Ecobuild 2009 – Atkins expert reveals confidence in future of low carbon design - 05 March 2009
Low carbon design will ride out the economic downturn, Atkins’ environmental management specialist Tony Iles told a forum at Ecobuild, the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment.
Encouragingly, BREEAM Excellent-rated buildings are holding their rental rates far more strongly than others – an indication that they are held at a premium by occupiers. The market is showing that ‘green’ credentials are considered more important than low cost construction, and Tony predicts a growing demand for low energy buildings, hastened by the likelihood of future oil price rises.
“A major challenge for our industry is to use the opportunity of the current recession to raise the profile of low carbon buildings. This is a time for quality, not quantity, and there is a growing consensus that this approach will be here for a while. In future, we might consider the downturn to be the boost that low carbon buildings needed in order to become mainstream,” argued Tony.
But to deliver low carbon design, decisions have to be taken at the very start of a project. The ‘whole life cost’ must be considered, with designers taking responsibility for a building’s long term performance.
Tony encouraged clients, consultants and contractors to use integrated, multidisciplinary teams as early as possible in the project cycle. He said that carbon should be one of the central considerations for all building projects - high energy options should not be available. Tony also stressed that the link between design performance and actual performance must be improved.
“Investing for the future is essential, with improved knowledge transfer a must in order to share information on best practice for intelligent, low carbon design and successful, innovative building techniques,” added Tony.
Five other Atkins experts will be taking part in forums at Ecobuild, giving practical and applied information with examples of best practice.
Atkins’ contribution to Ecobuild is part of the company’s journey towards Carbon Critical Design. Atkins is helping lead the industry to make reduction of carbon the central priority for all capital projects, engaging with clients, industry and government to help the sector steer a course with a sustainable future.
Attracting over 30,000 people from across the industry, Ecobuild is free to attend for registered visitors. The event is taking place from 3 – 5 March at London’s Earl’s Court.
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For more information:
Ben Thompson
Head of PR +44 (0) 1372 752154 / +44 (0) 7901 977869
Ben.Thompson@atkinsglobal.com
Notes to editors:
Atkins (www.atkinsglobal.com) is a multinational engineering and design consultancy, providing expertise to help resolve complex challenges presented by the built and natural environment. Atkins is the largest multidisciplinary consultancy in Europe, the largest engineering consultancy in both the UK and the Middle East, and the UK's second largest architecture firm.
Atkins’ current projects include:
• Major infrastructure works, such as design and programme management of the civil works for the Dubai Metro red and green lines;
• In the defence sector, the MoD’s Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme – overseeing the development of the next generation of medium weight armoured vehicles for the military;
• Significant road contracts, such as a £150 million, five-year integrated contract for Gloucestershire County Council, delivering highway maintenance, design, emergency response, winter maintenance, re-surfacing and recycling;
• Key rail projects, including a £65 million, three-year resignalling contract in Basingstoke; and
• High profile designs, such as Durrat Al Bahrain, a spectacular 20 sq km resort for 45,000 people on the south coast of Bahrain, comprising 13 man-made islands.
Atkins won Engineering Consultant of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Building Awards. The company was named among the “20 Best Big Companies to Work For 2008’ by The Sunday Times; The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2008; and The Times Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work 2008. The company was construction sector winner for the third consecutive year in the Target National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2008.
Atkins is the official engineering design services provider for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.