
What are the key sustainable building parameters for an ESD report?
ESD report consists of several aspects that can assist in sustainable construction. Although the guidelines of different councils may vary, the core parameters in sustainable development stay the same. We can categorise these key parameters as below:
Indoor Environment Quality
Objectives:
- To minimize the use of mechanical heating, cooling and ventilation systems.
- To achieve high levels of daylight.
- To achieve a healthy indoor environment and the wellbeing of occupants.
- To reduce indoor air pollutants and noise levels.
- To reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
Typical responses:
- Increase the access to daylight by altering the position and the size of glazing and shading.
- Daylight modelling to assure all spaces are adequately daylit.
- Use of external adjustable shading devices.
- Set window SHGC with respect to its orientation and minimize mechanical heating and cooling.
- Enable access to natural ventilation to offset mechanical cooling demand.
Indoor Environment Quality
Objectives:
- To minimize the use of mechanical heating, cooling and ventilation systems.
- To achieve a healthy indoor environment and the wellbeing of occupants.
- To reduce indoor air pollutants and noise levels.
- To reduce reliance on artificial lighting.
Typical responses:
- Increase the access to daylight by altering the position and the size of glazing and shading.
- Use of external adjustable shading devices.
- Set window SHGC with respect to its orientation and minimize mechanical heating and cooling.
- Enable access to natural ventilation to offset mechanical cooling demand.
Energy Efficiency
Objectives:
- To reduce building overall energy consumption.
- To recognise the building’s passive potentials to sustain energy.
- To reduce the building’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
- To reduce building peak energy demand through passive measures.
Typical responses:
- Building to achieve a better thermal performance than DTS provisions (i.e. through JV3 modelling or other means)
- Use of external shading devices to restrict solar radiation in summer and to allow it in winter.
- Lesser artificial lighting power density than the maximum allowed by NCC.
- Use of appliances with good ratings.
Energy Efficiency
Objectives:
- To reduce building overall energy consumption.
- To recognise the building’s passive potentials to sustain energy.
- To reduce the building’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
- To reduce building peak energy demand through passive measures.
Typical responses:
- Building to achieve a better thermal performance than NCC provisions (i.e. through Performance solutions)
- Use of external shading devices to restrict solar radiation in summer and to allow it in winter.
- Lesser artificial lighting power density than the maximum allowed by NCC.
- Use of appliances with good ratings.
Water Efficiency
Objectives:
- To reduce overall water consumption.
- Use of water-efficient fixtures.
- Recycle rainwater and run-off water for building use.
- More water-efficient landscaping.
Typical responses:
- Installation of water fixtures with high star WELS rating.
- Use of rainwater tanks for sanitary flushing and irrigation.
- Treatment of grey water by various approved means.
Water Efficiency
Objectives:
- To reduce overall water consumption.
- Use of water-efficient fixtures.
- Recycle rainwater and run-off water for building use.
- More water-efficient landscaping.
Typical responses:
- Installation of water fixtures with high star WELS rating.
- Use of rainwater tanks for sanitary flushing and irrigation.
- Treatment of grey water by various approved means.
Stormwater Management
Objectives:
- To reduce the impact of stormwater run-offs.
- To improve the quality of run-offs into groundwater and rivers.
- To reuse stormwater and reduce overall domestic water consumption.
Typical responses:
- Use of rainwater tanks for sanitary flushing and irrigation (find out more).
- Use of permeable materials.
- Installation of rain gardens, ponds and wetlands.
Stormwater Management
Objectives:
- To reduce the impact of stormwater run-offs.
- To improve the quality of run-offs into groundwater and rivers.
- To reuse stormwater and reduce overall domestic water consumption.
Typical responses:
- Use of rainwater tanks for sanitary flushing and irrigation.
- Use of permeable materials.
- Installation of rain gardens, ponds and wetlands.
Building Materials
Objectives:
- Selection of low impact materials for construction.
- To reduce the CO2 impact or embodied energy of building materials.
- To maximise the responsible sourcing materials.
- To encourage the use of recycled or reused materials.
Typical responses:
- Restrict the use of PVC in piping or other building elements.
- Use of sustainable certified materials.
- Reuse of Materials and other Recycled Materials.
- Use of FSC certified timber or recycled timber.
- To reduce the use of material that contains high levels of VOC (or other toxic elements)
Building Materials
Objectives:
- Selection of low impact materials for construction.
- To reduce the CO2 impact or embodied energy of building materials.
- To maximise the responsible sourcing materials.
- To encourage the use of recycled or reused materials.
Typical responses:
- Restrict the use of PVC in piping or other building elements.
- Use of sustainable certified materials.
- Reuse of Materials and other Recycled Materials.
- Use of FSC certified timber or recycled timber.
- To reduce the use of material that contains high levels of VOC (or other toxic elements)
Transport
Objectives:
- To encourage the use of walking, cycling and public transport.
- To minimize personal car dependency.
- To promote the use of low-emission vehicle technologies and supporting infrastructure.
Typical responses:
- Provide convenient and secure bike storage facilities.
- Provide end of trip change facilities for bike users.
- Provide infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.
- Describe the site’s proximity and access to public transportation.
- Reduction in the extent of onsite car parking.
Transport
Objectives:
- To encourage the use of walking, cycling and public transport.
- To minimize personal car dependency.
- To promote the use of low-emission vehicle technologies and supporting infrastructure.
Typical responses:
- Provide convenient and secure bike storage facilities.
- Provide end of trip change facilities for bike users.
- Provide infrastructure for electric vehicle charging.
- Describe the site’s proximity and access to public transportation.
- Reduction in the extent of onsite car parking.
Waste Management
Objectives:
- To avoid, recycle or reuse waste during design, construction and operation stages.
- To ensure reusability and durability of building materials.
- To ensure we allocate sufficient space for future change in waste management needs.
Typical responses:
- Provide allocated space(s) for general waste, recycling and green waste.
- Operation Waste Management Plan
- Construction Waste Management Plan
Waste Management
Objectives:
- To avoid, recycle or reuse waste during design, construction and operation stages.
- To ensure reusability and durability of building materials.
- To ensure we allocate sufficient space for future change in waste management needs.
Typical responses:
- Provide allocated space(s) for general waste, recycling and green waste.
- Operation Waste Management Plan
- Construction Waste Management Plan
Urban Ecology
Objectives:
- To protect and enhance biodiversity.
- To provide environmentally sustainable landscapes and natural habitats.
- To encourage the retention of trees.
- To encourage the planting of indigenous vegetation.
- To encourage the provision of space for productive gardens
Typical responses:
- Allow vegetated areas on site
- Allow a tab connected to the rainwater tank for irrigation
- Installation of efficient irrigation systems like drip irrigation.
- Use vegetation to control solar heat gains, glare or ventilation.
Urban Ecology
Objectives:
- To protect and enhance biodiversity.
- To provide environmentally sustainable landscapes and natural habitats.
- To encourage the retention of trees.
- To encourage the planting of indigenous vegetation.
- To encourage the provision of space for productive gardens
Typical responses:
- Allow vegetated areas on site
- Allow a tab connected to the rainwater tank for irrigation
- Installation of efficient irrigation systems like drip irrigation.
- Use vegetation to control solar heat gains, glare or ventilation.
Innovation
Objectives:
- Implementation of innovative practices to promote sustainability.
- To encourage innovative technology, design and processes in all development.
Typical responses:
- Describe how building design exceeds best practice in one or more of the above 9 categories.
- Design buildings capable of passively maximizing natural ventilation, lighting and energy efficiency.
- Design buildings responsive to local climate condition that enhances ESD outcomes.
- Use of CFD modelling to back up the claims of energy reduction due to the innovations.
Innovation
Objectives:
- Implementation of innovative practices to promote sustainability.
- To encourage innovative technology, design and processes in all development.
Typical responses:
- Describe how building design exceeds best practice in one or more of the above 9 categories.
- Design buildings capable of passively maximizing natural ventilation, lighting and energy efficiency.
- Design buildings responsive to local climate condition that enhances ESD outcomes.
Building Management
Objectives:
- To encourage practices that enable and support best practice sustainability outcomes throughout the different phases of project design.
- To encourage sustainability advice from professionals.
- Accumulation of management experience together with the use of modern tools of building modelling.
Typical responses:
- Engaging ESD professionals to provide sustainability advice.
- Preliminary building thermal modelling.
- Creating building user guides to help occupants learn how to preserve energy and such using the features of the building.
Building Management
Objectives:
- To encourage practices that enable and support best practice sustainability outcomes throughout the different phases of project design.
- To encourage sustainability advice from professionals.
- Accumulation of management experience together with the use of modern tools of building modelling.
Typical responses:
- Engaging ESD professionals to provide sustainability advice.
- Preliminary building thermal modelling.
- Creating building user guides to help occupants learn how to preserve energy and such using the features of the building.
Tools we use for developing an ESD report?
If you are required to have an ESD report, there are tools to measure how ecologically sustainable your design is. As we implement SDAPP framework in the design stage, several tools demonstrate ‘best practice’ recommended by the councils. These tools are:
- Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS)
- Green Star
- Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
- National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)
- Stormwater Treatment Objective Relative Measure (STORM)
- Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC)
Implementation of the above tools is mainly based on building classification and the sustainability category. For more information on building classes, click here
Note that VURB method cannot be used for developments that require an ESD report. This is due to the fact that ESD reports are not generally required for detached residential dwellings (Class 1 buildings).
MUSIC
If you are required to have an ESD report, there are tools to measure how ecologically sustainable your design is. As we implement SDAPP framework in the design stage, several tools demonstrate ‘best practice’ recommended by the councils. These tools are:
- Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS)
- Green Star
- Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
- National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)
- Stormwater Treatment Objective Relative Measure (STORM)
- Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation (MUSIC)
Implementation of the above tools is mainly based on building classification and the sustainability category. For more information on building classes, click here
Green Star
NABERS
MUSIC
What is SDAPP?
SDAPP is an abbreviation for Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process. SDAPP refers to including key environmental performance consideration in the planning permit approvals process. In simple words, SDAPP is a practical approach to assess sustainable development matters during the planning permit application process (or rather the inclusion of environmental performance standards into the planning permit approval process).
What is WSUD or STORM report in SDA, SMP and ESD reports?
WSUD or STORM report provides treatments for handling Stormwater from the site that are proposed for commercial or residential development. Any development add impervious surface to the lot and create excess Stormwater that didn’t exist prior to the development.
In a greenfield land, Stormwater mostly infiltrates the green field land.
WSUD is a design process that consider handling the extra stormwater generated from land compared to its original condition. Through WSUD, the storm waterSDAPP is an abbreviation for Sustainable Design Assessment in the Planning Process. SDAPP refers to including key environmental performance consideration in the planning permit approvals process. In simple words, SDAPP is a practical approach to assess sustainable development matters during the planning permit application process (or rather the inclusion of environmental performance standards into the planning permit approval process).
More facts about ESD:
- The internationally recognized and long-standing concept of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) rose in Australia more than 30 years ago.
- According to Australian National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (1992), ESD is defined as: “using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased”.
- The ESD strategies imposed by the government is deemed to let Australia grow on a more sustainable footing; ranging from a single dwelling to a non-residential or a mixed-use facility.
Inground rain garden
A rain garden is a specially prepared garden designed to receive and filter rain run-off from roofs or hard surfaces such as driveways or paving. Raingardens, also known as biofiltration or bioretention beds, are garden beds that use plants and soils to capture, filter, and clean stormwater.
A typical rain garden consists of layers of soil for filtration, gravel for drainage, and plants that can tolerate periods without rain, a rain garden helps to protect streams and rivers from stormwater pollutants. With a slotted pipe beneath the soil to take away the filtered rainwater and an overflow pipe on the surface to prevent flooding, rain gardens are designed to collect water from a disconnected downpipe, rainwater tank overflow, or pavement runoff. The following pictures summarize the overall installation method.
The STORM calculation is to evaluate the minimum surface area or volume of treatment options. It will responsibility of the project civil engineer to do a detailed design and provide construction drawings. As a rule of thumb, raingarden should not be installed under the canopy of trees where the tree root is expected to interfere with the slotted pipe inside the rain garden. The excavation for raingarden also needs to be a minimum 300mm away from the building foundation. If the building foundation is shallow (150mm in depth), the minimum distance should be extended to 800mm from the footing.
Typical construction details of the rain garden are shown in the Figure below:
Click here for the complete instruction sheet from Melbourne water.
Infiltration raingarden/Sand/Sandy loam
An infiltration rain garden for a STORM assessment is a gravel-filled trench designed to act like an underground reservoir to buy time to allow rain water to infiltrate to the existing soil. Infiltration raingarden has layers of soil for filtration, gravel for drainage, and plants that can tolerate both extreme wet and dry conditions.
An infiltration rain garden can be any shape, and it is most effective in areas with sandy soils. Infiltration sand should be positioned at least 5m away from any permanent structure (i.e. house, garage or shed). if it is within 5m from a building, a PVC liner is recommended to be installed on the vertical sides of the trench close to the structure.
Note that the soil needs to be permeable (such as sand with 100mm/hr permeation) for infiltration sand treatment option to be effective. If the soil is medium clay (with 3.6mm/hr permeation) the rain garden surface area should be increased by approximated 25% to allow enough time for water to stay in the trench and infiltrate the existing soil (Table 2, Reference). Note that the STORM calculation is to evaluate the minimum surface area for infiltration sand and It will responsibility of the project civil engineer to do a detailed design and provide construction drawings for the infiltration sand as a stormwater treatment option.
Links to detailed description of different storm water treatments options from Melbourne Water is provided below:
What plants to use for raingarden that don’t need an irrigation system
Plant List – the best plants for your raingarden
The following plants will grow well in raingardens in and around greater Melbourne.
Botanical name Common name Conditions SIZE (H x W) (cm)
Anigozanthos species Kangaroo Paw Full sun 30-90 x 100-120
Blechnum nudum Fishbone Water-fern Full sun to partial shade 50-100 x 40-80
Calocephalus lacteus Milky Beauty-Heads Full sun to partial shade 15-30 x 10-30
Carex appressa Tall Sedge Full sun to partial shade 80-100 x 120
Carpobrotus modestus Pigface Full sun 20cm high and spreading
Chrysocephalum apiculatum Common Everlasting Full sun 30-90 x 10-30
Derwentia perfoliata Digger’s Speedwell Full sun to partial shade 20-40 x 30-60
Dianella species – Full sun to partial shade 60-120 x 40-150
Ficinia nodosa Knobby Club-Rush Full sun 50-150 x 60-200
Juncas amabilis Hollow Rush Full sun to partial shade 20-120 x 20-50
Juncas flavidus Yellow Rush Full sun to partial shade 40-120 x 20-100
Leucaphyta brownii Cushion Bush Full sun, salt tolerant 100 x 200
Lomandra species – Full sun to partial shade 60-120 x 50-100
Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperback Full sun to partial shade 4m high x 3m wide
Myoporum parvifolium Creeping Boobialla Full sun 20-30 x 300
Patersonia occidentalis Native Iris Sun to partial shade 20-40 x 30-60
Pratia perdunculata Matter Pratia Partial shade 50-150 x 1.8-5
Wahlenbergia communis Tufted Bluebell Full sun 15-50 x 15