Improving The Sustainability Of Existing Buildings

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Improving The Sustainability Of Existing Buildings

• Presented by
• Dr Keith Jones
• Reader in Sustainable Buildings
• The University of Greenwich

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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/

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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 UKs built environment.

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UKs 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

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UKs 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.

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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 UKs 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.

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UKs 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.

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UKs 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.

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UKs 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)

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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Managing climate risks Understanding and
adapting buildings for climate change 6 July
2004, The Café Royal, London
Dr Richenda Connell UK Climate Impacts Programme
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Rising carbon dioxide (900 - 2002) Source IPCC
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Global mean surface temperatures have increased
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Change in England and Wales precipitation,
1873-2003
change from 1961-90 average
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Global temperature changes for 21st century
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Global temperature changes for 21st century in
the context of the last 1000 years
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Changes in average temperature
Low emissions
High emissions
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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
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Changes in average precipitation
Winter
Summer
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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

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www.ukcip.org.uk
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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.

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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
  3MenuID1616

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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.

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Theoretical Framework
Research Themes
A More Sustainable Urban Environment
Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)
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Research Themes
Theoretical Framework
A More Sustainable Urban Environment
T3 Implementation Strategies
T2 Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for
Improvement
T1 Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for
Improvement
Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)
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Theoretical Framework
A More Sustainable Urban Environment
T3 Implementation Strategies
T2 Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for
Improvement
T1 Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for
Improvement
Product
Process
People
Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)
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Theoretical Framework
A More Sustainable Urban Environment
People / Product / Process
Product / People
Process / People
Process
Product
T3 Implementation Strategies
T2 Innovative Solutions to Meet Opportunities for
Improvement
Product / People
Process / People
Product
Process
T1 Baseline Knowledge and Opportunities for
Improvement
Product
Process
People
Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)
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IDCOP Work Programme
INPUTS (EPSRC CALL)
Whole Life
Resource Use
Existing Urban Environment (Drivers for Change)
Society
Economy
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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
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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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
Economics
Whole Life
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A copy of this presentation can be found
athttp//intranet.gre.ac.uk/archcon/keith-jones