To Build, Or Not To Build? How Repurposing Reduces Carbon Emissions

The Caleb Parker Show

Why we need minimum standards to reach net zero.

Quote from Guest: “The construction of buildings, over the lifetime of the building, is tenfold the environmental impact of the operational ongoing impact.” - Peter Fisher

Summary: Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates joins Bold founder Caleb Parker for Episode 6 of Season 9 where they discuss the impact of upfront emissions as well as the operational carbon emissions.

In this episode Caleb and Peter discuss reuse of existing building stock, the increased use and positive impacts of timber within construction and the current issues this presents, as well as setting a standard in net zero carbon emissions and how office design and services are evolving.

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn

Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn

If you have any questions or feedback on this episode, email [e-mail]

Value Bombs:

The timber square project that we're doing, I think the structure there is about 20-25% lighter than a conventional steel composite structure would've been with concrete in it. - Peter

There are definitely not life safety issues around and the insurance issues are around asset protection. - Peter

There's almost a sustainability arms race happening amongst commercial development. - Peter

What I think a few years ago would've probably been considered imperfections are now considered character. - Peter

What we can't have is buildings that are highly bespoke. Those are the ones that always seem to come unstuck. - Peter

Timestamps:

[01.55] Teaser of Peter’s episode on BBC Radio Four Show, Costing the Earth

[3.10] Repurposing or new developments?

[04.55] Why timber?

[07.16] Timber Square Project

[08.09] Limitations with building in timber

[09.25] Is timber a risky material to use for building?

[11.07] Why Peter wanted to attend MIPIM

[12.20] Setting a minimum standard for net zero carbon

[14.26] How office spaces are evolving

[17.37] Does flexible working change how buildings are designed?

[20.48] Are office spaces becoming more like hospitality spaces?

Resources:

Timber Square

Rip It Up And Start Again

MIPIM Road to Zero

Departure of Architecture, University of Cambridge

CitizenM Hotels

Shout outs:

Nor Norms

Covivio

Simon Sturgis

Built By Nature

Benjamin Bach

David Partridge

Basil Demeroutis

Andy Pyle

About Peter Fisher

Peter Fisher, Director at Bennetts Associates, who create sustainable & enduring architecture.

He is currently leading Timber Square in Southwark and Brent Cross Town 19, projects that are pushing both net zero carbon workplace and hybrid and full timber construction respectively.

Sponsors:

Headline Sponsor: DeltaQ

DeltaQ is a Top 3 European PropTech solution for reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment. Operating from the centre of Brussels, they have developed a solution that learns to predict the behaviour of a building (in context of comfort and energy use) and leverages these predictions to automatically steer the energy systems.

DeltaQ improves comfort while maximising energy and CO2 savings and allows operational teams to turn their attention to added value work instead of repetitive tasks and constant finetuning.

When deployed over a large volume of buildings, DeltaQ will deliver an important contribution to realising the world’s ambition in the fight against climate change.

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