It is almost impossible to overstate the role that buildings play in peoples lives. At their best they provide shelter, privacy, security, a place to work and live, an expression of art, culture and personality, and an enduring link between past, present and future.
Buildings are also great consumers of material resources and energy. In the industrialised world, buildings use approximately 45% of primary energy, 30% of raw materials, 25% of water, and 15% of land use, and they generate 40% of atmospheric emissions, 25% of solid waste, 20% of water effluents, and 12% of other releases (Worldwatch Institute).
In the UK the technologies receiving greatest support are renewable electricity generation (onshore and offshore wind, marine technologies and solar PV), efficient electricity generation (micro, small and large scale CHP), and energy efficiency programmes in all sectors, including construction. Yet, despite this primary energy requirement has increased by approximately 1.2% per annum for the last 15 years.
The challenge facing builders is a great one - to produce buildings that exceed our requirements and expectations, that are a joy to inhabit, that everyone can afford to buy, run and maintain, and that have no negative impact on the environment. The consensus is that success will be through reduction in the carbon intensity of energy supplied as well as resource efficiency. This is where technology will have the greatest benefit.
EBP understands the complex interdependencies between different building systems and the environment. Our innovative dynamic breathing building systems are one example of how a building can be designed to use less energy and minimise its carbon footprint, yet maintain high fresh air ventilation rates (thus improving indoor air quality) use less equipment, and clean up the local environment by removing pollutants from the surrounding air.
Equally, we recognise the value of the interactive, integrated approach to building design, and why you the client, building user, architect, builder and developer need to be involved from the start, and throughout the different stages of design and construction.
if you would like to learn how EBP can advance the design of your low-carbon building project. |
