Energy consumption and conservation

Current evolution is such that sustainable development will inevitably graduate everywhere from a trend to the norm.  We support the view point this is already insufficient and that engineering design should evolve as rapidly as possible in all sectors to reflect the "cradle-to-cradle' philosophy that "waste equals food".  In other words, human activity and development therefore must not be measured in terms of reduced impact only, they must improve the environment.

The challenges facing the construction industries everywhere are two-fold:

Production carbon print

The construction industry consumes vast amounts of energy and raw materials in the manufacture of goods and materials.  The distribution of the goods and materials also consumes vast amounts of fossil fuels.

The carbon print in new build situations is inevitably much higher than the carbon print in conversion and refurbishment projects.  The new build sectors are more closely linked to economic cycles but existing buildings continue to contain a great potential for improvement in energy conservation.

Modern technological materials and installations are not always suitable or adapted for old buildings whereas their incorporation is easier and they are more commonly found therefore in new build situations.

Modern technology has advanced to such a point new buildings can be fully autonomous and also feed excess energy produced back into the grid.  Some day we may be lucky enough to be involved in such a project.

Until then, we remain focused first on those general improvements that can be made with lesser impact overall in costs and disturbance and without defiguring ancient buildings or placing their structures at risk.

We recommend the use of natural local materials that diminish the production carbon print and are more compatible environmentally with the preservation of traditional local economy and heritage construction.

We welcome the announced development of new and separate standards and regulations for the use of more appropriate materials and techniques in improving the performance carbon print of older buildings.

 Performance carbon print

UNDER CONSTRUCTION