ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Navigating the journey to Net Zero buildings A
Carl Rushton, head of sustainability at McLaughlin & Harvey, explains that as members of The UK Green Building Council, the contractor has taken on the challenge of advancing sustainability in the built environment by pushing boundaries and pioneering innovative solutions for a greener future.
s the urgency to combat climate change intensifies, the UK stands resolute in its commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. With the built environment
responsible for around 25% of the entire consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions, it has become imperative to transform our approach to constructing and operating commercial buildings. The UKGBC reports that currently, no UK commercial buildings meet the stringent criteria for Net Zero status in both construction and operation. As members of the UKGBC and an active contractor in the UK construction and civil engineering industry, how do we transition from conventional building practices to becoming a torchbearer of sustainability, and what role does collaboration play in this journey? McLaughlin & Harvey is committed to driving emissions to Net Zero and delivering sustainable outcomes. Our values are aligned with the UKGBC framework approach, the race to Net Zero criteria and the partner initiatives. The UKGBC working and review groups we are part of have encouraged true collaboration with our peers and industry specialists, improved measurement and transparency and are driving informed and tightened procedures going forward. For us, the UKGBC membership in itself has opened doors to knowledge, industry-led change and initiatives we can use to encourage our clients, our supply chain and our own business objectives to get to Net Zero further and faster than current government targets.
Collaboration to handover
The path to achieving Net Zero status in both the construction and operation of commercial buildings is fraught with challenges. Projects need more collaboration and understanding than ever before. Not only are we now designing for Net Zero and sustainability, but for adaption and resilience. Faced with hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters due to an increase in extremities of weather, traditional building modelling has to be re- run on new scenarios and the implications understood by all. Working alongside design and procurement teams, McLaughlin & Harvey’s in-house lifecycle assessment specialists operate ‘One Click’ LCA software to model embodied and operational carbon. In addition, a holistic approach must be adopted by all stakeholders across all aspects of a building, from the economics to resilience, energy, design and use. Every decision we make independently will have an impact on others and these need to be communicated, discussed and the best overall outcome agreed. The brief has to be clear from day one.
Without commitment and clarity from the client,
Net Zero in both construction and operation will be very difficult to achieve. There are no silver bullets and the process alongside carbon modelling has to be understood and defined. Gateways for both design and finance are critical, as is flexibility and buy-in from building users. Over engineering and designing for load peaks have to be seriously discussed and this may involve multi-use, adaptable areas and managing expectations on capacities of air conditioning and services. For the construction process, sustainable
procurement is key. This might include encouraging local resources, low carbon deliveries, commutes to sites and the actual methodology of the build. It’s not as simple as substituting diesel in site plant, there are wider sustainability considerations. The challenge is to look at how we have built things for many years and approach it from an MMC (Modern Method of Construction) and SMART build aspect to drive plant and energy use down. Energy performance gaps in the operation of buildings need to be addressed. Hence, post- handover evaluation and ongoing education of building users is critical to ensure a building is being operated as it is designed.
Technologies and strategies
To achieve Net Zero status, it’s essential to adopt innovative technologies and strategies. Science- based independent verification is critical. This will provide validation that the building aligns with the UK’s remaining carbon budget on the 1.5°C pathway. The UK NABERS scheme using a star
28 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2023
rating and the BREEAM targets will also provide further evidence of best practice. Operational carbon is set to become the lesser concern in the future as heating and cooling become electrified with green tariffs. Hence, the embodied carbon of the building itself will shortly become the dominant carbon emission factor during the life of the building. There is no better way of carbon reduction than using what is there already which is why re-purpose and re-use should be the default position. When looking to new builds, designing for longevity and flexibility should be at the forefront. Sustainable design requires modelling the building’s carbon impact at all stages and pursuing easy wins first. The structure and roof represent the largest upfront carbon costs at around 49% followed by the envelope and sub-structure at around 15% each. Services at 13% and finishes at 6% should be designed for robustness and refurbishment rather than replacement, ending the take-make- waste economy. Many manufacturers are pioneering circularity and now offer take-back and refurbishment schemes. These should be considered at the design stage. As the construction industry navigates the challenges of Net Zero construction, McLaughlin & Harvey is on track to achieve Net Zero in its own operations by 2030, ensuring our supply chain and sub-contractors are net zero by 2040 and becoming a beyond net zero business by 2045. By leveraging our in-house expertise, we can partner to build low carbon projects today and inspire the industry to embrace a net-zero future for all.
Read the latest at:
www.bsee.co.uk
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
