BSEE-NOV21-PG23.qxp_Layout 1 25/10/2021 11:37 Page 23
INDUSTRY COMMENT
With an ever growing focus on sustainability, it is clear the built environment needs to reassess its practices to reduce its carbon footprint. Giulia Barbano, R&D senior project manager at built environment sustainability solutions business, IES, says that to do this, construction companies need to focus on retrofitting and the technology that can optimise it.
According to the UK Green Building Council, 80% of buildings that will exist by 2050 have already been built, so decarbonising the existing stock needs to be a major priority. Currently, in Europe, renovation rates stand at about 1%, largely because renovation is an uncertain investment – there are high upfront costs involved and the end energy and cost savings are usually only ballpark figures.
A
report by the Royal Academy of Engineering has brought to light how energy-intensive and
environmentally damaging construction is, especially when existing buildings are
demolished, and the materials disposed of. The engineers are now urging the Government to intervene and minimise the number of buildings being torn down and the need for CO2 emission-heavy products such as new bricks and steel.
Instead, construction firms should look to retrofitting existing buildings to make them functional for new purposes, and technology is available to support this, significantly reducing environmental impact by improving energy management in buildings and extending lifetimes.
However, with the advancement of technology supporting sustainability in the built sector, this can be changed. Instead of looking at an old building, perhaps built in a time when documentation wasn’t so regulated and making assumptions on its performance, technology can be used in retrofitting to remove these assumptions.
Digital Twins represent accurate models of buildings and use physics- based simulations, together with real data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to behave exactly like their real-world counterparts. Digital Twins can then be used to test different design options on a virtual version of a building, make better, data-driven decisions and accurately assess return on investment.
Digital Twin simulations run on existing buildings reveal how they need to be retrofitted to bring them in line with Net Zero targets by
BSEE Developers must focus on retrofitting to decarbonise
assessing which upgrades need to be implemented, such as new windows, better insulation, renewables integration and HVAC system upgrades, and which of these options will have the greatest impact.
This has the overall result of extending a building’s life, minimising the need for demolition and the production of new materials, and ensuring that the buildings are operating with optimised energy use. Construction has a huge impact on the environment and firms need to make technology central in their strategies to promote sustainability.
IES is one of the leading global innovators in integrated performance- based analysis for the built environment. Its Digital Twin technology facilitates the creation of resource- efficient, healthy and cost-effective built- environments of any size or purpose – supporting citizens, companies, campuses, communities, cities and even countries.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2021 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
