Tag: NetZero

14 Aug 2023

MIND OVER MATTER – THE REAL ESG OBSTACLE

MIND OVER MATTER – THE REAL ESG OBSTACLE

By Rana Rehman, Senior Project Manager at 3PM

 

Cost of materials, supply chain challenges, complicated design, lack of data, a lengthy planning process and heritage constraints are just some of the reasons given for favouring new construction projects over retrofitting ones.

The list of problems is long but the main thing holding us back from #Net Zero trumps all others – mindset. And that matters.

Data is a good example. At a recent event I listened to a discussion whereby those partaking were bemoaning the lack of data that means they cannot benchmark or use existing data to showcase what can be done, or that the information designers have today is already two years old and therefore not live – because live information most often only comes in once the development is post construction, in RIBA stages 4-6. This raised the question of when the live information should be tied to the project – at what point on its timeline is best?

There’s an easy answer to this. RIBA Stage 1. The earlier the focus on net zero with any project the better, but especially when retrofitting. The building is already largely built – we are already working backwards so the earlier we factor in ESG the better.

We, as stakeholders in the future of our built environment, all must agree to plug the massive knowledge gaps across the industry, not accept them. And this requires a change of mindset from day one.

If sustainability focussed PMs and designers are brought in at concept stage there is simply no reason not to retrofit and reach net zero. It can still be done later, it’s just harder.

The experts start with embodied carbon, looking at passive principles, the circular economy – yes steel can be recycled, stored and reused – and biobased materials. Operational carbon also should be factored in early to predict and control live data. This stage includes designing and planning in the maximisation of efficiency and reduction in energy, the practice of energy harvesting and use of renewables. Finally, we move towards energy storage and, as an absolutely last resort, offsetting which together take us to net zero and eventually the panacea of absolute zero.

At 3PM, we work with our own mindset route map which factors in these various stages to win over the 100s of reasons why a retrofit to net zero can’t be done, focussing instead on how to cut through and deliver the lowest carbon intervention. This can be applied to every building, no matter how heritage – to restore, retrofit and future proof.

This has seen us through the decarbonisation and degassing of some of the most heritage and oldest Universities in the UK so there’s absolutely no reason it can’t be applied to a post war office buildings.

After all, if a building has lasted hundreds of years, why shouldn’t we commit to giving it a new lease of life?

 


08 Jul 2020

NetZero/Embodied Carbon Metrics – a contractual deliverable?

NetZero/Embodied Carbon Metrics – a contractual deliverable?

by 3PM

Post lockdown, the industry is becoming more conscious of its environmental impact and is grasping the challenges of achieving NetZero.

Recently a lot of discussion has taken place regarding engineered solutions and the challenges of quantifying embodied carbon, given as yet the sector has not settled on an appropriate methodology.
Recent conversations have covered the ability and desire to quantify embodied carbon, as either a project KPI for early stage options evaluation, or as a contracted hard metric. The Enterprise Centre, our innovative scheme delivered for University of East Anglia tackled these challenges head on, and since then we have consolidated our knowledge and the approach that we now employ on our schemes in support of the 3PM NetZero route map.
Our top success factors include:

  • Firstly, above all else you need a desire to achieve, practiced by a strong & principled lead.
  • Secondly, you need a defined methodology, for example ECCOlab gets our vote as we know the output has been validated.
  • A collaborative and open approach by the whole team to raise the bar; accepted norms of process or approach need re-evaluation; tweaking is not enough!
  • A way of monitoring team efforts, perception based to align the teams focus & intent.
  • Defined quantitative metrics and established evaluation criteria to maintain the focus, i.e. BREEAM Outstanding, WELL etc.
  • Balance the science with the common sense, TM54 may be a great methodology but it’s a reactive tool and planned vs actual alignment is not always proven. Energy must be balanced with comfort. Appropriate material selection is the key, especially as some 70% of emissions are driven by the frame & envelope.
  • Innovation is not a dirty word, embrace challenge, stretch the boundaries, don’t accept the first answers.
  • Define the risks and seek clear mitigation, document the intent.

 

It is clear that this is an area of expertise that needs to evolve rapidly in a post COVID-19 world. We cannot arrive at a new normal by doing the same things. 3PM are proud to sign up to #ProjectManagersDeclare and have the proven expertise to show just how the above list can be achieved.

Contact Patrick Watson if you are interested to know more.

17 Feb 2020

Achieving NetZero

Achieving NetZero

by 3PM

How can you achieve NetZero in projects?

Well, a mindset shift is required.  NetZero or Low Carbon design must be central to the design and the design philosophy through all the stages.  Base build, fit-out, FFE and in-use analysis should be undertaken at the beginning to understand the targets and achievability that informs the design.

The measurement of embodied carbon is still an evolving science with little benchmarking available for full comparative study.  Utilising established certifications including; BREEAM (Outstanding), PassivHaus / EnerPHit and WELL as examples, these can all aid in focusing the design teams on the challenge.  Our experiences have been proven on some award-winning schemes such as UEA Enterprise Centre to date and have prompted the development of the following route map to meet the challenges set by the LETI Climate Emergency Design Guide.  We are currently using this philosophy on our low carbon retrofit for the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership (CISL).

Click here to see how we are achieving NetZero with UEA – The Enterprise Centre and Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

“NetZero cannot be achieved as an afterthought”Martine Rothblatt, Head of United Therapeutics – Largest Net Zero Building to date