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Home/Sustainable Design/Low Carbon Design

Sustainable Design

Low Carbon Design

  • Passivhaus Architecture

What is Low Carbon Design?

For the life of a building the carbon emissions are comprised of 2 factors:

  1. Operational Carbon Emissions
  • Heating for rooms
  • Heating for hot water
  • All other electrical needs such as appliances and lighting

 

  1. Embodied Carbon
  • Production of construction materials
  • Transport and assembly of materials during construction phase
  • Maintenance and replacement of construction elements
  • Disassembly and/or demolition of the building 

Operational Carbon Emissions have to be considered as part of building regulations. Government plans are to reduce emissions for new buildings to standards more consistent with Passivhaus buildings and QDA are keen to see these standards adopted asap.

Interestingly, Embodied Carbon is likely to account for 70% of the total carbon emissions from new buildings in the near future. This issue is fundamental to the RIBA Climate Emergency objectives and QDA encourage all clients to undertake Carbon Whole Life Cycle Costing (a method of measuring Embodied Carbon) or to ensure that this is a clear metric within their contractor briefs.

Many design decisions, such as the specification of foundations, may have no impact on functionality or costs and providing clients with good quality, clear information is all that is needed to enable carbon reductions.

Other design decisions such as prioritising timber over steel, may require more detailed consideration and our experience enables perceived risks to be properly understood and mitigated where necessary.

We have recently undertaken a Low Carbon Design Study of Apartment Design for a leading Housing Association, Housing 21.  This included consideration of both Operational and Embodied Carbon. The study seeks to inform future design standards to enable the Housing Association to work towards delivering Net Zero Carbon housing schemes.

Gallery

Quattro Design Architects education architecture historic building and conservation
Quattro Design Architects education architecture historic building and conservation
Quattro Design Architects education architecture historic building and conservation
Hospitality & Leisure page park Bristol panorama
Hospitality & Leisure_page park Bristol main
Later Living Over 55s Sustainability Trinidad Dorset interior
Hospitality & Leisure page park Bristol interior
Quattro Design Architects education architecture historic building and conservation
Education Independent Schools QEH Bristol_window
Quattro Design Architects education architecture historic building and conservation
Education Independent Schools QEH Bristol exterior roof
Education Independent Schools QEH Bristol
Education Primary QEH Bristol sustainable roof

Related Low Carbon Design Experience

Shire Hall Council Offices

View Project about Shire Hall Council Offices

Page Park

View Project about Page Park

Witch Hazel Passivhaus Development

View Project about Witch Hazel Passivhaus Development

Queen Elizabeth Hospital School

View Project about Queen Elizabeth Hospital School

Trinidad House, Over 55’s Development

View Project about Trinidad House, Over 55’s Development
View All Projects

Quattro have demonstrated an understanding and commitment to jointly work to satisfy the requirements of BREEAM and facilitated a design team approach to push the boundaries for a successful outcome, raising the level of attainment from 'Very Good' to achieve 'Excellent' rating on the Alderman Knight School.

Andy Metcalfe, Joint Managing Director
Speller Metcalfe, Gloucester

Clients and Partners

SWPA framework
Bristol City Council
Wyedean Housing Association
S F Planning
Wiltshire Council
Lane Britton Jenkins
Melt Homes
J Harper & Sons
Eastington CLT
Boo Homes
Cheltenham College
Speller Metcalfe Ltd
Ashford & St Peters NHS Foundation Trust
Wye Valley NHS Trust
Pate’s Grammar School
Department for Education
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS
Gloucestershire County Council
Dowdeswell Estates
Avon & Wiltshire NHS Trust
ESFA
Sodexo
Royal Berkshire NHSFT
Cobalt Health
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Painswick Rococo Garden Trust
NHS SBS
Apleona PPP Ltd
Willmott Dixon Construction
Robert Hitchins Ltd
The Chamwell Centre Charity
Kier Living Ltd
Swindon Borough Council
The Cheltenham Ladies College
Queen Elizabeth Hospital School
Agincare
BrendonCare Enterprises Ltd
Northampton Partnership Homes
Oxfordshire County Council
Deeley Group
The Abbeyfield Society
Vistry Partnerships
Housing21
Housing Lin
Jehu Projects Services
Linc Cymru
Lioncourt Homes Ltd
Llanthony Secunda Priory
Local Homes Ltd
Accord Housing Association
Alliance Homes
Bromford Group
Rooftop Housing Group Ltd
Live West Homes Ltd
Advance
Aqua Construction
Ark Housing Consultancy
Beard and Tandy Developments
Piper Homes
Platform Housing Ltd
Redcliffe Homes
Redrow Homes
Bristol Property Partnership
Central Housing Investment Consortium
Churchill Retirement Living
Cirencester Housing
CJ Bayliss
Connexus Housing
Rydon Construction
SAHA Development Company
Sanctuary Group
Selwood Housing
Solon South West Housing Association
Sovereign
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Stonewater Procurement
Stroud District Council
Churchill Academy and Sixth Form Centre
Elim
G P Thomas and Sons Ltd
Gloucester City Homes
Greensquare Group
The Crypt School
The Guinness Partnership
United living
Two Rivers Housing
Valleys to Coast Housing Ltd
West Mercia Housing Group
The Salvation Army
Homes in Sedgemoor
J Harper & Sons Ltd
Ken Biggs Contractors
West Berkshire Council
LHC
Land Promotions Ltd
E G Carter & Co Ltd
Yarlington Housing Group
Lovell Partnership Ltd
M F Freeman
Markey Construction
McIntosh DBR
Mcloughin Planning
Monmouthshire Housing Association
Cheltenham Borough Homes
Blackbox Planning
Worcester Sixth Form College
Halo
Ambient
Stourport Primary Academy

Have A Project In Mind?

01452 424234

info@quattrodesign.co.uk

Quattro Design Architects

35+ years delivering Sustainable Architecture across the U.K. At Quattro, we design Architecture for the people who will benefit from the places and spaces we create. Our designs excite and inspire, regularly exceeding expectation. Sustainability, Collaboration and Social Responsibility lie at the heart of our work.

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01452 424234

info@quattrodesign.co.uk

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Quattro Design Architects
Matthews Warehouse
High Orchard Street
Gloucester
GL2 5QY

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