This would revolutionise the speed with which up front design could be achieved, overcoming the challenge to investors presented by the need for more upfront design..

There is also a direct correlation with producing less waste both in the fabrication process and on site, meaning that low carbon design also saves precious materials.With the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), we can know the exact quantities of materials required, which limits over-ordering to site, and aids sustainable construction.

Using a DfMA strategy allows for deployment of resources and materials to be carefully pre-planned, making it even easier to monitor and limit over-spend..When you need fewer materials, there is less to be transported to site, meaning fewer transport movements, lower emissions and a reduction in local air pollution.There can also be less packaging used.

(And in the future we should all be striving for packaging to be reusable, eliminating waste from packaging altogether).. A further benefit of reduced quantities and transportation of building materials is lowering the capital cost.We can achieve this through the reduction of raw materials, excavation and construction works, but also through shortened construction programme, which limits overhead and prelim costs, as well as creating a path towards more sustainable construction.. Low operational carbon.

Alongside developing the architectural design to reduce the overall building volume, we should adopt passive design measures, such as considering building orientation, using optimised facades to balance winter heat loss and summer heat gain, enhancing daylight and using natural or mixed mode ventilation.

These sustainable building measures will reduce the MEP plant loads so that plant takes less space; reducing the building volume further.In naturally ventilated buildings, the recommendation is that windows should be opened frequently, even during winter, but this causes substantial heat loss and the inefficient operation of heating and cooling systems.

It is also advised that in the event of further virus outbreaks, heat recovery devices are switched off – affecting the efficiency of HVAC systems.. Additionally, the recommendation to switch off recirculating cooling systems (fan coils and passive chilled beams) to limit the movement of airborne particles would affect thermal comfort and wellbeing due to overheating..These healthy design requirements can have a large impact on energy efficiency and increase pressure on carbon reduction targets and aspirations to design Net Zero Carbon buildings.

It is very important to balance these needs and think carefully about our HVAC management and controls.But most importantly, we need to design buildings which are resilient and adopt the principles of passive design.