The most effective way of reducing material waste is to address waste issues at the design stage.

• Consider reusing existing buildings: renovating a structurally sound building is usually more material efficient than starting from scratch.
  
• Consider modular design: so that the floor, ceiling and wall surfaces conform to the size of sheet materials.
  
• Consider service efficiency: by grouping wet areas close together so that a centralized water heater can be installed.
  
• Consider using pre-fab components: resource use is generally more efficient at the manufacturing site.
  
• Design for durability: use materials which are consistent with the expected life of the building and consider their potential for recuse/recycling when the building is demolished
  
• Design for longetivity: consider how the building will be
  used in 10, 20 or even 30 years time. Are the spaces flexible (to allow for changes in usage) and future-proofed (against advances in technology and trends)?
  
• Less is more: Design for simplicity, making construction easier, and avoiding the likelihood of rework. Use fewer finishes and find low technology solutions if possible.
  
• Document your design: keeping records of the as-built design, to ensure future changes can be made easily, efficiently and with confidence.

For a 2 page summary of tips for better managing this stage, click here.