The last time that I expressed my views in BSj, I wrote that for sustainability and design to be successfully co-ordinated in the workplace, engineers and architects needed to work in a truly interdisciplinary manner.

Primarily, I meant engaging the architects that we work with in the sustainability agenda, since they are the first port of call in building design decisions. Consequently, they can promote sustainable thinking to our clients; ensuring they understand the issues and realise the benefits to design of following a more sustainable strategy.

We have followed this route in our offices and managed to link up well with some excellent architects who are taking this strategy on board. Our results have been satisfying, but some projects have still missed significant opportunities in reducing carbon emissions, using natural materials and dealing with water and waste in a sustainable manner. Reflecting on the outcomes of our current approach, I am convinced that we can do more as engineers to push the solutions through and beyond the “sustainability debate”.

At a recent architect's conference, the chair said that he did not believe in sustainability – basically that we are doomed. He, and many like him, are obviously in need of some credible demonstrations of what we can achieve when good, commercially led engineering delivers strong sustainable performance. The new Part L, the advent of energy services companies and this 10% renewables issue open the door for us as engineers to lead the way. Are you up for it?

Trevor Butler, director, BDP Sustainability

Source

Building Sustainable Design