Meeting the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge
If you’ve worked with us at all in the last year or so, chances are that we’ve mentioned the 2030 Climate Challenge. At least, we hope that’s the case because we’re really making an effort to bring the topic of how we’re addressing the climate crisis into every conversation we have!
According to the UK Green Building Council, our built environment is currently responsible for 25% of the total UK greenhouse gas emissions (others suggest it could be as great as 40%) – this huge figure provides a huge opportunity for designers to have an impact on reducing this, and we’re on board with this challenge.
Photovoltaic array on Museum in the Park roof; generation of renewable electricity to power the building
On a day-to-day basis, (aside from banging on about it at every opportunity…) this means that on each project we’re thinking about how we can reduce the operational energy use, embodied carbon and potable water use. The RIBA targets also put health and wellbeing at the forefront of design decisions, which is something we’re used to. The RIBA challenge is driven by data and knowledge sharing; knowing that we’ll be submitting project data at the end of the year to report on how we’re performing really focusses the mind, and it feels rewarding to know that with tiny steps we’re tackling this intangibly large climate issue in our own way.
It goes without saying that all of our clients want to live in a cosier home which is cheaper to run. The numerical figures that populate the dry spreadsheets, in reality, equate to places that people really want to live, so in actual fact, it’s easy to weave in the Challenge into conversations about design aspirations.
Installation of wood fibre installation over a new roof extension structure
We are also signatories of Architects Declare which means we’re part of an international network of architectural practices that are committed to addressing the climate and biodiversity emergency, focussing on both sustainable design and driving change through the way each signatory’s business is run.
Installation of internal wood fibre thermal insulation, a natural and renewable product, at stone barn conversion to create a cosy home within an existing building
So, with the help of those we work within both design and client teams, we will keep on looking towards the end of this year with the RIBA target metrics in mind, knowing that every design decision can have an impact on the performance of the project as a whole. We’ll also keep looking at the way we run as a business, ‘putting our house in order’ as Architects Declare put it, by taking steps towards becoming a BCorp and reducing our carbon impact where we can.
You can read the 2030 Climate Challenge guide on the RIBA’s website here:
and UK Architects Declare here:
