What are the benefits of environmental building services?
Used effectively, environmental building services are beneficial for companies, consumers and the planet. Long-term consideration of the carbon lifecycle and reduction of energy consumption means cost-effective buildings with lower operational costs, built in harmony with their surroundings.
Whether retrofitting or renovating to create a more sustainable building from an older design or building to Passivhaus specifications from the ground up, environmental building services should be at the heart of all modern construction projects.
At CPW, our sustainability practices are built into everything we do, so our designs are functional and future-proof. See our full list of services to learn more about how we can help you to create the next generation of greener buildings.
What are environmental building services?
Environmental building services refers to the design, development and implementation of sustainable operations, using strategies and technologies that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Companies and estates teams are now looking to strategise for long-term sustainability, particularly through MEP design. HVAC systems, lighting and other appliances are responsible for the bulk of electricity consumption in modern buildings. Water conservation is also a concern for many designers. This is where environmental MEP specialists can suggest solutions to reduce costs and environmental impact.
What are the benefits of environmental building services?
Implementing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy as well as daylight optimisation, good building fabric design and heat-recovery systems can help to reduce energy consumption, operational costs and the costs associated with future maintenance.
5 key environmental building accreditations and certifications
1. BREEAM
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, or BREEAM, is the most well-established method of rating the sustainability credentials of buildings. Buildings are rated on a scale from Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent to Outstanding. The certification uses a range of sustainability metrics including:
Energy and water use
Health and wellbeing
Pollution
Transport
Materials
Waste
Ecology
Management processes
2. LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a worldwide building certification programme, designed to help building owners and operators be as environmentally responsible and efficient as possible. The rating system spans not just the design of the building but also operations and maintenance. Where it differs from other certifications is its focus on energy modeling rather than consumption and its use primarily as a design tool.
3. WELL Building Standard
Focusing on human wellbeing, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based measuring system. WELL certified buildings will have a positive influence on all aspects of the occupant’s health and wellbeing. WELL looks at seven factors that could impact an occupants’ health;
Air
Water
Nourishment
Light
Fitness
Comfort
Mind
4. Fitwel
The Fitwell certification offers design guidelines for buildings to make a real impact on the occupants’ health and wellbeing. Fitwel certifications are scored with either one, two or three stars based on the degree to which the spaces impact on health and wellness and the ability to prove that there is a demonstrable link between the procedures and overall wellness.
5. Passivhaus
Passivhaus or Passive House refers to buildings that conform to a strict energy efficiency design standard, which aims to create buildings with ultra-low energy consumption needs and a massively reduced ecological footprint. To achieve this energy efficiency, Passivhaus buildings use high levels of insulation, high performance window technology, high airtightness and a mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery.
Technologies used in sustainable MEP design
The range of technologies available to MEP designers means that we have more control than ever in reducing energy consumption and improving sustainability.
Ventilation and heat recovery
Installing efficient air circulation systems is key to a building’s sustainability, balancing minimal heat loss with sufficient air flow to promote good quality of life for occupants. The ideal ventilation system will use low energy heating techniques and make the most of existing heating methods. Sustainable systems also commonly use heat produced by machines and human activity to heat a room – making the most of the air that has already been heated, thereby reducing waste.
Digital controls and sensors
Energy monitoring tools and controls can help owners to track their usage and manage HVAC systems and lighting. This can mean that systems are only used when rooms are occupied and heat and light may be supplied based on levels of occupancy. For instance, this may mean if one person is in a large room, only the lights nearest to the individual may switch on to avoid lighting a whole room unnecessarily.
High efficiency heat pumps
Heat pumps are fast becoming the cost-effective, environmentally friendly heating and cooling system of choice, as they produce a high yield and less waste than gas pumps. They’re also environmentally versatile and can be used in all types of homes and commercial spaces.
Solar collectors
Solar thermal systems, which deliver heat by absorbing sunlight, have gained increasing popularity over the last few years thanks to efficient solar collection technology, whether they’re installed as the sole energy system or used in conjunction with boilers and thermostats.
Our environmental building services projects
Bicester Eco Town – Client: Crest Nicholson Regeneration
As a continuation of the UK’s first eco-town, this ground-breaking development delivers 228 new energy efficient homes to the area. This zero carbon project uses sustainable features such as environmentally friendly construction materials, zero landfill waste, PV panels, rainwater harvesting and smart metering.
Watermead Park – Client: Raynsway Developments
This Passivhaus accredited office building was the first of its kind in the UK. It maximises solar gain, and features a super-insulated envelope, a heat-recovery ventilation system and LED lighting to create an energy efficient building that supports staff health and wellbeing.
George Davies Centre – Client: University of Leicester
Our design for this state-of-the-art development encompassed teaching rooms, offices, laboratory facilities and support spaces and is currently the UK’s biggest non-domestic Passivhaus building. It also has a BREEAM rating of excellent. We achieved this dramatic cut to energy consumption through an effective building envelope, mixed mode ventilation and overall intelligent design.
Check out our sustainability projects page for even more in-depth explorations of Passivhaus & zero carbon design.
Environmental building services consultancy
Get in touch and talk to one of our expert teams across the UK to discuss your project needs and discover how we can help bring your work to life. Our team of passionate and experienced MEP engineers are committed to creating spaces that minimise their impact on the environment and maximise user comfort and functionality.