GW4 Centre of Excellence in the Built Environment
University of Bath: Mike Lawrence (PI), Pete Walker
University of Bristol: Wendel Sebastian
Cardiff University: Chris Tweed, Yacine Rezgui
University of Exeter: Matthew Eames
Background
The overarching need to reduce global carbon emissions was recognised by the Kyoto Protocol. This is an EU-Wide priority as expressed in its action on climate targets for 2030 (40% reduction in emissions) and 2050 (80-95% reduction in emissions). Construction is responsible for nearly 50% of UK Carbon emissions (BIS 2010) and research in this area therefore has the potential to make significant contribution to these targets.
We focused on embodied carbon, predicted to account for more than 95% of total construction related emissions by the 2020s. CO2 emissions are generated at all stages of a building’s life cycle. The materials and energy involved in the construction of a building is embodied in it for the duration of its life. Energy is consumed in using the building, and more energy and materials are expended in refurbishment or demolition. Much research has concentrated on reducing in use emissions but less work has been done on embodied carbon.
The GW4 Centre of Excellence in the Built Environment will act as an incubator for research innovation projects drawing in both academics and industrialists, bringing together expertise in novel materials, digital technology, thermal modelling, composite structural performance and retrofit. It was hosted within the University of Bath’s Building Research Park (BRP) and the EPSRC-funded HIVE, which are a platform for world leading research into low carbon construction materials and systems at full scale. This will create the potential for building envelopes and retrofit solutions that can make dramatic changes to the embodied carbon of both existing and new build.
Project Summary
The community hosted meetings and workshops to establish the Centre, bringing in GW4 researchers, industry and government contacts. The workshop developed collaborative research groups in several key challenge areas, and raised awareness of the Bath Building Research Park and HIVE building facilities. Research ideas were taken forward to funding applications, with multiple industry and non-GW4 academic partners.
