Discover sustainable construction principles and innovations. Learn about energy efficiency, waste management, and green building technologies in this assignment help writing focused on CMA4005.
Sustainable construction is very important for solving environmental issues and improving social and economic conditions. This paper seeks to identify sustainable construction practices and their effects, and this is done using a case study of a low-impact building in the UK. Students relying on assignment help writing can gain deeper understanding through the analysis of a high-standard commercial building designed to be environmentally friendly with the least carbon footprint and efficient use of resources. This paper investigates the social, economic, and environmental impact of sustainable construction, discussing the sustainability measures adopted in the selected building in detail, especially in line with the UK’s goals of lowering its carbon footprint and fostering a green economy. The chosen building for this report is One Angel Square in Manchester, UK. This top-grade commercial building is home to the Co-operative Group and features state-of-the-art sustainable technology including energy-efficient systems, ventilation, and renewable energy, earning it a BREEAM “Outstanding” rating. The report is structured to provide background on the study, describe the building and its sustainable features, and examine the building's social, economic, and environmental effects. Finally, it supports sustainable construction advocacy and suggests recommendations for further improvements. This approach helps assess how One Angel Square exemplifies sustainability and environmental performance standards
6 Years | PhD
One Angel Square is an advanced commercial office complex situated in Manchester, United Kingdom. Constructed in 2013, the building is home to the Co-operative group. This building was designed by the architectural firm 3DReid and has a construction area of about 327,000 square feet and has become a new type of building that represents the sustainable development of the building industry. The structure was constructed to high standards of energy management, including natural ventilation, LED lighting, and a combined heat and power plant that burns used oil (British Council for Offices, 2022). The building has a triple-glazed skin to improve its energy efficiency and the interior design is a fully open plan to promote interaction. Currently, One Angel Square is among the most sustainable office buildings in Europe, having received the BREEAM “Outstanding” certificate. The project was initiated in 2010 and was delivered in three years, a clear testimony of proper project management. It is a state-of-the-art building that demonstrates the Co-operative Group’s vision for sustainable building designs for the future.
Concerning the One Angel Square building, the stakeholders need to respond to certain environmental and sustainability risks and impacts to ensure environmental protection.
People who are in the building industry such as architects, engineers, and building managers must ensure that they install energy-efficient systems. This entails the efficiency of the energy centre and the control of energy using technology in the building. Energy saving minimizes the emission of greenhouse gases and thus is in line with the UK’s objectives of net zero.
The responsibility of construction firms and facility managers is to properly sort and recycle waste during construction and occupancy. To make a difference in waste management or reduce the output of landfills and encourage a circular economy.
Suppliers and contractors cannot buy new products and materials, they have to find environment-friendly and recycled products instead. This enables the company to minimize the environmental effects of resource extraction and encourages the correct utilization of resources in order to meet the supply chain management challenge (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy [BEIS], 2020).
The management of facilities should ensure they use water management systems like rainwater production and water-saving technologies like low-flow fixtures.
The present work reveals that building operators should focus on indoor air quality and efficient ventilation as a way of ensuring the health and productivity of the occupants.
One Angel Square stands as a shining example of a sustainable construction strategy, which has gone a long way to addressing the challenge of climate change by reducing the carbon footprint as required by the UK to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This section examines the materials, methods, and technologies used in the project to attain the high environmental performance espoused by the Triple Bottom Line Model (TBL) which incorporates economic, social, and environmental performance.
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Recycled and Impact Materials
The building utilizes recycled steel and concrete, where the embodied carbon is low. These materials cut down on the negative effects of mining and manufacturing of construction products thus minimizing the emissions of the building.
Triple-Glazed Glass
It has a curtain wall with triple glazing which is an energy-efficient glass with high thermal resistance. This material minimizes the need for heating and cooling, thus making energy conservation a major advantage (Deakin, 2019).
Sustainably Sourced Timber
Interior woodwork includes the use of timber that has been issued with an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification to show that the wood has been sourced from responsibly managed forests with little or no adverse impact on the surrounding environment.
Off-Site Prefabrication
Some components of the structure were factory-assembled to minimize construction debris and landfill emissions on the site. With prefabrication, construction time is also improved, and the impact on the environment is reduced.
Green Cement Substitutes
Maximizing the usage of fly ash and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) in the concrete mix as partial cement substitution decreased the embodied carbon.
A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System.
One Angel Square also uses waste vegetable oil to fuel a very efficient CHP system. This system also produces heat energy in addition to electricity thus minimizing the use of electricity from the grid and the resulting emissions (Dowling, 2021).
Natural Ventilation System
The structure incorporates a unique passive cooling strategy for the ventilation system to minimize the use of mechanical air-conditioning. This not only makes the home more energy efficient but also increases the quality of air inside the home.
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting and Smart System
LED lighting and energy management systems control lighting and heating only when the space is occupied and when there is natural light available (Dowling, 2021).
Rainwater Harvesting and Grey Water Recycling
The building has facilities such as rainwater Harvesting and Grey Water Recycling Systems in order to minimize water consumption. These systems support water conservation and are in concurrence with the sustainable use of the resources.
The TBL model highlights how environmental, economic, and social factors interplay to achieve sustainability:
Environmental Sustainability
The incorporation of low-carbon materials, renewable energy systems, and water-efficient technologies has a low negative footprint. This is in line with the net zero targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the implementation of the project.
Economic Sustainability
Systems that consume less energy and the use of sustainable materials reduce the costs of running the building through its lifetime. For instance, the CHP system decreases energy costs, and LED lighting decreases electricity costs (Dyer, 2023).
Social Sustainability
It offers a healthy and comfortable environment to the occupants thus enhancing the standard of the productivity of the occupants. Natural ventilation, as well as high IAO, enhance the comfort of the living and working environment, which are related to the social aspect of TBL.
Role of the Architect
One Angel Square sustainable design was led by the architect who acted as the visionary. Through the use of passive design elements, which include the provision of natural light and the positioning of the building, the architect was able to minimize the use of artificial lighting and heating. They also chose such sustainable materials as triple glazing and timber from FSC sources, to make sure that the building met BREEAM requirements. The architect was well supported by other professionals to see to it that the design incorporated measures that would enhance energy conservation and reduce the impact on the environment (Elliott, 2020).
Role of the Contractor
Sustainable construction practices were effectively put into practice in the construction by the contractor. This included employing prefabricated elements to reduce waste, incorporating low-carbon concrete, and optimizing the material handling on site. The contractor also ensured that there was proper management of waste within the construction site and the waste that was generated was recycled. By adopting sustainable construction practices, the contractor met the structural and environmental benchmarks and helped in getting the desired BREEAM ranking.
Role of Engineers
The mechanical, electrical, and structural systems of the building were engineered and installed by engineers. Mechanical engineers designed the natural ventilation and CHP systems in the building for high energy efficiency and low carbon footprint. Energy-efficient LED lighting was incorporated as well as smart systems to manage energy usage during occupancy. It was therefore important that the structural engineers ensured that all structural elements were made from recycled and low-carbon materials for the building to meet the structural requirements as well as sustainability targets (Elliott, 2020).
The function of Environmentalists
Environmental advisors were consulted to help reduce the environmental impact of the structure of the building. They also did environmental impact assessments to determine where changes could be made and where BREEAM compliance could be enhanced. These experts suggested the use of rainwater and greywater for their clients to minimize water usage. Also, they paid attention to the quality of the air and management of wastes and thus added more value to the building as far as sustainability is concerned.
Role of Facility Managers
Following construction, facility managers are responsible for EVT of the building’s sustainability performance. They look after the effective functioning of energy-efficient systems, monitor and implement water-saving measures, and ensure that the waste is disposed of in the correct manner. The facility managers thus have a continuing responsibility for managing the efficient use of resources to ensure over time that the building performs as it was designed to perform in relation to the BREEAM assessment (Gibb, 2021).
Functions of Environmental Organizations
UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and Building Research Establishment (BRE) are some of the environmental agencies that play the role of regulators and certification bodies. They looked at the project’s sustainability aspect and checked if it conforms to the BREEAM assessment process. These agencies also provided technical assistance and tools to help the project team in the actualization of the best practices. Their task was to ensure the building’s credibility and to provide an “Outstanding” rating for the environmental performance.
The Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Model
One Angel Square is a good example of the IPD model because it encourages the integration of all parties involved. To achieve this, the project involved architects, contractors, engineers, environmental specialists, and facility managers in the project design phase to ensure the project was sustainable as required. This model supports shared communication, decision-making, and effort coordination, which results in effective project delivery and the best sustainable outcomes.
Policies, legislation, and initiatives affecting the sustainability of the construction industry in the UK had a direct reflection on the design and construction of One Angel Square. Integral to its creation was the UK’s plan to reach net zero carbon by 2050, on which the framework for the application of further sophisticated sustainable aspects was based. Targets such as the Climate Change Act 2008 and subsequent carbon budgets have set down strict emission-cutting plans across the board including the construction sector. This policy led to the use of energy-efficient systems in the building including the CHP system and natural ventilation needed in the building. The project had a clear sustainability vision influenced by the BREEAM sustainability assessment method, used to determine its sustainability objectives (Healy and Molyneux, 2022). The design requirements of a BREEAM “Outstanding” certification framed the choice of low-carbon materials, waste management, and use of renewable energy sources. In addition, the guidance provided by the UK Green Building Council about the sustainable construction of buildings supported the implementation of measures regarding resource efficiency, waste minimization, and water Use. Amendments such as the Building Regulations Part L that deals with energy use affected the building’s thermal characteristics. This led to the integration of triple-gazing for glass and high-performing insulation in the energy loss-reducing crusade. That is why the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) together with the Renewable Energy Directive were other stimuli that encouraged to integration of renewable energy technologies within the building to reach the intended sustainability goals. However, regional planning policies of Manchester pointed to sustainable development, regarding such factors as energy, the place’s biological diversity, and climate change policies (London Green Building Council, 2023). These policies affected decisions to incorporate rainwater and the use of landscaping that incorporates indigenous vegetation in the construction of the building to improve its environmental returns. In conclusion, national policies, legislation, and sustainability measures played a crucial role in facilitating the design and construction of One Angel Square. Such provisions sealed the building to high environmental standards that afforded the UK broader sustainability efforts (Yates, 2024).
Social Impact
One Angel Square has combined the idea of health and well-being of the occupants in a manner. A comfortable environment, natural ventilation, good lighting, and internal air quality all shape the working conditions of the employee adding to their performance and satisfaction. Also, the building symbolically models environmental responsibility by training and encouraging ‘green’ performance within the Co-operative Group and the wider community. Being aimed to ensure occupant comfort as well as environmentally friendly approaches, it became a model of green office environments that influence other organizations to use such practices in their buildings.
Economic Impact
Operations costs have been greatly reduced due to efficient equipment like the CHP and the adoption of LED lighting systems in the building. Less energy use means less in costs of electricity bills which in the long run is premised to be economical. Moreover, the necessity and longevity of all materials used in construction have reduced maintenance expenses and – as a result – the value of the cycle. One Angel Square has also benefited Manchester’s economy in terms of environmental businesses and jobs whenever the building was under construction, and even after completion (Wilson, 2020). Economic benefits have been highlighted below to support the concept of sustainable construction as a worthy investment that gives returns and value addition to the property (Marks, 2019).
Environmental Impact
The architecture and construction of the building have been very effective in minimizing the impact of the building on the environment. It has manufacturing plants’ CHP system utilizing waste vegetable oil for fuel, triple-glazed glass, and high insulation reducing energy consumption. Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling also help save water so that much demand is not made for local sources. Also, specifically, the reduction of embodied carbon has been made possible by the implementation of sustainable construction techniques including recycled and low-carbon material use. Gaining a BREEAM “Outstanding” demonstrates how the building wants to be recognized for its ability to lower its emission outputs across the industry (Peterson, 2021).
The adopted sustainable solutions in One Angel Square reflect harmony between social, economic, and eco-efficient sustainability. Hence, this paper argues that the practice of green construction that aims to reduce the amount of energy consumption, recycle resources, and prioritize occupant health and well-being proves the need to advance construction towards net zero in the UK.
3. Conclusion
The contents of the report are organized in a format that aims to present an account of the elements of sustainable construction incorporated in One Angel Square, a commercial building in Manchester, United Kingdom. It starts by providing a background to the study, the purpose of the research, and a description of the selected building. This report continues with a breakdown of the materials, techniques, and technologies that went into the construction of the One Angel Square building to enhance sustainability. Subsequently, the involvement of architects, contractors, engineers, and environmental specialists is described with a focus on their contributions to the building’s sustainable goals. Further, it reviews the policy and legal framework on design and construction, then evaluates the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of innovative solutions incorporated into the building. Highlights from the report show that One Angel Square is already practicing sustainability measures that meet the Sustainability for the UK’s goals. Efficient utilization of low-carbon materials, energy-efficient systems, and renewable energy technologies has helped to minimize the ecological impact of the building. The elements of the building like face brick walls, natural ventilation, collection of rainwater, and re-cycling of waste make the energy and resources of the building effective. Furthermore, the project leverages policies such as the Climate Change Act 2008 that have encouraged sustainable construction policies. Functionally it provides a physically healthy environment for the people working there such as proper lighting, air, and natural ventilation. Economically, it shows the cause of the reduction in expenses that are incurred in the provision of energy together with boosting of the local economic circle. In summary, the report evidences One Angel Square as a successful example of sustainable construction which provides environmental; economic, and social value.
4. References
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