Practical Responses

Design Energy efficiency and supply Infrastructure and climate change Lifestyle and behaviour Location Resource management Standards and regulations

Guide to Post Occupancy Evaluation

This is an assessment into the use and occupancy of buildings.

The evaluation measures the energy performance of buildings and overall user satisfaction (pdf).

CIRIA

CIRIA is a member-based research and information organisation dedicated to improvements in the construction industry.

CIRIA provides a means through which the many different stakeholders in the modern built environment can work together to identify, codify, publish and promote the emerging best practice in the industry.

The website provides information on current research projects, training, events and professional networks.

TCPA

(Town and Country Planning Association)

Provides a set of very accessible, but informative publications associated with sustainable design, energy, eco-towns and adaptation.

Especially good at providing guidance for planners and developers although publications are suitable for anybody interested in sustainability and design.

CABE

(Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)

CABE are the Government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space providing advice on all matters related to design at both the building and settlement levels.

Their website gives information on their role in promoting sustainability and a briefing for policy makers and key players in the construction and development industry on sustainable design.

Beating the Heat

Report available on the UKCIP website demonstrating how passive, low-energy buildings can be designed despite a likely increase in global warming over the coming century.

GreenSpec

GreenSpec is the National Green Specification (NGS) website.

It provides information aimed at the UK construction industry, and offers a guide to green building design products, specification and construction.

Right Trees for a Changing Climate

(Mayor of London)

Provides information about the type of trees suitable for planting in urban environments in the context of a changing climate.

Easy, quick registration allows users to search for the right trees by context, environment and tree qualities.

WRAP

WRAP are responsible for encouraging and enabling businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials.

WRAP has produced a number of toolkits and best practice guides including the Net Waste Tool/Method used to measure waste neutrality.

The site provides information on construction waste management, composting, retailing and waste, manufacturing, and business and domestic recycling.

It also includes a section dedicated to local authorities to enable them to deliver better recycling services and promote waste reduction.

CIBSE

(Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers)

Examples of best practice in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable buildings.

Climate change & your home

(English Heritage)

This site aims to help owners of traditionally constructed homes understand the potential impacts of climate change on their properties and how simple building maintenance can help to lessen the effects of increasingly extreme weather.

Delivering practical responses Designing sustainable communities

Design, climate change and delivering sustainable communities

As sustainable communities practitioners, we must identify every possible opportunity to deliver design solutions that consider both mitigating the effects of climate change and adapting to future changes.

Effective design responses are critical now in order to achieve the sustainability, comfort and functionality of the built environment into the future and the health and wellbeing of communities that live, work and play in these environments.

Settlements

How settlements are designed and redeveloped/regenerated can have significant implications in terms of energy use and also future comfort and sustainability as climate changes.

The following are examples of ways of delivering/adapting settlements:

Use settlement level renewable energy district heating schemes (mitigation).
Promote sustainable transport by considering vehicle classification, fleet mix, fleet technology split, emissions functions (mitigation).
Direct new development close to existing services and facilities (mitigation).
Ensure access to safe, secure, permeable developments to encourage walking and cycling (mitigation).
Ensure safe access to high quality public transport facilities (mitigation).
Promote the use of closed loop sustainable resource waste management (a system that minimises or eliminates the need to send waste to landfill). These can include waste community composting, waste exchange forums (car boot sales and reuse centres). The ELCRP (East London Community Recycling Partnership) presents an example of a composting closed loop recycling system (mitigation).
Create sufficient space, in accessible locations, to allow for waste separation and recycling (mitigation). Ensure proper access to open space and water bodies for amenity value (critical in coping with urban heat island effect in hotter climates) (adaptation).
Use deciduous, broadleaved trees to provide summertime shading and sun penetration during winter months to maximise solar gain. Consideration should be given to the type of trees planted to ensure they will thrive in the changing climate (adaptation).

Buildings

Buildings are responsible for around 50% of the UK’s CO2 emissions.

The following examples illustrate some ways in which building design can reduce carbon emissions and deliver buildings resilient to climate change impacts:

Provide cycle parking accommodation and in workspaces, provide high quality facilities for showering and storage plus facilities for ironing (mitigation).
Provide facilities to help minimise waste generation (mitigation).
Incorporate renewable and low carbon technologies (mitigation).
Choose local construction materials (mitigation).
Consider the embodied energy of materials to be used (mitigation).
Extend the life expectancy of a building as far as possible (can it be adapted for alternative uses in the future?) (mitigation).
Use orientation to manage natural lighting and heating/cooling (mitigation and adaptation).
Incorporate well-managed lighting solutions to minimise use of electricity (mitigation).
Use smart metering (mitigation).
Use shading solutions to help manage internal temperatures (mitigation and adaptation).
Use passive ventilation systems (mitigation and adaptation).
Use high specification insulation materials (mitigation and adaptation).
Use water saving/re-use devices (mitigation and adaptation).

Who can help?

Knowledge of climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches varies amongst built environment professionals. Due diligence, and understanding of the issues, should be exercised when appointing consultants/advisors.
Urban designers - can help with the development of climate conscious masterplans and provide advice about the way in which design of spaces influences the movement of people.
Planners - development of masterplans which aim to develop a balanced approach including a wide variety of sustainable development solutions.
Architects - aid the design of buildings which minimise energy use and produce developments resilient to climate change. For example, architects specialising in sustainable design can advise on how to maximise solar gain in winter whilst maintaining human comfort in summer.
Mechanical engineers - energy efficiency measures and energy supply technologies.
Landscape architects - development of settlement designs incorporating green, permeable spaces, with plant selection that considers mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
Waste and resource management specialists - advice on waste management and how to reduce, reuse and recycle effectively.