Written by: Jessica Buckle and Tabitha Binding 

Urgent action is needed to overcome ‘The Climate Challenge’, students were told at the inaugural #RSUDC21 webinar last night.

The first webinar of this month-long Riverside Sunderland University Design Challenge (RSUDC21) series was attended by more than 100 students, learning about Net Zero and Carbon Neutral Homes, the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, LETI route maps, and operational and embodied carbon basics.

The session was led by Co-Chair of RIBA North East and Director of Mawson Kerr Architects, Will Mawson. Mawson discussed how sustainable, collaborative design within the built environment can significantly impact a building’s performance, and how he brings this concept into his own architectural practice, including as he contributes designs to the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan.

Assistant Director of Economic Regeneration, Sunderland City Council, Catherine Auld followed, introducing five theoretical, thematic strategies, underpinned by adapting our behaviour to ignite positive change and adapting operational practices. The thematic framework consisted of energy efficient building environments, a green economy (expanding and engaging with businesses in order to create an energy efficient economy), tackling environmental waste and consumption, introducing renewable energy sources and efficient energy storage.

Good Homes Alliance Chair and LSA Studio Director, Lynn Sullivan OBE began by reminiscing and reflecting upon a Zero Housing Competition she won as a budding Architect in 1999. Encouraging participants to design holistically, deliver upon excellent ambition and showcase how the built environment can excel sustainably.

Sullivan introduced the key principles driving the pathway to 2050; catastrophic climate change, UN sustainable development goals, renewable energy, biodiversity net gain and value scarce resources. Students will need to continually educate themselves throughout their career if we are to reach Net Zero, and understand subjects ranging from waste minimisation strategies, environmental targets, controlled ventilation, and IT connectivity to technology and whole-life carbon.

UKGBC Trustee, Associate Director, and Sustainability Lead at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Mina Hasman proceeded to introduce the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, established after the RIBA Council voted to declare a climate emergency and recognise the need for urgent action and leadership from both architects and the wider construction industry to combat climate change.

Net zero operational carbon is already possible, Hasman highlighted, citing a Green Construction Board Buildings Mission 2030 report and supporting case studies. The targets by RIBA are designed to be progressive yet realistic, covering operational energy use, embodied carbon, health, and water use reduction. Taking these steps to significantly reduce carbon emissions are necessary by 2030 if the industry is to achieve net zero carbon for the whole UK building stock by 2050.

Hasman enthusiastically reiterated this is the decade for action and collective involvement to limit global warming by the end of this century. Innovative, creative and holistic design concepts are enabling designers to establish a new benchmark and embrace the challenges ahead, and budding built environment professionals will be the creators of our innovative future cities.

Sustainability Manager at Allies and Morrison and LETI Volunteer, James Woodall, introduced the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), a network of over 1000 built environment professionals working together to form a pathway towards a zero-carbon future. The initiative was established to support the transition of the capital’s built environment to net zero carbon, providing guidance to professionals within the built environment which is applicable to the entirety of the UK.

Woodall presented the initiatives publications; The Climate Emergency Design Guide, Embodied Carbon Primer and Net Zero 1-Pager. The Climate Emergency Design Guide provides advice on how new buildings can achieve UK climate change mitigation targets. Written collectively by a team of over 100 volunteers from the industry, it offers consensus on how the built environment can meet net zero carbon.

The Embodied Carbon Primer addresses the concept and application of embodied carbon, including the impact of construction processes, transportation to site and future demolition, while the Net Zero 1-Pager discusses key requirements to ensure all new buildings operate at net zero. These include minimising energy use, measurement and verification, reduced construction impacts, low carbon energy supply and a maintaining a zero-carbon equilibrium. Many of the recommendations suggested by LETI to the Greater London Authority (GLA) have been included within the Emerging London Policy and Energy Assessment Guidance.

LETI recognises that reducing energy demand within the first instance is key to achieving a net zero carbon city. Incorporating a holistic view with regards to the wider infrastructure, from local transport links to the national energy grids, is essential to reduce carbon emissions. A pioneering initiative of the future, LETI is seeking to make change through extensive research, educational documentation and volunteered time from industry professionals. If you wish to stand alongside these professionals and get involved, register via the link here.

Research and Policy Director of Passivhaus Trust, John Palmer, showed an interactive presentation reflecting upon the basics of Operational Carbon. Beginning the presentation questioning whether targets for Operational Carbon should be for carbon or energy? Receiving a relatively balanced series of responses from participants. Palmer crucially reiterates Sullivan’s explanation of net zero as the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Detailing how we can achieve this and why this is crucial to the future of our planet.

Palmer concluded with a rhetorical question ‘what will our future buildings achieve?’ Answering with a collection of solutions. Solutions including ensuring buildings are net zero, addressing unregulated energy and storage losses, wholly electric (including heating and hot water supply), energy storing locations (both locally and at grid level), renewable sources, fabric efficient (Passivhaus being the starting point) and buildings must be able to respond smartly and dynamically. There must be a balanced equilibrium between how much we expend and how much we generate, to create a better chance of achieving green goals. He pointed to the Passivhaus Research Report – Passivhaus the route to zero carbon?

View latest articles