The RIAI Sustainability Taskforce published the ‘Sustainable Design Pathways guide to Prioritise Sustainability in the Built Environment’ in 2021. The Guide recommends the following 10 sustainable design pathways:

• Commit to a target of net zero emission building and to the development of these further as outlined in the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge.
• Assign a Sustainable Design Champion within the practice and on each design team to review sustainable design progress at key points on each project.
• Set at least 5 sustainable design metrics in all projects going forward.
• Aim to add another 5 metrics to each subsequent project.
• Deliver net zero operational carbon in all projects going forward.
• Commit to performance in use of verification in all projects going forward.
• Commit to Simple Review Post Occupancy Evaluation in all projects going forward.
• Plan to integrate External and Detailed Review Post Occupancy Evaluation in subsequent projects.
• Replace 5 material products with low impact, low embodied carbon products in each project going forward.
• Upskill further where required in the use of appropriate sustainability assessment techniques and tools during the design process.

South Dublin County Council are committed to delivering community infrastructure projects that fulfil National and European policies and objectives on sustainable development. Ongoing projects including Saggart Community Centre, the Old School House in Lucan and Tallaght Innovation Centre are being developed with sustainability as main objectives.

South Dublin County Council will continue to incorporate relevant recommendations from the RIAI’s ‘Sustainable Design Pathways Guide to Prioritise Sustainability in the Built Environment’, when applicable.