ZERO CARBON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UK AND POTENTIAL CHALLENGES TO THE CODE FOR

SUSTAINABLE HOMES

MUHAMMAD RIAZ AKBARProf. Neil HewittProf. George HeaneyDr. Lay Cheng Lim

University of Ulster, UK

CONTENTS

• Introduction / Background• Climate Change/Impacts

• Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)• Challenges to the Code

• Technical• Legal and Regulatory• Economic• Social and Cultural• Delivery Capacity• High rise development

• A Research Approach for Multi-Storey High Density Developments• Research Methodology• Conclusion / Way Forward

Muhammad Riaz Akbar

INTRODUCTION

• CO2 Concentration

• 18% increase in CO2 mean annual concentration, from 315.98 to 372.95 ppmv

• IPCC (2001) “most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities”

• UKCIP 2 to 3.5 ºC by the 2080s Rising Temperature

Proportions of Fossil Fuel Use in Developed Economies

Transport25%

Industry25%

Buildings50%

50 per cent of CO2 is originating from buildingsSource: Roaf et al., 2005 and MAX Fordham and Partners (Adapting Buildings & Cities)

Background

• Climate Change

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The climate of the UK and recent trends, UKCIP, 2009

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All new homes in England will have to be carbon neutral by 2016

Gordon Brown, 6 December 2006

• UK Policies & Targets• Ten year Plan of the Government

» 25% by 2010 (Code Level 3)» 44 % by 2013(Code Level 4)» Zero Carbon Homes by 2016

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CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES

CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES (Contd.)

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EcoHomes CSH

CSH FACTORS

1. Energy and CO2 Emissions

2. Water

3. Materials

4. Surface Water Run-off

5. Waste

6. Pollution

7. Heath and Wellbeing

8. Management

9. Ecology

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CHALLENGES TO CSH

1. Technical Challenges

2. Legal and Regulatory Challenges

3. Economic / Financial Challenges

4. Social / Cultural Challenges

5. Capacity Challenges

Multi-Storey High Density Developments

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1.Technical• Post Occupational Assessment• Limiting Size & Type of Technologies• Private wires• Origin of Energy Supply• Local Energy Source

2.Legal & Regulatory• Voluntary Nature• Single Policy• Un-Clear Definition

3.Economic & Financial• Increased Cost

•27-43% in the absence of WT4.Social & Cultural• Large glazing areas• MVHR (Sigma House Experience)5.Delivery Capacity• Lack of Skilled HR• Capacity of Existing Professionals• Institutional Capacity and Overlapping of Functions)

Multi-Storey Developments

?

MULTI-STOREY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS

• CHALLENGESo Costo Utilisation of enormous resourceso Pressure on infrastructureo Rigid Structural Designo Vertical Transportationo Social, Cultural and Health Issueso Impact on the Surrounding area

• POTENTIALo Lando Costo Location and Accessibilityo Optimum utilisation of infrastructure

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The National House Building Council (NHBC)

England

Detached Apartments/Flats

1997 44% 15%

2002 15% 32%

(Walker, 2004)

BREEAM Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

EcoHomes EcoHomes

CSH Code for Sustainable Homes (Zero Carbon Homes)

HK-BEAM Hong Kong Building Environment Assessment Method

PHPP Passive House Planning Package

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

GBTool Green Building Tool

CEEQUAL Civil Engineering Environmental Quality & Assessment Award

SPeAR Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT STANDARDS

MOVING TOWARDS MORE SUSTAINABLE MULTI-STOREY HIGH DENSITY ZERO

CARBON DEVELOPMENTS

LiteratureSustainable DevelopmentsLegal & Regulatory FrameworkNational & InternationalCommitmentsEcoHomes/CSH/Leeds/PHPP

Sustainability Factors

Best PracticeSustainable Developments

Baseline ModelModel Validation

Through a case study(SQ)

Theoretical Framework

Practical FrameworkTesting/Review

Professional forum

OutcomeSubstantiation

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

MULTI-STOREY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT

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MATRIX (Sustainability Factors)

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 - - - REMARKS

# # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # #

OrientationRenewable

TecnologiesMaterials Water Transport Location AF1 AF3- - - #

SR. NOSUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENTS1 BUILDING 12 BUILDING 23 BUILDING 34 BUILDING 45 BUILDING 56 BUILDING 67 BUILDING 78 BUILDING 89 BUILDING 910 BUILDING 10

F1 FactorAF1 Additional Factor

SUB-FACTORS

SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS

CEEQUALEcoHomesCSH

SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS

PHPPHK-BEAMLEEDGBTOOL

LiteratureSustainable DevelopmentsLegal & Regulatory FrameworkNational & InternationalCommitmentsEcoHomes/CSH/Leeds/PHPP

Sustainability Factors

Best PracticeSustainable Developments

Baseline ModelModel Validation

Through a case study(SQ)

Theoretical Framework

Practical FrameworkTesting/Review

Professional forum

OutcomeSubstantiation

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BASELINE MODEL

MULTI-STOREY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT

• CEni forum

• 50 Professional Experts (Developers, Policy maker, Academia, Property Professionals (engineers/architects/planner),

Experts (PHPP/EcoHomes/CSH))

MODEL TESTING / REVIEW

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LiteratureSustainable DevelopmentsLegal & Regulatory FrameworkNational & InternationalCommitmentsEcoHomes/CSH/Leeds/PHPP

Sustainability Factors

Best PracticeSustainable Developments

Baseline ModelModel Validation

Through a case study(SQ)

Theoretical Framework

Practical FrameworkTesting/Review

Professional forum

OutcomeSubstantiation

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MODEL VALIDATION

MULTI-STOREY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT

Primary Data •Teleconference•FGD (Structure Question)•Indepth Interviews

Outcome

Empirical Work

Case Study (SQ)

Primary Data•FGD•Structured interviews •Observations

Secondary Data•Library study•Internet browsing•Design specifications•Reports etc.

Data analysis

Research findings

Validation of baseline model for Code 3

International best practices

Secondary Data•Library study•Internet browsing•Design specifications•Reports etc.

Methodology

Analysis

Baseline Model

SubstantiateModel

Assess against the sustainability factors (CSH/PHPP/LEEDS etc.)Identification of gaps and challengesIdentification of the elements/factors of best practices that can be applied to CSHH in UK

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CONCLUSION

Summary• Introduction post occupational assessment• Consideration of origin and capacity of private wire for energy supply from

renewable source• Best combination renewable technologies, integration of renewable energy with

the whole system• Introduction of a renewable heat tarrif complimentary to that existing for

renewable electricity and role of feed in tarrifs in general to offset the initial and running costs of renewables

• Definition of Zero Carbon Homes• Introduction of carbon reduction credits at a single dwelling level• Capacity enhancement etc.

• Location • Thermal Mass• Embodied Energy• Impact on the infrastructure and surrounding developments

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CONCLUSION

WAY FORWARD

CSH CSHH

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THANK YOUQuestions/Suggestions

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