Talking Point

HOW DIGITAL SPECIFICATION CAN HELP ACHIEVE THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create healthier and happier communities by improving the world around us. For the public sector, which is responsible for the quality of social housing, schools, colleges and even healthcare facilities, these goals have never been more relevant. Lee Jones, Head of Manufacturing Solutions at NBS and Acting Head of Sustainability at Byggfakta Group, explains why SDGs need to be prioritised and how digital specification is key to reaching 2030 targets.

Lee Jones is Head of Manufacturing Solutions at NBS and Acting Head of Sustainability at Byggfakta Group C reated back in 2015, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals provide guidance on improving the life of the planet, part of which presents a framework for how wellness and wellbeing can be introduced throughout society. As part of its guidance, it focuses on how our surroundings can affect our health and welfare. Although it’s been eight years since they were first introduced, its core values are still as relevant as ever – particularly for the public sector, which is responsible for buildings that we live, learn and work in.

There has been a lot of media coverage in relation to various failings, particularly connected to social housing of late. Given that we have just eight years left to achieve the UN’s SDGs, it’s clear there’s a long road ahead until all public sector residential buildings meet acceptable living standards.

For architects and building designers working with the public sector, it means creating homes and other buildings that exceed expectations. Through a greater emphasis on building processes, quality control and materials, the industry can raise its game. However, whilst standards need to improve, there also remains the challenge of climate change – dwellings need to work with our environment rather than against it, whilst keeping energy bills low.

Shining example

Achieving these goals is possible and we only need to look at exemplary projects in the UK to see how it can be done. Social housing projects, such as Goldsmith Street in Norwich, combine Passivhaus design with sunny, light-filled homes. As the largest social housing scheme to achieve full Passivhaus certification, it ensures that fuel bills are kept to a minimum whilst creating homes that are a joy to live in.

Orchard Gardens in Elephant and Castle in London is another example – showing how public sector housing can cater to dense communities whilst still providing quality homes and access to outdoor space. With an estimated one million households currently on waiting lists for social housing in England alone1, the industry needs to ensure that similar projects can be increasingly recreated across the UK.

Managing building information

This demand is proving why greater levels of data and building information are needed within construction. With the ongoing challenge of rising temperatures and skyhigh energy bills, having access to detailed data can help the public sector build more sustainably whilst creating homes that prioritise mental and physical health. there’s a risk that outdated or incorrect information could make it into the final building spec. For manufacturers, this includes avoiding greenwashing and being as honest and upfront as possible in terms of a product’s environmental performance and safety credentials. Providing certifications, such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), help specifiers gauge how sustainable a product is during selection. These are objective, third-party-verified documents that provide transparent sustainability data around a product’s lifecycle.

The increasingly legislative landscape is also placing an emphasis on the quality of homes and their energysaving capabilities. Updated changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, for example, are redefining standards for the energy performance of new and existing buildings. Given recent events, Approved Document F, relating to ventilation, could also need reform. However, without digitally-supplied data and a further uptake of digital specification, architects will be unable to meet the standards required to enact these changes. With reports that major progress is still needed to deliver the SDGs at the level expected of the UN2 and with four million people living in social housing in the UK3 , prioritising these goals will not only help improve living standards but it will also aid the fight against climate change. Now, it’s a case of realising the potential of digital specification in creating a better built environment – our health and happiness may depend on it. 

Architectural practices are also reporting a rise in design and health requirements – the likes of BREEAM, SKA and Living Building Challenge are increasingly included in design specifications. To ensure that these requests are met, robust building product information is needed to help specifiers understand exactly what they’re dealing with. This knowledge allows them to choose the lowest carbon option available and ensure low VOC presence.

A two-way street

However, if architects are to put their best foot forward, building product manufacturers also need to play their part. Specifiers are limited to the information they have available and without updated manufacturer specs,

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Sources: 1https://www.buildtestsolutions.com/energyperformance-in-social-housing 2https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/ 3https://www.ft.com/content/3625aeb1-f1034cbb-8246-0e97d221ba8a