About Sustainable Design
A huge proportion of our carbon emissions is produced by our built environment which also consumes vast quantities of processed raw materials. Decisions that are taken daily by architects throughout the design period of a building project can have a direct environmental impact.
We understand our responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of our work and take a holistic approach to design recognizing the importance of producing socially, financially and environmentally sustainable buildings.
We set clear goals with our clients at the start of each new commission which are recorded, monitored and audited through our quality system. Increasingly, high environmental performance is becoming a key aspiration for our clients, across both the private and public sectors. We track our achievements in this area through continuous assessment using benchmarking tools such as BREEAM and NEAT as well as the thermal modeling techniques employed by fellow consultants. Additionally, we utilise in-house design critiques and quality reviews to ensure that we hit these targets.
Both design studios foster a culture of design innovation and research with a focus on the sustainability debate. This is demonstrated through our continuing evaluation of new technologies and materials such as UK-grown timber uses, recycled building materials and green roof specification.
We continue to champion sustainable technologies and many of our clients are keen to engage in the process. Some of our public sector clients now demand that 10% of their energy comes from sustainable sources. AES, a long standing industrial client have already built bio-diverse wetlands on part of their site to deal with their rainwater drainage and are we are currently carrying out a sustainability audit to allow them to further reduce their environmental impact.
Our proactive approach towards sustainable design leads to a better built environment for all and enables both us and our clients to benefit from the additional benefits of our approach which include reduced maintenance/running costs, positive PR, and better working environments.
Maundown Water Treatment Works
