Improving The Sustainability Of Existing Buildings

1. Improving The Sustainability Of Existing Buildings Presented by: Dr Keith Jones Reader in Sustainable Buildings The University of Greenwich

2. Introduction • Achieving the goal of sustainable development continues to be one of the global challenges of our era. • In 1987 Brundtland defined sustainability as “…meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs…’ The Brundtland Report (1987) Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, ISBN 019282080. • The debate was broadened in 1992 at the United Nations Rio Earth Summit where Agenda 21 (UN Department of Economic & Social Affairs 1992) was formulated as guidance for those working towards a more sustainable future UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (1992) Agenda 21, http://www.un.org/

3. Introduction • and again at Kyoto (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1997) where the impact of climate change was considered. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1997) The Kyoto Protocol, http://www.unfccc.int/ • In Johannesburg (UN World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002) the obstacles to the implementation of Agenda 21were examined and a new way forward proposed. UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) What was achieved and the way forward, http://www.un.org/. • I am not going to look at these documents in details although I do recommend you study them in your own time. • What I am going to focus on is what are the challenges now for the UK’s built environment.

4. UK’s Position • The UK Government identified 4 aims in its strategy for sustainable development • Social progress that recognises the needs of everyone • Effective protection of the environment • Prudent use of natural resources • Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth DETR, (1999) “A better quality of life – a strategy for sustainable development in the UK”, DETR, London, ISBN 0-10-143452-9. • It then went on to challenge the construction industry to develop more sustainable practices in pursuit of its goal to raise the collective quality of life of UK citizens • Reuse of existing buildings • Design for minimum waste

5. UK’s Position • Aim for lean construction • Minimise energy in construction • Minimise energy in use • Do not pollute • Preserve and enhance bio-diversity • Conserve water • Have respect for people and their environment • Set targets to monitor performance. DETR, (2000) “Building a better quality of life – a strategy for sustainable construction”, DETR, London.

6. UK’ Position • Finally, in 2001 the UK Built Environment and Transportation Foresight Panel looked at what was needed for UK buildings over the next 20 years. • The report drew attention to the fact that as only a small percentage of it is replaced each year, over the next 20 years, much of the built environment will comprise that which already exists or is in the planning stage. • Thus, if the UK’s built environment is to address the changing needs of society in a more sustainable manner, the construction industry will have to work largely with buildings that already exist.

7. UK’s Position • In addition to other issues the report outlined the changing demands that would be placed on the built environment (population demographics, knowledge based working practices, climate change etc) and suggested specific actions around whole life thinking and the use of advanced technology, materials and processes which would be needed to address them.

8. UK’s Position • In its summary the report: • Recommended improving existing buildings through developing innovative processes, technologies and components for the maintenance, repair and refurbishment of existing built assets. • Identified the potential for new technologies and ‘intelligent products’ to improve living and working environments and provide feedback to improve construction quality. • Identified the culture change required from ‘up-front’ considerations to whole life principles that would be required amongst built environment stakeholders if a truly sustainable built environment is to be achieved. DTI, (2001) “Constructing the future”, The Built Environment and Transportation Foresight Panel, www.foresight.gov.uk, London.

9. UK’s Position • The majority of work to date has focussed on the design and construction phase of the building life cycle (see other speakers). • Whilst the outputs from this work are beginning to have an affect, because of the legacy of existing building stock, it is unlikely to produce a sustainable urban environment in the short to medium term. • This fact was highlighted at the Sustainable Buildings 2002 conference as an area requiring significant attention. • Existing buildings is a theme at the SB2005 in Tokyo. (www.sb05.com/conceptE.html)

10. The Challenges • Existing buildings are complex entities which are interwoven into the fabric and culture of society. • Function • Emotion • Historic significance etc • Their management and use involves a multitude of stakeholders. • Owner • Built environment professionals • Users • Financiers etc

11. The Challenges • Over their life cycle they consume resources that far exceed those associated with their original construction. • Operation • Maintenance • People are at the core of sustainability. • How people use buildings makes them either sustainable or un-sustainable • Thus, the challenge facing built environment professionals working at the post construction phase of the building life cycle is to address directly the spaces which most people occupy during their typical day.

12. Addressing The Challenges • In essence, the challenge is to study people focused systems, derive models and theories that explain and describe these systems, and identify solutions which would reduce any adverse affects of buildings on the environment. • These solutions will most like involve the use of innovative technology for new/improved products and processes

13. Research Challenge • Developing these solutions requires a greater understanding of the: • Impact that the use of existing buildings have on the environment and quality of life of occupants/users; • Changing demands being made of existing buildings; • Potential for technical/operational developments to improve the performance of existing building; • Barriers to implementation (i.e. stakeholder reticence, the role of whole life thinking etc). • I will outline some of the work that is underway in the UK to address these issues.

14. Impact of buildings on the environment and quality of life • In order to improve the sustainable performance of existing buildings you first have to know the impacts that the buildings have on the environment. • There are lots of toolkits currently available for measuring sustainability (over 100 were identified in a recent UK study) • Specific aspects of sustainability (e.g. Environmental impact assessments) • Specific sectors of the built environment (e.g. Ecohomes) • Specific aspects of the building life-cycle (e.g. Design for the Environment)

15. Impact of buildings on the environment and quality of life • Very few toolkits take a holistic approach to the problem and even fewer are applicable to existing buildings. • One which can be applied to existing buildings is SPeAR. • SPeAR was developed by Ove Arup as a positioning toolkit to allow owners of buildings to explore the sustainability of their existing buildings.

16. Changing demands on buildings • There are many factors that will put new demands on existing buildings. • Changing demographics, Life-styles etc • The following are extracts from a presentation given by Dr Richenda Connell.

17. Managing climate risks ‘Understanding and adapting buildings for climate change’ 6 July 2004, The Café Royal, London Dr Richenda Connell UK Climate Impacts Programme

18. Rising carbon dioxide (900 - 2002) [Source: IPCC]

19. Global mean surface temperatures have increased…

20. Change in England and Wales precipitation, 1873-2003 % change from 1961-90 average

21. Global temperature changes for 21st century

22. Global temperature changes for 21st century in the context of the last 1000 years

23. Changes in average temperature Low emissions High emissions

24. Daily maximum temperature: probability of exceedance Central England summer temperature Baseline (1961-90) 31oC has 1% chance [I day per summer] 2080s, medium-high emissions 31oC has 11% chance [11 days per summer] 39oC has 1% chance

25. Changes in average precipitation Winter Summer

26. Summary of expected changes • Long-term / seasonal averages • Warmer, drier summers (spring, autumn too) • Milder, wetter winters • Rising sea levels • Extremes • More very hot days • More intense downpours of rain • Shorter return periods for high water levels at coast • Uncertain changes in storms – possible increase in winter

27. www.ukcip.org.uk

28. Potential developments to improve the performance of existing building; • The technical and process developments that are needed to improve the performance of the UK existing building stock are the focus of a major research project, IDCOP (Innovation in the Design, Construction and Operation of Buildings for People) that is underway at the University of Greenwich.

29. SUE IDCOP • Innovation in Design, Construction and Operation of buildings for People is a consortium comprising 4 principal universities and over 40 industrial partners. • Dr Keith Jones • Prof Derek Clement-Croome • Dr Bakr Bahaj • Prof David Gann • IDCOP is part of the EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environment Initiative http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/WebSite/default.aspx?ZoneID=3&MenuID=1616

30. What is SUE IDCOP? • Purpose: • To find new ways to improve the performance of buildings over the whole life cycle. • To support a reduction in the consumption of non-renewable resources in a way that is economically viable and socially acceptable. • Focus: • On the building façade as a climate moderator. • Objectives: • To explore technical, economic, social and environmental implications for existing facades • Outcomes: • New rules, standards and procedures for design, production and maintenance of existing buildings.

31. Theoretical Framework Research Themes A More Sustainable Urban Environment Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)

32. Research Themes Theoretical Framework A More Sustainable Urban Environment T3Implementation Strategies T2Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for Improvement T1Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for Improvement Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)

33. Theoretical Framework A More Sustainable Urban Environment T3Implementation Strategies T2Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for Improvement T1Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for Improvement People Process Product Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)

34. Theoretical Framework A More Sustainable Urban Environment People / Product / Process Product / People Process / People Process T3Implementation Strategies Product T2Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for Improvement Product / People Process / People Product Process T1Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for Improvement People Process Product Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)

35. IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) Whole Life Resource Use Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy

36. IDCOP – Work Programme Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy

37. IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy Whole Life Economics

38. Technical modifications to the existing façade (WP1) IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy Whole Life Economics

39. Technical modifications to the existing façade (WP1) IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Stakeholders Climate Change Review of sustainable technologies Prioritise opportunities Develop prototypes Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy Whole Life Economics

40. New building management processes (WP2) IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy Whole Life Economics

41. New building management processes (WP2) IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Waste in current practices Technology and human behaviour Intelligent agents for building personalisation Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Society Economy Whole Life Economics

42. Integrating Vision: achieve change in sustainable performance of existing buildings (WP3) Users perceptions IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME Dissemination Crosscutting issues The role of maintenance Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Technical modifications to the existing façade (WP1) Society New building management processes (WP2) Economy Whole Life Economics

43. Uptake of outputs by industry & building stakeholders Reduction in the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Improvements in the performance of existing facades A research agenda for further change PROJECT OUTPUTS OVERARCHING SUCCESS FACTORS IDCOP – Work Programme INPUTS (EPSRC CALL) PROJECT FOCUS PROJECT DELIVERABLES PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME New knowledge : role of building façade as mediator between internal and external environments, attitudes of people towards this and consequences for environmental, social and economic sustainability Specific technical knowledge to assist new product development : materials components, sub-systems, sensors & monitoring technologies Specific performance knowledge assists the production of models. Enables self assessment of performance of existing envelopes, future designs & maintenance & refurbishment options. CPD & training materials for technical and professional staff engaged in refurbishment of existing buildings Stakeholders Climate Change Whole Life Integrating Vision: achieve change in sustainable performance of existing buildings (WP3) Resource Use Improving the performance of existing facades as climate moderators to reduce the consumption of non-renewable resources over the building life cycle Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change) Technical modifications to the existing façade (WP1) Society Users perceptions New building management processes (WP2) Economy Whole Life Economics

44. A copy of this presentation can be found at:http://intranet.gre.ac.uk/archcon/keith-jones