The aims of efficiency, intensification, recycling and waste reduction, if applied correctly, are directly shared with improving today’s economics.
The results below on the left, are based on LETI 2020/RIBA2025, and the ones on the right are based on LETI 2030/RIBA 2030.In both cases of adaptive reuse, the light-touch refurbishment and full refurbishment are more advantageous than new construction..
It is important to flag that this trend favouring the reuse of buildings does not necessarily apply to every building.The results will vary depending on the structural and architectural characteristics of the building and its life expectancy.. Whilst carbon emissions are a key point of decision when considering adaptive reuse, other factors, such as the resilience of the grid, the impact on fuel poverty and wellbeing, the adaptability of the building for a new use (for example converting offices to residential) need to be quantified and added into the discussion..Refurbishing buildings for a more sustainable future.
The Climate Emergency requires that we pay more attention to the refurbishment and reuse of existing buildings, with a focus on energy and carbon efficiency..The main benefit of the refurbishment of the urban fabric is a substantial saving in embodied carbon, but a new building can benefit from lower carbon emissions in operation.. Bryden Wood has carried out a detailed WLCA analysis of a light-tough refurbishment, full refurbishment and new construction for a commercial building based on benchmark from LETI and RIBA in order to understand which option is less carbon intensive after 60 years.
The results clearly show that.
adaptive reuse is more beneficial in both the short and long term..The UK suffers from a widely recognised lack of productivity, and a low uptake of AI and robotics in SMEs..
There's a perceived 'malaise' where society needs to reappraise its relationship with work and effort relative to desired per capita income, moving beyond merely changing environmental conditions to actively fostering growth.. 5.Compelling Vision and Clear Measures are Needed to Engage and Drive Change:.
The strategy lacks a clear, compelling vision and visual representation of what the UK could be, making it difficult to engage a wider audience beyond policy circles.. Establishing a single, understandable measure like GDP per person could provide a clear objective, showing how economic growth directly funds essential services like the NHS.. Watch Navigating the Energy Debate: Challenges and Solutions with Martin Wood, Adrian La Porta and John Dyson.on scale took me on a journey from Mitochondria.the microscopic batteries of life.
(Editor: High-End Cameras)