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October 2009
Contents
Overview
- Historic buildings and energy use
Q&A
- Hywel Davies: CIBSE
Networking
Opportunities
- Low Energy
Buildings Innovation Forum
Case
Studies
- GMW Architects
- Richards Partington Architects
- The Centre for Alternative Technology
- CHBS
Carbon
Reduction Webinars:
- Quick wins on reducing carbon emissions
- 10 ways to engage your staff
- Measuring your organisation's carbon footprint
- Are you ready for the CRC?
News round-up
- New fund promotes home energy-efficiency
- Call to action
- Code consultation delayed
- Worrying research reveals MP knowledge gap
Welcome to the Low Energy Buildings Bulletin.
In this issue we look at the unforeseen impact that energy-efficiency legislation is having on the quest to conserve historical buildings, and we have a Q&A with the Technical Director of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. Our case studies examine two architectural practices that are putting low carbon and sustainability issues at the forefront of their design work, a fascinating alternative technology institution in Wales and a joint low carbon/building services consultancy.
Keep up-to-date with the Low Energy Building Bulletin and other sustainable construction and design news on our Twitter profile: http://twitter.com/LowEnergyBuild
If you have any feedback, press releases or suggestions for articles, case studies or Q&A figures, please don't hesitate to get in contact: tristan@carbon-innovation.com
Tristan Parker
Editor
Historic
buildings and energy use
By Jennifer Juritz.
The
Met Office has recently revised its climate change projections to be more
severe than previously thought. With consensus that human activity is contributing
to this and buildings implicated in up to half of UK greenhouse gas emissions,
the increasing scrutiny of building energy use is set to continue.
With the current rate of replacement of building stock in England at about 1% per annum, the impact of new buildings, even if all were to be designed and built to the most exemplary standards of low energy use, is insufficient to meet the rate of change required and it is clear that attention must also be focused on addressing the energy use of existing buildings.
This has particular implications for buildings of historic significance. Decisions about historic structures are heavily influenced by cultural and aesthetic judgments with the most obvious measures for energy use improvements, such as upgrading fabric insulation levels, not necessarily the most acceptable.
Opinions on conservation and how best to ensure continued life range from the view that they should be retained in original pristine form to seeing adaption as a means of salvation. In addition, modern space requirements, new developments in technology and building materials, and rising expectations in terms of thermal comfort, exert pressure on the existing stock to adapt or become increasingly obsolete.
Savings in embodied energy and construction waste are often cited as reasons for retaining existing structures. However at current levels of building energy consumption, these are usually substantially outweighed by energy in use, which tends to favour the case for demolition and rebuilding.
Ironically, legislation and standards, possibly intended to afford a level of protection to historic buildings may, by allowing dispensations with respect to energy consumption levels, be adding weight to arguments for their destruction.
Energy use figures are heavily weighted in sustainability scoring systems, including BREEAM. Where consumption targets, such as the NHS guidance, are more lenient for refurbishment schemes, or exempt from Part L, they have the effect of producing better sustainability score results for development options where greater amounts of new-build than refurbishment are proposed.
Given the likely magnitude of change needed to achieve the goal of 80% reduction by 2050, are we aiming too low? Should the upgraded Part L standards be applied equally to all buildings, with exemptions applied only exceptionally, on an individually assessed, case-by-case basis?
The interests of energy efficiency and of conservation are often seen to be in opposition, but is it a reasonable assumption that new buildings are always better able to achieve efficient standards than older ones?
Historic buildings already have a proven track record with respect to ability to sustain. Many were created at times when energy was more expensive or less readily available and have much to teach us about passive design techniques.
We now have at our disposal many tools for measuring and analysing the thermal behaviour of a building, which can be considered to be as much part of its character as its appearance is.
Developing a good understanding of how a building was originally designed to perform enables us to work in sympathy with its intrinsic nature to enhance performance. High energy use can be the result of a requirement that a building should perform to an incompatible regime of environmental standards.
In the current climate of change, a new Part L immanent and further upgrades in the pipeline, it is important to recognise that strategies in use now may not be relevant within a decade or two and to maintain a degree of flexibility.
Re-use of existing structures allows us access to the products of methods of construction no longer available and can add a dynamic sense of innovation and the passage of time.
Refurbishment, sometimes seen by designers as of less interest, may become the future area of particular invention and ingenuity.
Jennifer Juritz is an architect at David Morley Architects, which has recently redeveloped a disused historic site in Bradford by converting a former mill into apartments and a commercial unit. The project was originally designed to Part L 2006 regulations, but standards have since moved on and elements of the scheme, such as heating and ventilation, have been voluntarily updated by the developer, achieving standards higher than the building regulations requirement.
For more information on David Morley Architects, visit:
http://www.davidmorleyarchitects.co.uk/
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) is a professional
body with a global network that promotes the work and careers of building
services engineers. It accredits relevant courses of study by approving
training programmes, provides best practice advice, and is tackling climate
change by ensuring that its members provide and design environmentally friendly
systems and solutions in their work. Hywel Davies is Technical Director
at CIBSE.
Please tell me about CIBSE and its work/services:
As well as being a membership organisation for building services engineers, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) works hard to raise awareness of the need to reduce carbon emissions and work towards a sustainable built environment. It runs campaigns, awards, training programmes, events and seminars and also publishes a wide range of guides, technical memorandums and other industry publications.
How does CIBSE contribute to/advise on sustainable development and low energy/low carbon building?
CIBSE runs regular carbon-saving campaigns and hosts the Low Carbon Performance Awards, as well as contributing to government consultations and providing quotes and articles to the press.
CIBSE Low Carbon Energy Assessors are trained and accredited to produce Energy Performance Certificates, Display Energy Certificates and to carry out inspections of complex air conditioning systems.
A number of CIBSE publications provide guidance on low carbon buildings.
What is your role at CIBSE?
I am the CIBSE Technical Director, managing the development of guidance for professional engineers, especially related to the low carbon agenda for buildings. I also handle our contributions to the development of government policy and legislation, particularly the Building and Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations, but also other low carbon measures such as Carbon Reduction Commitment.
What have been some of the most significant projects in which CIBSE has been involved?
Over the last three years we have developed a Guide to Sustainability, launched a scheme for accreditation and training of energy assessors for non-domestic buildings, and provided a range of new publications covering energy efficiency and carbon emissions from buildings.
We have also run a very successful campaign, the 100 Hours of Carbon Clean-up Campaign, over the last three years to encourage businesses and other organisations to actively manage their carbon emissions.
Has the role of the built environment in reducing the carbon emissions been fully realised?
There are lots of people saying the right things but there is still some way to go before we really get to grips with the scale of the challenge. There is a strong focus on new buildings, but we really need to get to grips with the scale of the challenge that the existing building stock - domestic and commercial - presents.
Obviously there are many factors involved, but what are some of the most important elements in creating a truly sustainable building?
I believe the most important element is a truly integrated team. If everyone is committed to the goal, then there is a far better chance of delivering a truly sustainable project. If a team approach is adopted, then every professional contributes their expertise, has a voice, and their view helps shape the overall outcome. Technically, it's all about the layout of the building, the direction it faces, the materials used to build it, and the use of passive features to benefit from natural ventilation, daylight and solar gain wherever possible. Where mechanical systems are used, they need to be user-friendly, efficient, and well controlled.
Eco-towns have been receiving mixed publicity - can their problems be resolved and will there be more of them constructed in the near future?
I think the idea of exemplary developments is sound in principle. However, I have visited some of the proposed sites, and find it hard to reconcile the state of the transport links and the absence of employment opportunities with the 'eco' label. What I'd really like to see is an eco-regeneration project. We have 24 million existing homes, and 1.5m commercial premises. How are we going to refurbish and redevelop these in a sustainable way? An exemplar of how that can be accomplished would be enormously valuable.
What is the role of government in creating a sustainable, low/zero-carbon built environment?
Government has to create the right conditions for this to happen. Above all, it needs to provide leadership and create a coherent policy framework. There are a number of government departments working in this area - CLG [Communities and Local Government] do building regulations, DECC [the Department of Energy and Climate Change] do carbon reduction commitment, Defra [the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] do ozone regs and F-gas, which relate to air conditioning. And BIS [the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] is trying to stimulate low-carbon innovation and develop new business opportunities.
Beyond that, government as the largest single client of construction needs to become a truly sustainable client, and adopt a procurement regime that supports this. Lowest cost procurement is not the same as low-carbon procurement. There needs to be a connection between revenue and capital spending, and a whole life approach, running right across the public sector.
Is more rigorous legislation and building regulations needed to force more environmentally friendly construction?
This is an issue which needs careful consideration. There is a huge communication challenge here, to bring people along and convince them that we really need to deliver environmentally friendly buildings. Regulations are important, to eliminate the worst practices, but we need to create a consensus that our building stock needs a radical overhaul.
Are government carbon reduction targets for buildings achievable?
Given the will - and sufficient resources - yes. Is the 'will' there? The virtual removal from the Part L consultation of the requirement for consequential improvements to existing dwellings when controlled work is done suggests not. There is a real need to establish long-term programmes of work, but the politicians have to face re-election every five years. So they understandably shy away from making tough decisions. We have to overcome that barrier, and quickly.
How should the balance between energy-efficient retrofitting of the current building stock and a focus on zero-carbon new-build projects be addressed?
There is no balance at all at present! Buildings account for 46% of UK emissions. Existing buildings account for 99% of the current building stock. So even if we went zero carbon with all new buildings tomorrow, we would only save 0.46% of UK emissions per year - so by 2050 we will have cut UK emissions by about 20%. That's not going to meet Climate Change Act targets. The other 60% has to come from somewhere. Transport will be tough. Industry will be tougher, unless we just send it all offshore, which merely shifts, not solves, the problem. So existing buildings are the real crunch issue. And given the figures, we are looking at dealing with them in huge numbers - 50,000 a month is 600,000 a year - and it will take 40 years to refurbish 24 million homes at that rate. We just have to get our heads around the technical, skills, social and financial challenges of this.
Is enough attention being given to energy-efficiency in commercial/industrial/ municipal buildings, as well as housing?
I wonder if the question is whether we are doing enough in our homes. That's why the issues over consequential improvements are such a concern - businesses are getting it together far more at present.
Given that CIBSE is a global institution - how does the UK compare with others in terms of sustainable development? And can valuable lessons be learned from looking at international examples?
There's enormous value in looking elsewhere. They may have lost a game or two of cricket lately, but the Australians have been doing a great deal to develop and promote green building. We can learn a lot from them, and also from others around the world who are doing low carbon, sustainable building.
How will CIBSE adapt to meet the changing needs of sustainable construction in the future?
We have to keep adapting, delivering services and information that enables our members to adapt and deliver the solutions and products and services that their client base demands. We are constantly reviewing our training, events, publications, certification and technical activities to identify new needs for our members, and, importantly, those who are not yet our members. We want to be the primary source of professional knowledge and expertise for sustainable buildings.
For more information on CIBSE and its work, visit: http://www.cibse.org/
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Sponsored by:
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The Low Energy Buildings Innovation Forum, to be staged on 3rd December in Harrogate, is the networking event specifically focused on bringing together architects, building engineers and facilities managers to review the latest innovations for low energy buildings, explore renewable energy options and share best practice on ways to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. The programme includes the following sessions: Legal foundations of a low
carbon economy - transforming the business landscape Zero Carbon Housing - How can
we go about achieving this? Tomorrows low carbon built environment
- characterising and winning scenarios The carbon reduction commitment
in leased buildings Reducing carbon emissions in existing
buildings Sustainable Neighbourhoods The reality of managing and occupying
existing buildings sustainably Case Study: Overview of the LED
lighting scheme in use at the Yorkshire Forward HQ in Leeds 'Vertical Axis Wind Turbines' in
the built environment The use of automated control systems
to drive down
energy consumption |
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GMW Architects
GMW Architects has been operating as an architectural practice for around 60 years, and its global operations extend to commercial projects in Cairo, Moscow, Athens and the Middle East, amongst other areas. Though covering a wide range of sectors and working with a large client base, many of GMW's clients are larger corporate companies, institutions, developers and major estate owners, with its most recent project being a substantial regeneration of the old Stock Exchange Tower in the City of London.
Read the full story on the Forum
Richards Partington Architects
Sustainability
is a key part of Richards Partington Architects' (RPA) outlook, playing
a crucial role in all the various project types undertaken by the practice,
including residential, commercial and retail, industrial, historical and
masterplanning. The practice advocates "a common sense approach based on
passive design, an efficient building envelope and closing the performance
gap between predicted and actual energy consumption", and also has experience
in BREEAM buildings and micro-renewable energy generation.
Additionally, the practice has conducted research and released a number of publications on environmental topics and sustainability, including 'Photovoltaics and Architecture' and 'Sustainable Urban Design, an Environmental Approach'.
Read the full story on the Forum
The Centre for Alternative Technology
Started
in 1975, the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) promotes alternative
ways of living and building which are designed to have as little impact
on the environment as possible.
CAT has a visitor centre - attracting 60,000 visitors a year - a graduate school and also runs a series of short courses on subjects such as sustainable building, water and sanitation, and renewable energy and the built environment.
Read the full story on the Forum
CHBS
CHBS is an organisation made up of two sister companies, Church House Building Services - an established building consultancy practice - and Church House Building Sustainability - a low carbon design consultancy specialising in energy assessment and modelling, building regulations, renewable energy, passive design and eco construction. Both of the individual companies work together on multi-disciplinary projects, as well as undertaking individual work in their respective specialist areas.
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Web seminars (webinars) are online training seminars that allow ‘attendees’ to take part via their desktop computer – so no one has to travel! Presenters and audiences are connected live, so webinars are just as interactive and engaging as they would be if everyone was in the same location. They are a great way of learning for busy executives in these carbon conscious times. Webinar:
Quick wins on reducing carbon emissions Webinar:
10 ways to engage your staff on carbon reduction initiatives Webinar:
How to measure your organisation's carbon footprint Webinar:
Carbon Reduction Commitment ~ getting ready for compliance The registration cost for each of these, independently produced, webinars is just £45 + VAT. This includes a post-event copy of the powerpoint presentation (including audio) which means that you can circulate internally and so really maximise the value from the training session. 80% of our webinar participants are first-timers, who have not previously experienced this method of learning. So if you too are yet to give them a try, we encourage you to do so now by offering a no-quibbles guarantee. So if for any reason you don’t derive value from any of our carbon reduction webinars, we will refund 100% of the fee charged – it is as simple as that! |
If you have selected to read any of the above case studies you will be aware that they are posted on our forum. Our forum was created to enable discussion, and case studies are posted in order to facilitate dialogue surrounding these topics.
In addition to this the forum allows members to begin their own discussions. In the 'Low Energy Buildings Innovation Forum' area you are able to post your own threads or respond to those that have been begun by others. This facility provides a fantastic opportunity for knowledge transfer and a great networking opportunity to find the right people to work with your organisation.
If you would like to make full use of the forum please register yourself with a username at http://www.carbon-innovation.com/discussion/
New fund promotes home energy-efficiency
A £10 million fund has been set up by the government to help communities
lower their carbon emissions, which will include spending on energy-efficiency
within homes and other buildings. Local authorities, charities and social
enterprises can apply for a share of the funding as part of the Low Carbon
Communities Challenge - set up by the Department for Energy and Climate
Change (DECC) - to use on retrofitting, smart metering, biomass installations
and other carbon reduction measures around the community:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn109/pn109.aspx
Call to action
World Green Building Day, which took place on 23 September, was used to
urge governments to consider the role of the built environment at the upcoming
Copenhagen climate change talks. Speaking at the event, Paul King, Chief
Executive of the UK Green Building Council, said the following: "There is
no bigger, more cost-effective option for achieving the global cuts in carbon
emissions than our buildings over the next few years. In the UK, Government
has taken a welcome lead on setting targets for zero carbon new buildings,
but we need to see a bigger effort to cut emissions from our existing stock,
the vast majority of which will still be standing in 2050.":
http://www.ukgbc.org/site/news/show-news-details?id=183
Code consultation delayed
Consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) has been delayed until the end of the year. Originally scheduled to take place this month, the consultation on revision to CSH for 2010 has been put back. Delays to the consultation on the code - which rates homes on their energy efficiency - are thought to have been caused by delays in government revisions to CSH and defining 'zero carbon'. The code has also been recently criticised for a lack of inclusion of some newer energy-efficient technologies, such as air source heat pumps: http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=555&storycode=3149361&c=2#ixzz0SUB1usNq
Worrying research reveals MP knowledge gap
Research has revealed that 72% of MPs are unaware of the government's deadline
to make all new-build homes zero carbon from 2016, instead believing the
target to come into effect in 2020. The study, commissioned by the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on Sustainable Housing and conducted by ComRes, also
revealed that over a quarter of MPs questioned were unaware that more than
a quarter of UK carbon emissions come from housing: http://www.comres.co.uk/page18848269.aspx
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