Author: Ella Carey, Sustainability Engineer
This starts with designing for energy efficiency, utilising a fabric first approach. A fabric first approach describes the process of creating a high-performance building envelope – high levels of insulation for walls, roofs and floors, along with a low air permeability rate and effective windows and doors. This reduces the buildings energy demand before installing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems).
Achieving Net Zero in buildings requires moving away from traditional heating systems that rely on fossil fuels. Switching to low-carbon alternatives like heat pumps can reduce energy consumption while providing the same comfort level.
Integrating renewable technologies allows us to move away from grid electricity generated by fossil fuels. For both homes and commercial buildings, installing solar panels on rooftops allows buildings to generate their own electricity. Commercial buildings, with large flat roofs, have great potential to harness solar power at scale. Battery storage systems can store excess energy generated during the day, reducing reliance on the grid at night or during cloudy periods.
Design MEP have been involved in several projects with goals to reduce carbon emissions as low as feasibly possible. Hargood road, a new build primary school in London, is set to achieve a 37% carbon reduction against 2021 building regulations. This supports the GLA (Greater London authority) net zero by 2030 goal – 20 years sooner than the country wide target! These carbon reduction savings have been made possible with a high-performance building fabric, Air source heat pump and Solar PV panels.
Octagon, a high-rise residential tower containing 370 apartments in Birmingham, is a another great example of a project where attention to fabric (low u-values, airtightness and careful consideration of thermal bridging) has contributed to a reduction in emissions. Future occupants will also feel greater comfort through stabilised indoor temperatures and improved indoor air quality.
Collaboration between engineers, architects, policymakers and building owners is critical to achieving meaningful progress towards Net Zero. Together, we can transform the spaces where we live and work into low carbon, sustainable environments.
