CIRCULAR

ECONOMY
RETROFIT

Designing for carbon reduction

By Charles Iwobi
 Overview
Why should we design for carbon
reduction?

Key drivers and benefits

How do we go about it?

Achieving NetZero retrofit

the Circular Economy way

Measuring- Process flow

Analysis - SWOT

Heat Networks and District Heating

Why should we design out carbon?
 The Law!

UK Climate Change Act targets

Net-Zero (100% carbon reduction)
by 2050
https://tinyurl.com/nv562za5
 KEY DRIVER - Infrastructure Carbon Review
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infrastructure-carbon-review

The Government has no This report makes clear

doubt that cutting that reducing carbon
carbon is fundamentally reduces costs. "It is part
"The UK is driving torward
important to long term and parcel of saving
the delivery of new strategic Pursuing a low carbon
global economic, social materials, reducing
infrastructure alongside the agenda stimulates
and environmental energy demand and
maintenance, modernisation innovation, making
sustainability delivering operational
and renewal of existing businesses more
efficiencies.”
assets". We must achieve competitive not only
This is a critical element
this while contributing to in their home markets
to alleviating fuel
national reductions in carbon but on the
poverty.
emissions, linked to the international stage
SDGs 7, 11 & 13. too.
 Other Drivers and Benefits
● Decarbonize heat & electricity, reduce cost
● Improve energy efficiency
● Reduce waste
● Innovation
● Promote circular economy- more efficient material waste use
● Modularity- extend building lifespan
● Reduced risk of energy security
● Alleviate fuel poverty
● Occupancy well being
● Stakeholder/client demands and expectations
 Achieving NetZero
retrofit the Circular Economy way
The objective of this retrofit programme is to design-out carbon from the fabric of the dwelling and the
energy supply same, by maximizing the use of existing materials and resources, inadvertently reducing
waste, and minimizing the environmental impact of the retrofit.

Strategies for implementing a circular economy

1. Green Homes Grants
2. Energy Efficiency Improvements
3. Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Integration
4. Water Conservation Measures
5. Waste Reduction and Recycling
6. Sustainable Material Selection
7. Building Envelope Improvements
8. Smart Building Technologies
9. Life Cycle Thinking and Design
10. Collaborative Consumption and Sharing Economy
11. Education and Behavioral Change
 CARBON DESIGN OPTIONS
Building design, energy sources and
equipment
• Passive approach to minimize operational energy use:
orientation, natural and demand-responsive systems
for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting

• Pre-fabricated, low carbon, easy to mount wall

insulation cladding, and green roof with solar
Panels.

• Energy- and water-efficient equipment, e.g., HVAC, IT,

LED

• Renewable energy sources: land / space for heat

pumps, solar panels, CHP, etc

• Consider infrastructure and allow for future needs:

provision of charging points for EV, ease of maintenance
access
 Products, material,
maintenance and upgrade

• Switch to materials with lower carbon impacts

• Increase reuse and the recycled content of materials
• Eco-design to improve modularity, enable easier
maintenance.
• Use less material in absolute terms – work with designand
procurement teams.
• Reduce waste and promote circular economy – leaner
processes.
• Training on efficient ordering, storage and use of
materials.
• Pursue offsite production where possible.
• Lean standardization thinking: modularize as far as
possible.
 Behaviors and Ease of Use

• Building Management Systems – ease of

control.

• Metering – half-hourly sub-meters to

identify peak / hotspot loads to enable
optimization and reporting.

• Switches & sensors – to automate as far as

possible and avoid undesired and
unintended behaviours and machine idling.

• Training on how to use equipment

efficiently.
 PROCESS FLOW
Circular Economy Reftrofit

Building Strategy Design and Material

Product Initiation
Assessment Development Planning Selection
● Define the ● Conduct a ● Develop a ● Engage ● Identify and
project scope, thorough comprehensive architects, source
goals, and assessment and circular economy engineers, and sustainable and
objectives audit of the retrofit strategy professionals to recycled
for the circular existing building based on the develop detailed materials for the
economy retrofit. and its systems. findings from the retrofit designs retrofit project.
assessment. that incorporate
● Establish a ● Evaluate energy circular ● Consider
project team and consumption, ● Set specific economy factors such as
allocate roles and waste generation, targets and show principles. life cycle impact,
responsibilities. material usage, & indicators for durability,
other factors. waste reduction, ● Ensure Recyclability in
energy efficiency, compliance with the material
and resource. relevant building procurement.
regulations.
 PROCESS FLOW

Construction and Monitoring and Engagement Maintenance & Reporting and

Implementation Evaluation and Training Improvement Communication

● Execute the ● Implement ● Provide training ● Establish a ● Prepare

retrofit project monitoring on energy-saving regular regular progress
according to the systems to behaviors, maintenance reports on the
approved designs track the waste schedule to circular
and plans. performance of management, ensure the economy retrofit
the retrofit and resource ongoing project.
● Coordinate with measures. optimization. performance of
contractors and the retrofit ● Showcase the
subcontractors ● Use data to ● Encourage measures. success of the
to ensure proper identify areas for stakeholder retrofit project to
installation of improvement and participation and ● Conduct inspire and
sustainable optimization. collaboration in periodic audits encourage
systems and achieving the and assessments others to adopt
materials. retrofit goals. to spot changes. circular economy
practices.
 SWOT ANALYSIS
For implementing Circular Economy Retrofit

Strengths Weaknesses
1. Environmental Benefits: Circular economy 1. Initial Costs: Retrofitting buildings for circularity
retrofitting can significantly reduce the environmental can involve significant upfront costs, including
impact of existing buildings. material and equipment expenses.

2. Cost Savings: Retrofitting buildings for circularity 2. Technical Challenges: Retrofitting existing
can lead to long-term cost savings through reduced buildings can be complex due to structural
energy and resource constraints, outdated systems, and the need
consumption, as well as improved operational for careful integration of circular economy principles.
efficiency.
3. Lack of Awareness: Many building owners and
3. Job Creation: The circular economy retrofit sector stakeholders may have limited knowledge or
has the potential to generate new job opportunities in understanding of circular economy concepts, making
areas such as green construction, renewableenergy it challenging to convince them of the benefits and
installation, and waste management. potential return on investment.
Opportunities Threats
1. Policy Support: Governments and regulatory 1. Economic Constraints: Economic downturns or
bodies can play a crucial role in driving circular financial uncertainties may impact the availability of
economy retrofit by implementing supportive funding for circular economy
policies, roviding incentives, and setting targets or retrofit projects, reducing the overall investment in
standards for sustainable building practices. sustainable building practices.

2. nnovation and Collaboration: There are significant 2. Resistance to Change: Stakeholders, including
opportunities for innovation and collaboration building owners, contractors, and tenants, may be
between different industries, resistant to change due to concerns about disrution,
including construction, waste management, and inconvenience, or perceived higher costs associated
renewable energy, to develop integrated circular with retrofitting.
economy retrofit solutions.

3. Market Expansion: As sustainability becomes an 3. Regulatory Barriers: Existing regulations and

increasingly important criterion for businesses and building codes may not fully support or incentivize
consumers, the market for circular economy retrofit is circular economy retrofit practices,
likely to expand, creating opportunities for new posing barriers to widespread adoption and
products, services, and business models. implementation.
HEAT NETWORKS AND
DISTRICT HEATING

1. Energy Efficiency
2. Reduced Carbon Emissions
3. Fuel Diversification
4. Affordability
5. Reduced Fuel Poverty
6. Integration with Low Carbon
Technologies
CONCLUSION

Energy, sustainability and well-being, essentially describes the solutions I

have outlined for you in this presentation. I tried to capture the ideas
pertinent to the work undertaken at Severn Wye and do believe that these
programs aptly capture the tenets for which the climate action and
sustainability is all about. Furthermore, alleviating fuel poverty is direct
consequence to implementing these solutions. The essence of SDG 13
(Climate Action) lies in the recognition that climate change requires
urgent and concerted action from all and sundry, as well as collaboration
between governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals.

It calls for transformative changes in policies, practices, and behaviors to

transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient future and ensure the
well-being of present and future generations, as captured by Severn Wye’s
mission statement.