The response to climate change is here and now

Even without the Stern Review on the economics of climate change, those responsible for the design of buildings in Britain — clients, architects and building-services engineers — have certainly been able and increasingly willing to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. Perhaps the biggest impediment to progress has been the desire of architects to design buildings that look spectacular. Attitudes are changing, however, and ‘the dash for glass’ is coming to an end. Indeed, there are some architects who wonder why there was ever such unbridled enthusiasm for glass. Ken Shuttleworth of makearchitects encapsulated the progressive mode of thinking at the recent BSRIA Briefing when he declared, ‘We are promoting the death of the glass box.’ The cause of the Stern Review can only be advanced by architects becoming more concerned with the function of buildings than their appearance. As ever, it is client demand that provides the main driver, as evidenced by a survey reported in our news section. The proportion of architects being driven by such client demand has grown by 20% in the last year, according to software developer Autodesk. What is more, energy-efficient HVAC systems feature more highly on their agenda, with nearly twice as many architects specifying their use on over half their projects than was the case five years ago. The message is getting through. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has welcomed the Stern Review for its focus on scientific and engineering solutions. CIBSE has been active in stimulating interest in reducing carbon emission with its 100 days of carbon clean up campaign and the carbon 60 project to reduce carbon emissions from its headquarters buildings. Just as important is the setting up of the register of low-carbon consultants (www.cibse.org) to make available expertise as an essential part of the design team and also essential to the efficient operation of buildings. In the spirit of the Stern Review, low-carbon consultants can take design and building management beyond minimum standards of energy-efficient design and operation. The building-services sector and the construction industry as a whole is ready and able to make its contribution to the 80% reduction in carbon emissions that the Stern Review believes is ultimately needed to stabilise carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere. What the Government should do now is not to set up focus groups to talk endlessly but to support the industry by enabling it to test new technologies, establish their benefits and shortcomings, and make that information widely available. Engineers are cautious about trying unproved technology. Sharing knowledge will speed up the reduction of carbon emissions from buildings.