It would take too long and be too disruptive to do the required refurbishments.
The UK aspires to reduce total carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, compared to 2020 levels, and become net zero carbon by 2050.These ambitions, translated to the built environment, can only be achieved via the implementation of measures to reduce operational and embodied carbon of new buildings, upgrading existing buildings, the use of ambitious policies and crucially via a decarbonised grid..
The built environment contributes to around 40% of the UK's total carbon footprint.Based on UKGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings “A framework definition", a typical Cat A office’s building embodied carbon, after the first year of use, would be 75% of the total carbon, whilst the operational carbon would be around 25%.Although the operational carbon will accumulate overtime, a decarbonised grid will mean that the growth rate will flatten, and after 60 years the embodied carbon will still remain higher than operational carbon, as shown in Figure 2.
This means that the focus and the priority should shift from operational to embodied carbon during the design..Embodied and operational carbon increase in a decarbonised grid scenario.
In this context, the request for Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) has increased notably over the last few years.
The production of WLCA is required by BREEAM and the GLA.More importantly still, it showed all stakeholders how different systems and proposals would.
allowing many different solutions to be evaluated, so that the best one could be found.. Optimised energy use.Extensive environment modelling and energy analysis in the model was used to optimise energy use.
Carried out by Bryden Wood’s CIBSE accredited Low Carbon Consultants, it encompassed all key variables, such as air flow, condensation levels, and heat sources.The energy efficiencies achieved through different design iterations can be seen in the chart.. After testing in the virtual environment, Photovoltaic (PV) roof panels, and Combined Power and Heat Units (CHP), were identified as the most efficient energy solutions.