Changing the way we think
Low carbon construction needs a new mindset. A different approach. A factory reset.
We need to challenge assumptions and ask different questions if we want to make real progress.
For the fundamentals of design, we need to go back to basics - less is more. Then it's asking the right questions of the supply chain such that we are demonstrating demand and supporting R&D for low carbon construction methods and materials.
Do we really need mechanical cooling, or can we optimise passive design? Something as simple as shutters on buildings can drastically reduce operational carbon – this design tweak doesn’t cost much but it will have a lasting impact. Can we lease components so that buildings can be more easily adapted to changing market need without creating waste? Take light fixtures, for example, which could be leased for a ten-year period and swapped out as the design of a building changes.
It’s clear that low carbon requires adaptation and flexibility. There should be no ‘one size fits all’ approach when engaging across the supply chain. Reducing carbon will ultimately impact project timelines, and project cost. Kier Construction is now having early conversations with clients, exploring how designs can be optimised for low carbon before construction starts and identifying opportunities for innovation. Low carbon typically costs more upfront. We know this. But we need to communicate the benefits of making the switch, and why it will be better and more cost-effective in the long run.
Regulation around low-carbon development in London – and across the UK – is still evolving. This creates challenges, but in the absence of clear guidance, industry should continue to champion a new and improved way of building. Discussing how we can overcome the barriers and learning from each other is essential if we want to make London a market leader in decarbonisation and help this great city thrive in a new, low-carbon future.
“Investors don't necessarily see everything in the same way as we do. We spend a lot of time trying to convince them, and planning regulations will help us do that. For them, it’s a different journey.”
