Low Carbon Design
Low carbon design enables our mission is to create a sustainable world through innovative and responsible architectural design. We encourage our clients to incorporate low carbon design solutions in their projects from start to end.
Carbon Emissions occur throughout the life cycle of buildings.
They are split into two categories:
- Operational Carbon: The emissions produced to run a building. Providing a highly insulated fabric in conjunction with renewables can achieve net zero carbon in operation.
- Embodied Carbon: This is the carbon produced from production, manufacturing, transport, maintenance and demolition. This is why the specification of materials and consideration of re-use has a significant impact over the life of a building.
As operation carbon reduction becomes the norm, embodied carbon will account for 70-80% of emissions in new buildings.
Our Approach To Low Carbon Design
Our approach to minimise carbon emissions is to design buildings that perform over and above the build regulations and achieve net zero carbon in operation. We believe all new projects should be low carbon design, built using local sustainable materials and incorporate circular economy principles from the initial design stages. Footprint Architects can assist our clients with specifying materials with low embodied carbon and support them with whole life cycle analysis.
What is a carbon neutral building?
A carbon neutral building is when carbon or greenhouse gas emissions are minimised at all stages – including design, construction and throughout use. Any emissions are offset by climate-positive measures, such as solar panels or materials that store carbon, so that over time the result is a carbon zero building.
Steps To Achieve Low Carbon Buildings
- Set a clear target at an early design stage.
- Reuse where possible. Making use of existing features and materials.
- Select materials and energy sources that have low embodied energy.
- Offset any emissions using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.
It's not all about carbon
We specify healthy, non-toxic materials and look to reduce waste, minimise production of virgin materials and design for a circular economy
Retrofitting Existing Buildings
Majority of carbon emissions from the building industry come from existing building stock. Retrofit offers one of the best opportunities to improve the environment in our towns and cities and reduce the carbon footprint of our current buildings.
This is why we love the challenge of converting existing and historical buildings to modern insulation and energy standards. By re-purposing existing buildings we are making a positive move towards a more sustainable future.
Lush Green Hub
Designing for zero waste in the cosmetic industry
Low Carbon Design Case Study
The Green Hub is a building that showcases LUSH’s commitment to reuse, repurpose, repair and recycle materials from across their business. Footprint Architects were commissioned to assist LUSH in designing and delivering the fit out of their new £2.3m centre, enabling the ethical cosmetics brand to find solutions for materials that would otherwise become waste. LUSH is creating circular economies, working to close the loop on packaging and water waste, and find solutions to reuse, repurpose, repair and recycle materials from across their business. Our team successfully provided a design, co-ordination and fit-out which supported LUSH with achieving their goal of zero waste.
The hub has enabled LUSH to recycle 81% of manufacturing waste
Process 500 tonnes of waste water treatment with on site DAF
Tonnes of recycled manufacturing waste
Our Carbon Pledge
We are committed to becoming a carbon zero business.
In 2024, our commitment to offset our carbon includes:
Offsetting 18 tonnes of carbon through various schemes
125 trees to be planted to offset our carbon production
2030 committed to halving our carbon emissions
Enrolling to BCPs Climate Essentials programme
Additionally, we are challenging our clients to cover the carbon impact of their projects by offsetting carbon. For a typical house, this can be up to 50-80 tonnes and we are committed to planting an additional 20 trees for every new commission we receive.
Relevant Projects
LUSH Green Hub
Designing for zero waste in the cosmetics industry
LUSH Green Hub
Designing for zero waste in the cosmetics industry
Bobby’s Bournemouth Refurbishment & Retrofit
Refurbishment and Retrofit of Former Debenhams Building into a Thriving Mixed-used Development
Bobby’s Bournemouth Refurbishment & Retrofit
Refurbishment and Retrofit of Former Debenhams Building into a Thriving Mixed-used Development
Donkey Lane Passive House
A self-build, off-grid passive house in a countryside setting
Donkey Lane Passive House
A self-build, off-grid passive house in a countryside setting
Melksham Oak Community School
A model for inspiring secondary school expansions.
Melksham Oak Community School
A model for inspiring secondary school expansions.
Downton Sustainable Family Home
A new build sustainable family home in a conservation area
Downton Sustainable Family Home
A new build sustainable family home in a conservation area
Salisbury Passive House
An award winning affordable self-build, eco-friendly home focusing on passive house design principles
Salisbury Passive House
An award winning affordable self-build, eco-friendly home focusing on passive house design principles
Get Your Project Off The Ground
Get in touch today to kick-start your project. Let us know a few details and we’ll be in touch to discuss bringing your vision to life.
