Future Dialogues : Net-Zero Interiors - How do we do it?

Future l Dialogues

Webinar 15.10.20

Net-Zero Interiors How do we do it?

Future Dialogues

Net-Zero Interiors How do we do it?

This is a write up of our Future Dialogues Webinar hosted on 15 October.

Perkins and Will Panel

Adam Strudwick Principal

Moojan Kalbasi Senior Associate

Hala ElKhorazaty Senior Interior Designer

adam.strudwick@perkinswill.com

moojan.kalbasi@perkinswill.com

hala.elkhorazaty@perkinswill.com

Sunand Prasad Chair Principal, Penoyre & Prasad UKGBC Chair of the Board

Asif Din Sustainability Director asif.din@perkinswill.com

We are going through a global experience unlike any we have encountered before, but it is important we do not lose sight of the ongoing crisis that is climate change. This year has brought into focus the effects that we, as a global community, can have on our fellow humans and the world at large.

The UK Government has established sustainability targets for the built environment—essential measures as the built environment alone is responsible for 40 percent of the UK’s carbon emissions. While the architecture industry is leading the way in designing zero-carbon new builds, interior design has not kept apace.

For the majority of interiors projects, it is not yet possible to deliver a net-zero embodied carbon scheme. Currently, fit-out is responsible for 40 percent of energy in a building, and 300 tonnes of fit-out goes into landfill every day. If we are serious about meeting our targets and tackling climate change and, we must adopt a new approach—and quickly.

“Achieving a net-

zero interior remains an under-discussed possibility

”

A bold goal for the next 10 years “Achieving a net-zero interior remains an under-discussed possibility,” said Sunand, who began the discussion by introducing the Net-Zero Now report, the London studio’s pledge to deliver net-zero interiors. He provided background on a parallel architecture pledge made last year, which offers a net-zero carbon operational design strategy to all of our architecture projects to RIBA Stage 2, at no additional cost to our clients.

Outlining the projects that have successfully implemented the architecture net-zero pledge, Moojan

Our latest Future Dialogues webinar convened industry leaders to unpack this problem and propose solutions. Host Sunand Prasad, Principal of Penyore & Prasad, a studio of Perkins&Will, was joined by our London studio team, including Principal Adam Strudwick, Senior Associate Moojan Kalbasi, Senior Interior Designer Hala ElKhorazaty, and Sustainability Director Asif Din.

The built environment alone is responsible for 40 percent of the UK’s carbon emissions →

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Design out waste and pollution

Keep products and materials in use

Kalbasi said, “We have delivered a Stage 2 report for eight different projects. Of those eight, clients have adopted parts of the proposals in four cases—Oxford Science Park, the European Commission, CURA Health Hub, and Soham, a housing project in east of England.”

Adam Strudwick outlined the details of the interiors pledge, promising to this year launch a consultation process with key contractors, subcontractors, and supplier partners to ensure our supply chain will meet our net-zero targets. “By the end of 2021, we want half our projects—and all projects by 2025—to be designed to be 100% circular,” he said. “By 2030, we pledge that all of our projects will be net-zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a whole lifecycle carbon assessment. This is a bold goal.”

A circular approach One of the major concerns, unique to the fit-out industry, is the standard commercial lease length. As end users demand more flexibility, leases have become shorter, a trend that has become apparent over the past 10 years. Shorter leases mean more

Regenerate natural systems

change, and therefore, the potential for a lot more waste. Given that this trend is set to continue, it is essential to approach design with a “circular” mindset.

Hala ElKhorazaty provided further insight into the principles of a circular economy – design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems - emphasising that there is a common misconception that waste happens during the construction, rather than the design process. “

“Sustainability does

not have to be more expenseive. Lean can be cheaper.

”

We need to give products and materials multiple lives, by viewing buildings as a material bank, to minimise the use of virgin resources and regenerating natural systems to eliminate the use of non-renewable energy sources,” she said.

“Sustainability does not have to be more expensive. Lean can be cheaper.

Either way, companies need to focus not just on financial cost, but also carbon cost.”

One attendee asked about the potential risks and opportunities that arise at the intersection of net-zero carbon, the circular economy, and WELL certificates. Asif Din emphasised that there are issues with looking at any one of those elements in isolation.

“Although it can be more complicated, you cannot look at a building through one of those lenses separately from the other. You need to evaluate a building holistically,” he said.

Actionable best practices

waste,” he said.

One of the highlights of the discussion was the much-needed revision of Category A (Cat-A) fit- outs. These spaces are habitable but “bare bones,” allowing tenants to install functional design and finishes that suit their workplace preferences.

While this does offer workplace interior designers a blank canvas, the materials used for the raised flooring and suspended ceilings are often never used by tenants and end up in landfill. Adam stressed the need to shift to more progressive lease terms to avoid the perpetual circular reinstatement to Cat-A.

“By focussing on designing for disassembly, this allows us to be more felxible and reduce waste.

”

Drawing attention to EU sustainability initiatives, another guest asked whether there are any approaches the UK should incorporate. Asif highlighted the Netherlands and Germany as examples, citing the importance of not just waiting for the government to impose regulations on sustainability but encouraging landlords and developers to drive change.

Steven Charlton, managing director of Perkins&Will’s London studio, spoke about technology used in Japan during the design process, and how this can support circular design principles. “By focusing on designing for disassembly, this allows design to be more flexible and will reduce

Sub-contractors

Main Contractors

Suppliers & manufacturers

DRIVE CHANGE Conduct engagement forums with project partners

Clearly communicate the expectations for the project from the start

Provide detailed preliminary requirements

Always request/provide completed a PDS & EPDs

Future Dialogues

Conclusion The webinar was attended by more than 70 key stakeholders, including clients, end-users, consultants, and contractors. A live poll illustrated that for most companies, cost remains the critical constraint in improving sustainability. The poll revealed that only 63% of respondants had a netzero carbon goal or target at their place of work. The final question asked if the COVID-19 period had changed their thougts on the climate crisis, with 54% saying it had not had an impact.

What the webinar made clear is not only is there a need to start the conversation about net-zero embodied carbon interiors, but also to take swift action to achieve the industry-wide goals. The Net-Zero Now Interiors pledge is a missing piece of the design process puzzle, ensuring every aspect of a project is considered holistically to achieve the goal of delivering net-zero embodied carbon buildings.

Menti Poll Results Of these project drivers, pick the two that you feel have the highest priority on your organisations projects:

Does your organisation have a net-zero carbon goal or target?

Has the COVID-19 period changed your thoughts on the climate crisis?

What do you feel are the barriers to achieving net-zero carbon embodied interiors over the next 5 years?

Client buy in.

Getting further traction above the current traditional points based sustainability initiatives Budgets for main contractors

Cost

Short, intensive programmes, without much lead in.

Sustainable & circular options can have longer lead times & need time for research.

Energy production and Legislation.

Last year the EU subsidised fossil fuels to the tune of â‚Ź50bn

Supply chain.

Lead in times for specialised materials.

Cost, lack of suppliers and options, lack/cost of certification, lack of knowledge and commitment at senior levels when additional cost is pointed out

Breaking the barriers of adopted design and construction principles.

Engaging with supply chain as the innovation is here now. Focus on pre-manufacture

The perception of budget

Insufficient supply chain competition.

Having a full understanding of what the best choices are to make to have the least impact environmentally. There is not sufficient data available and people are very guarded on their information on the impact of their products or simply just don't know

Economic factors- short term business and government goals to overcome C-19 economic impact, inertia in the developer community to change their business model, timescales for manufacturers to shift production processes to circular

Gettting a GWP (kg co2e) for every single component. This can be measured for the product itself (construction, operation etc.), but transport will always be a different variable depending on source & final destination of the component.

Cost. understanding how this can be achieved. More examples in action.

Cost

Building performance data collection, interpretation and usage.

Existing building stock and contractual arrangements between tenants and landlords. Changes in workplace practices leading to changes. Significant M&E interventions (which are required after 15-20 years) usually mean full refit.

Lack of legislation or requirements. There’s always the practices and individuals who advocate these great solutions, but how do you get the whole industry to take the same path.