Data Driven Infrastructure

Some believe that we’re reaching the edges of technological development in cooling, certainly from current supply chains.

This means that the focus and the priority should shift from operational to embodied carbon during the design..Embodied and operational carbon increase in a decarbonised grid scenario.

Data Driven Infrastructure

In this context, the request for Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) has increased notably over the last few years.The production of WLCA is required by BREEAM and the GLA.In a BREEAM NC 2018 assessment, it is possible to achieve up to 7 credits by doing a WLCA, so for developments that aspire to Excellent or Outstanding ratings the analysis of embodied carbon has become very important.

Data Driven Infrastructure

The GLA requires the preparation of a WLCA pre-planning and at post-construction and requires the analysis of the results both with the current carbon factors and a decarbonised scenario.. Additionally, bodies such as the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), RIBA, GLA and UKGBC, have developed guidance documents on embodied carbon, which include specific targets and roadmaps to zero carbon prior 2050.Whilst these four bodies have been essential in pushing the agenda for low carbon, there has been some confusion across the industry due to the misalignment of targets and WLCA scopes between them as demonstrated in Figure 3.

Data Driven Infrastructure

LETI has been working in collaboration with other bodies and industry groups to resolve these inconsistencies and have published the ‘Embodied carbon target alignment document’.. Based on this document and the comparison of the current targets defined by LETI, RIBA and GLA, an average performance for non-domestic commercial building performance (A-C) would be to achieve an embodied carbon around 1400kgCO.

/m², good practice would be below 970kgCO.“I am what’s called a BIM (Buildings Information Modelling) Coordinator, which means I digitally design and deliver building services in the Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) Engineering department.

The 3D design models I create contain all the data that’s needed.So you can see not just how an assembly looks, but how it will operate as well.

The M&E models can be combined with mechanical, structural and architectural models to make a complete “virtual” building.That lets us see how systems interacts with other aspects of the design, and also allows us to assess compliance.”.