If everyone could agree and collect information to the same standards, sharing the same pieces of information upon creation, and when changed, it would unblock the system and lead to significantly greater efficiency..

Whilst these four bodies have been essential in pushing the agenda for low carbon, there has been some confusion across the industry due to the misalignment of targets and WLCA scopes between them as demonstrated in Figure 3.LETI has been working in collaboration with other bodies and industry groups to resolve these inconsistencies and have published the ‘Embodied carbon target alignment document’.. Based on this document and the comparison of the current targets defined by LETI, RIBA and GLA, an average performance for non-domestic commercial building performance (A-C) would be to achieve an embodied carbon around 1400kgCO.

/m², good practice would be below 970kgCO.and best practice below 550kgCO.This lower threshold is only achievable by refurbished buildings and timber structures that account for carbon sequestration and design with ambitious low carbon specifications.. Bryden Wood aspires to design new buildings that achieve at least the good practice thresholds shown in Figure 4 and where feasible deliver best practice performance.

In order to be able to meet these aspirations, it is necessary to develop a clear strategy for both embodied and operational carbon..From LETI: graphic showing the range of performance based on benchmarked projects..

Comparison embodied carbon targets from RIBA, LETI and GLA.

Achieving net zero operational and embodied carbon with lean design and modern methods of construction.It’s very much a cradle to grave approach.

We tend to not necessarily go for environmental ratings, so we can offer BREEAM, but it doesn’t have to be applied to every project.It’s more about listening to the client, understanding what their drivers are, and then applying the best part of different ratings or standards in sustainable design so that the client actually gets what they need, rather than what a certificate says that they might want.. IP: What makes Bryden Wood unique when it comes to sustainable design?.

HH: I think the unique thing is that we sit amongst both architects and engineers, so we are fundamentally set up to deliver an integrated approach.For us, we’re not looking at a building after it’s already been designed and then trying to apply things, or forcing the design.