Their experiences underline the necessity of using concrete data and research to inform decisions, ensuring that hospital environments are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally efficient.. 4.

The industry needs a shift in business models, moving away from return on capital employed to a focus on sustainability and innovation.Achieving net-zero carbon goals is critical, and future construction must be more digitally integrated and collaborative.When we talk about the sustainable design of buildings, we have two core objectives: reducing environmental impact, and providing a healthy space for occupants.

For this reason, implementing a sustainable design strategy incorporates every aspect of the building process, from the earliest design stages through to construction and post-completion.Evaluating an asset’s performance, and understanding how its entire environment operates, forms a key part of our work within Sustainability and Building Physics at Bryden Wood.We look at how a building gains heat in summer, or loses it in winter; how it requires natural or artificial light; as well as issues like temperature control, moisture and air movement.

Although some of the focus on this topic was lost in the last recession, the industry’s renewed commitment to sustainability in design is intensifying.This is in large part due to the climate emergency and our need to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

However, it’s also due to our simple desire to create the best buildings we can; those which promote health and well-being for occupants, and are comfortable, durable and safe to use.. WELL building standards and passive design.

As in so many other areas of our lives, COVID-19 has created new challenges within the architecture and design space, with clients now regularly requesting COVID-secure design.Chilled water systems are compatible with a range of external heat rejection options, including dry cooling, dry cooling with partial evaporative assist, and full adiabatic cooling.

This allows for optimisation based on climate and environmental considerations.. A key factor in maximising the heat rejection system (with chilled water) efficiency is minimising the heat rejection unit approach temperature i.e.the difference between the external air temperature and the chilled water outlet temperature.

Every degree closer results in mechanical cooling being eliminated for potentially hundreds of hours, leading to significant energy savings.In hot, dry climates, using adiabatic cooling which cools towards the wet bulb temperature which is often much lower than the dry bulb temperature, can further reduce the number of hours of mechanical cooling required.