As engineers we’re acutely aware of the impact we can make on the overall energy used to construct a building.

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From the embodied energy of the materials within the building, from their manufacture and transportation to their eventual end point at the end of a building’s life.  

But what about before we get to specifying a steel or timber?  Before we there’s even a project at all. 

 

Sometimes the answer can be to build nothing. And for the Client to simply re-consider how a space is used.

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Often, remodelling an existing building; provides a sufficient and cost-effective option to make the space fit for the Client’s needs.  

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By being part of the design team from the very beginning means we can advise where the low cost, low energy easy wins of adapting the existing building lie. At the same time, we can advise on whether those ‘nice-to-haves’ are sufficiently worthwhile for the level of intervention, disruption, carbon and inevitably costs that they will incur.

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We can therefore help ensure a ‘light-touch’ remodelling project stays ‘light touch’. Before it slides into something more akin to a knock-down and rebuild.

 

Where our refurb does need to grow legs - moving upwards and outwards to fulfill the needs of the Client…. We build Clever.

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This means we look to re-use the existing materials from elsewhere on the project.  We also work closely between steelwork stockists and fabricators to specify steelwork available on the re-used market, which has become available from deconstructing our existing building stock. Thus, resulting in huge energy savings compared to specifying recycled steel which requires a considerable energy-hungry manufacturing process.

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Though it goes without saying, we prioritise timber – which has sequestered carbon over its life a tree - over steel.   And we try to minimise how much of the grey stuff we use specify.

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We know that off-site modern methods of construction means less waste, reduced air leakage and a quicker on-site build.  

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We also look to challenge the design team and educate the client to help them meet their net-zero aspirations.

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By doing this, we can help inform the best possible, most sustainable, end product to help ensure our Client obtains the best value for their asset.