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Climate action professional features

Read essential information on topics such as net-zero carbon buildings, Passivhaus design, embodied carbon and ways to address climate change through design in our series of articles aimed at architects.

20 July 2021

We have collected our series of professional knowledge articles, including essential information on topics such as net-zero carbon buildings, Passivhaus design, embodied carbon and ways to address climate change through design.

The Fishleys Passivhaus, designed by Architype, is a three bedroom detached house built on the site of an old barn within the clients’ Herefordshire garden © Architype.

Where to start

Five ways house design can help with the climate emergency

Will South, a Director and Engineer at , outlines simple features that he believes all new houses should implement if architecture is to make a difference in tackling climate change.

Design essentials for an energy efficient building

This article outlines straightforward measures that architects can implement in their designs in order to reduce a building's carbon footprint.

Essential design guidance for the climate emergency

Learn the essentials of operational energy and embodied carbon. Two primers from the (LETI) provide detailed design suggestions, targets, and advice on materials: vital information for architects which is also helpful in educating clients.

Make the right structural choices right at the start of the project

What choices can architects make to reduce a building's embodied carbon? Will Arnold, Head of Climate Action at the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) shares some valuable tips.

Buildings are better when clients and engineers collaborate

Exchanging knowledge and information at the early stages of a project ultimately leads to much better buildings.

What does a Whole Life approach mean?

To be truly sustainable in the long term, designs need to adopt a ‘cradle to cradle’ attitude. Learn the basics of Whole Life and Circular Economy principles.

Materials choices

How to calculate embodied carbon

There are many software-based tools that can help you work out the embodied carbon cost of your designs.

Use local, natural, low carbon materials

Duncan Baker-Brown explains how he employs natural materials to reduce plastics, lower embodied carbon and design non-toxic buildings.

Bring ‘re-use and recycle’ principles into your designs

Are there opportunities to use recycled or upcycled materials in your projects? What will happen to your buildings at the end of their lifespan? Could they be disassembled and reused?

Arboreal Architecture’s Reuse Flat is a low-waste project that paid careful consideration to its ultimate eventual disassembly and optimised the recycled materials it employed. The wall paneling, made from a reclaimed floor, conceals a membrane to increase airtightness and a layer of recycled cotton insulation © Arboreal Architecture.

Your practice and your clients

Convincing clients to go green

How to speak to clients who may not have considered the many advantages of an energy-efficient build.

How practices will get to net zero by 2030

Leadership, education and knowledge are key to meeting the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ’s 2030 Climate Challenge targets. Architects reveal how they are working towards these goals.

Will architects without Passivhaus knowledge get left behind?

Architects explain how upskilling in Passivhaus has made them better designers all round. They explain why energy efficient buildings are architecture's future.

Retrofit and refurbishments

How hard is it to retrofit a house to zero carbon levels?

First principles for retrofit, and the challenge of the UK's existing building stock.

Will a heat pump work in any building?

How do you know if a heat pump will be capable of doing its job? What levels of insulation do they require to work efficiently?

Should you become a Passive House designer?

It has been over a decade since the UK’s first Passive House (or Passivhaus) building. Since then, uptake of its ultra-low-energy design approach has increased at around 20% annually, with over 1400 certified Passive House ‘units’ completed to date.

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