Low Energy Offices

The objective is to develop and demonstrate cost-effective solutions to achieving retrofits of multi-storey office buildings that achieve substantial carbon reductions of 60%> through a whole-building solution. The project will, for the first time, demonstrate the Energiesprong approach in the office environment and carry out other innovative work packages. To achieve carbon reduction targets, office building retrofits are going to have to make a step change from low reduction, few measure projects to whole-building (eg façade, glazing, heating, ventilation and cooling), high carbon reduction solutions. To do this, more cost-effective solutions are needed and therefore innovation in construction methods through the use of offsite methods. The Energiesprong approach (whole-building, offsite construction) has so far only demonstrated this for domestic buildings but not offices. Innovation will be needed as offices are generally bigger, used differently and have more services than domestic buildings. The project will utilise funding to enable this step change to take place so that in the future no funding is needed. The project will conduct economic analysis of office retrofits to determine savings and benefits from different approaches, such as off-site. With this evidence base and building modelling of the demonstrator sites, we will then create a high-performance design achieving larger carbon savings than the norm and innovating by bringing together the normal separate roles or surveyor and designer. A contractor will then be procured to deliver two demonstrators with the client and contractor working in collaboration to ensure high-levels of innovation and replicability. Once the demonstrators are complete the project will enter the Post-construction Analysis stage with extensive monitoring and user-engagement to ensure building performance is achieved as well as lifecycle analysis on the offsite components comparing their carbon content with the removed components. The Exit Strategy will enable project sustainability through extensive dissemination events with the industry and publishing of documents including a report into how to take standardised components and use them on non-standard buildings. The research and procurement will result in demonstrators of the projects approach on partner buildings. Supply chain and building owner engagement is critical to the projects outcomes. Therefore engagement will occur throughout the programme with sector and technology -related organisations as well as the wider supply-chain. These will be cross-border events to encourage partnerships across Interreg Channel areas.

• Savings/Benefit Analysis: detailed assessment of current energy retrofit methods to determine cost-savings and new ways to add-value, involving supply chain, quantity surveyors, architects and designers • High Performance Design: template high performance design, specification, performance guarantees and other procurement documents to deliver >60% carbon reduction, whole-building retrofits, utilising a collaborative construction approach • Demonstrators: delivery of two demonstrators in UK and other partner regions • Post Construction Analysis: analysis of demonstrators to determine carbon and user performance and lifecycle analysis using ISO 14040-2006 to calculate the embodied energy contained in the existing façade and internal fittings that are being removed during the refurbishment process and contrast these with the embodied energy used within the replacement façade and fittings • Exit Strategy: important work to ensure project findings go on to deliver further demonstrators through supply-chain and stakeholder events during design, construction and post-construction as well as reports into over-coming barriers (such as standardisation of components for non-standard buildings)

• Reduce the cost of energy retrofits • Increase the energy reduction from retrofits • Increase the carbon reduction from retrofits • Increase the use of collaborative construction approach

A cross-border project is needed so that knowledge can be exchanged and a sizeable market developed to ensure private sector investment in developing innovative solutions. • Knowledge exchange: the UK has near-zero domestic retrofits demonstrators (Energiesprong approach), we can use the learnings to support development of a non-domestic solution in both countries. • The UK and French office building stock is very similar, due to similar climatic, working, technological and regulatory environments, and therefore solutions will be transferable • The Dutch are leading in low energy retrofits through the Energiesprong and Kantoor vol Energie programmes and can support the project partners in developing a non-domestic solution • By having demonstrators in several countries we can increase the opportunity for the supply-chain and therefore increase the chance of them investing in the projects innovation requirements which may mean initial contracts are less profitable Currently the University of Plymouth and NPS SW Ltd are interested in being partners. We are looking for low carbon specialists, architects, surveyors, engineers and office building owners. Devon County Council does not currently have the resources to be a Lead Partner.