I believe the lack of clarity around nomenclature in the DfMA landscape has become a major barrier to change.
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.
In a BREEAM NC 2018 assessment, it is possible to achieve up to 7 credits by doing a WLCA, so for developments that aspire to Excellent or Outstanding ratings the analysis of embodied carbon has become very important.
The GLA requires the preparation of a WLCA pre-planning and at post-construction and requires the analysis of the results both with the current carbon factors and a decarbonised scenario.. Additionally, bodies such as the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), RIBA, GLA and UKGBC, have developed guidance documents on embodied carbon, which include specific targets and roadmaps to zero carbon prior 2050.There are also health and safety risks from mould spores or people slipping on surface water.
Working closely with Grahams, MSL and Saunders Boston, Bryden Wood used AnTherm software along with finite difference numerical modelling, building thermal modelling and probabilistic weather data, to assess condensation risk.As a result, design changes could be made to reduce condensation.. As these two excellent new facilities open their doors, the communities that they serve can feel the benefits of a well-managed indoor climate, and the client can be confident that they have assets that manage energy efficiently.Engineering matters.
Engineering is an important part of Bryden Wood, and the wider UK Economy.An Engineering UK survey found that no less than 27% of enterprises in the UK are engineering-related, with the sector growing in size by 5.6%, from 2015 to 2016.