What is sustainable building design and construction?

Embracing these practices in office design and construction

There will always be a demand for new office spaces and facilities. However, as architects and designers, we have a responsibility to minimise our environmental impact wherever possible. For example, in our approach to Cat A fit-outs for sustainable office buildings.

Currently, the building industry is not sustainable, so it’s crucial to proactively seek better solutions. One way that all companies can be more sustainable is through their offices. With the rise of sustainable building design, many office projects focus on adaptive reuse, repurposing and futureproofing to reduce waste and raw materials extraction, saving carbon across the project lifecycle.

At the same time, designing for sustainability has become an essential element in architecture and construction. The increasing demand for sustainable office buildings has empowered the industry to create more sustainable projects. A great example is the growing Passivhaus movement, which raises important questions about whether the vast carbon cost of insulation and mass is worth the energy saved. We need to design systems to be more flexible, use more resources available for free and design for durability.

The benefits of sustainable building design

Sustainable building design has several benefits, some of which we outline below. But first, let’s break down embodied and operational carbon.

• Embodied carbon (Scope 3): Refers to the cumulative carbon footprint associated with the entire lifecycle of building materials. It includes extraction, manufacturing, transportation, construction, commissioning and eventual disposal.
• Operational carbon (Scopes 1 and 2): Represents the greenhouse gas emissions associated with company vehicles, refrigerants used in building operations and energy consumption. This includes heating and cooling. It reflects the carbon emissions generated during an entity’s day-to-day operations and activities.

Together, scopes 1, 2 and 3 represent lifecycle carbon.

Important considerations when designing for sustainability

• Lifecycle carbon reduction
  
  Sustainable building design reduces operational and embodied carbon throughout a building’s lifespan. This is crucial as climate scientists warn that rising greenhouse gas levels are pushing us towards unprecedented global temperature increases. This poses a significant risk to human life. The aim is to decrease overall CO2 emissions, either directly or in CO2 equivalent (CO2e), ensuring a net-zero increase.
• Energy efficiency
  
  Energy efficiency is important in reducing the carbon footprint of buildings. We can reduce operational carbon emissions through energy-efficient systems and renewable sources of electricity.
• Improved indoor air quality
  
  Sustainable building design prioritises using materials and systems that enhance indoor air quality, such as low-emission building materials, ventilation systems, etc.

• Reduced water consumption 

  Sustainable building design uses water-efficient systems such as low-flow faucets, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, which can significantly reduce water consumption.

• Enhanced employee experience 

  Sustainable building design incorporates features that enhance employee comfort, such as natural lighting, green spaces and improved air quality. This helps to increase productivity and job satisfaction. According to a study from the IWBI, the certifying body of the WELL program, WELL Certification demonstrates a series of significant benefits, including:
  – A near 30% improvement in overall satisfaction with the workplace, jumping from 42% to 70%.
  – A 26% overall increase in reported wellbeing scores.
  – A 10% increase in reported mental health and a 2% increase in reported physical health.
  – A 10-point jump in median productivity scores.

• Increased property value
  
  Sustainable buildings are highly valued in the real estate market due to their environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

How sustainable buildings can be cost-effective

Research from the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) reveals that investing in green buildings enhances property values, typically by 4%, due to lower maintenance and energy costs, resulting in a rapid return on investment, often within seven years. Green buildings consistently yield cost savings, with LEED-certified structures reporting nearly 20% lower maintenance expenses compared to typical buildings.

Green retrofit initiatives also reduce operational costs by nearly 10% within a year. Between 2015 and 2018, LEED-certified U.S. buildings saved approximately $1.2 billion in energy, $149.5 million in water, $715.2 million in maintenance and $54.2 million in waste-related expenses.

At the same time, green building practices promote efficient resource use, reducing utility bills and environmental impact. Buildings account for 41% of U.S. energy consumption, surpassing industry and transportation. Buildings consume 14% of potable water, but green buildings aim to cut water use by 15% and save over 10% in operating costs. For perspective, retrofitting 1% of U.S. homes with water-efficient fixtures could reduce 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is equal to removing 15,000 cars for a year.

Overall, traditional building practices waste millions of tons of materials yearly, while LEED projects divert over 80 million tons from landfills, which is projected to reach 540 million tons by 2030.

Incorporating sustainable design into your workplace

Sustainable building design and construction are essential for a greener future as they prioritise decarbonisation, energy efficiency and resource conservation. Improved indoor air quality, reduced water use, and enhanced wellbeing are just a few of the many benefits for occupants.

Economically, sustainable buildings yield higher property values and lower costs while reducing environmental impact. If you’re looking to incorporate these practices into your next architecture and design project, please get in touch to learn more.