ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Making the most of Net Zero architecture
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Sarah Kauter, managing director of Construction PR, shares some insight into the environmentally- conscious strategies that will need to be adopted if we are to succeed in reaching the Government’s decarbonisation goals
rom residential buildings to commercial spaces, public areas, and more, the built environment is accountable for approximately 25% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions – a figure reaching 38% when encompassing the entire global built industry as a whole. In the face of growing concerns surrounding the industry’s lasting impact on our planet, however, companies and governing bodies alike have committed to halving global carbon emissions by 2030, with the overarching objective being to fully transition towards a Net Zero economy come 2050. Despite the promising nature of these intentions, a change of this magnitude requires an entire revision of how the construction industry as a whole operates. Whilst to this day, we remain a considerable distance from meeting these targets, progress is certainly being made. From incorporating innovative energy-saving design features into the building to minimising wastage, making the most of green roofing, and more, there is no shortage of environmentally-conscious strategies.
What is Net Zero architecture?
To be classed as Net Zero, a building must be able to offset any emitted embodied carbon. This not only includes the construction phase, but also throughout its entire life until the point of demolition. Often, however, it tends to be the case that just minimising carbon dioxide production during construction isn’t enough to achieve this. Any emissions beyond this point will also need to be offset with renewable technologies and innovative energy-saving designs.
What Net Zero strategies can you follow?
Efficient energy usage
If you’re considering investing in all the latest renewably-powered technologies and carbon offsetting solutions, as a prerequisite, your first point of call should always be to ensure that the building in its current state is operating at peak efficiency and that its design minimises any excess and unnecessary energy usage. Often, one of the simplest, yet most effective ways of ensuring this is by refreshing insulation located within the walls, floors and ceilings of the building. This not only looks to improve heat retention – minimising the need for often non-renewably powered heaters – but it also
works to keep it cool throughout the summer. If you’re looking to take full advantage of this, whilst also bringing your property closer towards net-zero, mycelium-based compositions offer a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to your traditional carbon-intensive insulators such as plastic and foam.
Optimal building orientation
Whilst it is certainly easy to get distracted by all the latest sustainable techniques and technology, more often than not, it’s the little changes which hold the greatest weight. In many cases, something as simple as orientating the building correctly has a significant impact on these renewable devices’ operational efficiency. Solar panels, for example, operate at their peak efficiency when facing south, and positioned at an elevation of between 30º and 40º. You’re also going to want to take other natural factors such as lighting and shade into consideration, however, as both hold a considerable influence on a home’s total energy usage. Where lighting on its own accounts for between 17% and 20% of the average building’s energy consumption, addressing these factors within the design stage brings us one step closer to a Net Zero nation.
Green roofing
Green roofs – also known as living roofs – are where the roofs of buildings are either partially or entirely covered by a thick layer of vegetation. Not only do these natural features filter carbon dioxide in the air via photosynthesis, but also a small amount of what is emitted by the building itself. Also, as chlorophyll absorbs a significant percentage of sunlight, green roofs create an additional barrier of heat retention, and against heat loss. When they are paired with solar panels, however, the naturally occurring cooler climate further increases their operational efficiency – reducing energy costs and the strain that is often placed upon them.
Renewable technology
Despite the UK’s distinct lack of good weather, it is solar panels which are our most commonly used renewable energy source – with your typical home system preventing more than a tonne of carbon dioxide that would otherwise
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2023
be produced by non-renewable sources from entering the atmosphere each year. Where approximately 85% of UK homes are currently heated by gas, however reaching Net Zero in this area remains a challenge. Fortunately, the installation of gas boilers into new homes is to be banned from 2025 onwards, so to prioritise low- carbon heating sources such as Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs). In more rural environments, however, or
properties with large open spaces, biomass- fuelled central heating and hot water systems offer another low-carbon solution. This is where wood, plants, and other organic material are burned to fuel the building’s heating requirements. Whilst the burning of this material does produce carbon dioxide, it is less than what is otherwise absorbed throughout their lifetimes, so assuming that new seeds and saplings are replanted in their place, biomass burning is entirely sustainable!
How else can your business benefit?
The relationship between embodied carbon and global warming is no secret, and whilst the primary objective of our transition towards a Net Zero economy should always be its environmental impact, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways that businesses themselves can benefit in the meantime. In particular, the early adoption of these sustainably-focused initiatives enables a significant competitive advantage to be developed as we continue further towards the end of the decade. The market for green buildings is only on the up, with it expected to reach a value of $563.91 billion come 2027. For those already investing in sustainability training, or the installation of renewable technologies, as a few examples, you’ll be spared the additional time and costs that would otherwise be imposed upon you as regulatory bodies introduce tighter legislation and become more demanding on the path to a Net Zero future. Whether you choose to highlight the extensive experience in sustainable construction distinctively on your website or plaster it all over your various social media channels, positioning yourself as an industry leader in this environment looks to be a crucial selling point for decades to come.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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