An important aspect of change needed to achieve the UK’s 2050 target is the practical actions to ensure buildings maintain a net zero trajectory over their operational lifetime.

An emerging finding of the current UKGBC Commercial Retrofit project is the significance of optimisation. On average, almost one third reduction in EUI can be achieved through optimisation alone (i.e., ensuring the building systems and appliances are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible, and that their operation more accurately aligns with building use – i.e., operating hours and zoning etc).

While technological solutions play an important part, increased awareness and closer collaboration are essential to ensure building systems can be optimised holistically, with positive impacts on occupant comfort. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence on how optimisation can be achieved but a lack of tangible evidence that illustrates the most common issues and supports understanding of how to resolve them for the long term.

Objectives

Using UKGBC’s Learning Lab format, this project will explore the challenges and solutions associated with reducing and eliminating inefficiencies to drive down energy consumption. It will share the learnings, outcomes, and solutions identified and deepen our shared understanding of how inefficiencies stem from the way buildings currently operate. Key issues that could be investigated include:

• Lack of transparency of data, especially energy usage.
• Inappropriate metering of energy.
• Lack of detailed understanding of how building systems operate.
• Split incentives between landlord and tenant.
• Lack of collaboration between landlord and tenant over energy efficiency.
• Facilities managers not incentivised or empowered to reduce energy consumption.

There are technological solutions to these issues, but at the core is a need to collaboratively take action and facilitate increased awareness, so that building systems can be optimised holistically, for the long term.

Anticipated outcomes:

• Compendium of experience of how to optimise buildings’ energy use
• Toolkit to support optimisation activities, including the soft skills needed to support mutually beneficial relationships and
  collaboration between key stakeholders (tenant, landlord, facilities manager etc)
• Increased knowledge and skills base to encourage a focus on optimisation opportunities and solutions
• Insights into the most appropriate interventions in different situations
• A shift in thinking that supports an iterative, long-term approach to optimising performance.

Project Partnership is open to UKGBC members only. Learn more about what it means to be a member and the opportunities it provides you here.

Learn more about UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero Programme here.

Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our climate change mitigation work is made possible thanks to the generous support of our Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners

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• Hotels: High energy usage, high level of duplication of specific examples (chain hotels), high number of touch points to potentially influence public awareness.
• Schools: High potential for social value, education and community engagement, energy costs and poorly maintained facilities are a significant challenge for many schools.
• Higher Education facilities: High synergy with offices, opportunity for education and more in-depth research collaboration
• Public buildings: Libraries, Leisure Centres, Local Authority offices, etc.
• Retail: Supermarkets etc

Objectives

• To deepen awareness and understanding amongst investors, owners, managers, designers, and consultants of the carbon
  and cost-effectiveness of different retrofit measures to inform planned upgrades to existing non-domestic assets, and,
• Explore how to overcome common challenges to maximise compliance with future regulations and to meet the likely
  ambition behind emerging net zero carbon performance targets.

Outline

1. Develop a suite of evidence that explores and provides the cost, operational energy efficiency potential, and
   embodied carbon impact, as well as any co-benefits associated with common retrofit measures for different
   types of properties, to offer a path of sequential design, operational, and management solutions to set buildings
   on a path to close the gap to net zero carbon.
2. Focus on one or more non-domestic building typologies based on age, specification standard, HVAC system, and
   lease type, etc. to explore the variety of different challenges faced by stakeholders looking to decarbonise
   their/their clients’ assets.
3. Collate real-world examples of retrofit measures (light, deep, optimisation focused), to illustrate and compare
   the true impact of different retrofit solutions that facilitate the transition towards net zero, showcasing effective
   outcomes alongside lessons learnt

Project Partnership is open to UKGBC members only. Learn more about what it means to be a member and the opportunities it provides you here.

Learn more about UKGBC’s Advancing Net Zero Programme here.

Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our climate change mitigation work is made possible thanks to the generous support of our Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners

The post Closing the Gap towards Net Zero Carbon: Non-Domestic Retrofit Project Partners appeared first on UKGBC.

This is a critical time for climate action. In the most recent assessment of risks the UK faces from climate-related hazards, over 60% were given the highest urgency score, a staggering increase in urgency compared to the previous assessment. Destructive climate impacts and extreme weather changes will affect all members of our society, devastate lives and livelihoods, and have a detrimental impact on the buildings, infrastructure and environments that keep us secure from hazards such as flooding and overheating.  However, as noted in the Climate Change Committee’s Investment for a well-adapted UK report, the UK currently lacks associated targets or goals for resilience standards at a national, local or sectoral level – the government’s third National Adaptation Plan released earlier this week highlighted the urgent need for collaboration, research and increased ambition for climate resilience in the UK.

 

Following on from UKGBC’s previous work around climate resilience and adaptation, we aim to work with the built environment industry to co-create a sector roadmap for climate resilience in the built environment. By developing science-driven, industry-wide targets to be achieved in the short, medium and longer term, this project could help to fill the urgent and critical gap identified by the CCC – investing in and optimising our built environment for a climate resilient future. This project will follow a similar path of UKGBC’s Whole Life Carbon Roadmap project which provided both the industry and government a common vision and agreed actions for achieving net zero carbon in the built environment.

Explore our work on Climate Change Adaptation

UKGBC is looking for organisations wanting to drive forward adaptation and climate resilience action in the built environment to become Project Partners for the Resilience Roadmap. As a project partner, you will be able to take a steering role on the project, be credited with the creation of the roadmap and secure a position on the task group, amongst other benefits. It’s a role best suited for organisations who are already active in the climate adaptation space and are looking to collaborate with other leaders from across industry.

To learn more about Project Partnership and apply, download our call for applications.

Project Partnership is open to UKGBC members only. Learn more about what it means to be a member and the opportunities it provides you here.

Applications will be open until the 8^th September. There will be additional opportunities for individuals to be involved from September onwards, including applications for a Task Group and a wider industry consultation in the new year.

Resilience & Nature Partners

Our climate change adaptation work is supported by our Resilience & Nature Partners.

Climate Change Adaptation

As the climate crisis intensifies and extreme weather events become more common, the UK’s buildings, cities and critical infrastructure, and the communities that use and occupy these, are in increasing danger. It’s vital to address how our buildings and infrastructure can be adapted to remain fit for the future.

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Building on The Value of Urban Nature-Based Solutions report released last year, this project will provide built environment stakeholders with the opportunity to work through some of challenges and solutions of implementing nature-based solutions in an urban context.

Acknowledging that many practitioners are facing similar challenges, the NBS Labs are a place for learning and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, specifically around maintenance and stewardship, as well as existing buildings and retrofit. You will be able to share your learnings and challenges as well as learn from others who are facing similar issues. In addition, a programme of external speakers who are experts on the topic will offer insights into the state of the art and best practice of urban nature-based solutions. Key findings and insights from these sessions will be shared in a summary output.

Currently, UKGBC has opened applications for both general participants and project partnership.

To facilitate this series of workshops, UKGBC is opening the opportunity for several member organisations to be involved as key Project Partners. This is a level of commitment above a standard participant and comes with a host of benefits. In addition to attendance to all sessions, partners will be credited with enabling the project, get priority access to all speaking opportunities related to the project and will take a steering role, helping to shape any associated outputs, alongside other benefits. It’s a role best suited for UKGBC members with experience and understanding of implementing Nature Based Solutions.

To learn more about the NBS Labs & Project Partnership and apply for either role, download the Call for Applications below.

Project Partnership is open to UKGBC members only. Learn more about what it means to be a member and the opportunities it provides you here.

Applications close on the 8^th September. If you have any enquiries about the project, please email kai.liebetanz@ukgbc.org.

Nature Programme Partners

With thanks to our programme partners who make our work on nature possible.

Nature

Nature is in crisis.  The built environment has a critical role to play in protecting and restoring nature and moving to a regenerative model of development.

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What does it mean to be a Programme Partner?

Our Programme Partners work closely with UKGBC to give key industry insights to our projects and plans. The four drivers for programme partnership are:

• Philanthropic​ – The right thing to do for the benefit  of all.
• Learning and Upskilling – Staff development, peer to peer learning.
• Enhanced Delivery – Working closely with UKGBC teams on projects, steering the direction of work and collaboration to drive action.
• Demonstrating Leadership – Showcasing your sustainability leadership.

Who are our Programme Partners?

Advancing Net Zero Partners

Our Climate Change Mitigation work is made possible due to the generous support of our Advancing Net Zero Programme Partners

Resilience & Nature Partners

Our Climate Change Adaptation and Nature work is supported by our Resilience & Nature Partners.

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