Low Carbon Design

A fundamental requirement for making a new developments low carbon is to design out any avoidable energy requirements. Demand reduction takes priority over covering energy requirements through low carbon or renewable sources. Design considerations need to encompass fabric energy efficiency, low carbon building services as well as site layout and infrastructure. Therefore in an ideal scenario, the approach to low carbon design for a new developments should start before the site is chosen or the brief prepared in order to ensure that every aspect of low carbon design is addressed.

An understanding of the energy demands and servicing requirements of a new building is key. Successful low-carbon buildings are therefore usually the result of close and early collaboration with services engineers and energy simulation experts.

The overriding principle is to design buildings in such a way that the need for building services such as heating and lighting is much reduced by implementing energy efficiency and choosing orientation and layout wisely.
 

Further good sources for low carbon design

Energy Saving Trust (EST) who have compiled a range of publications on low-carbon housing and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), who have compiled a guide on low carbon design. The Zero Carbon Hub has published its recommendations on a fabric energy efficiency standard for zero carbon homes.