Warren and Mahoney’s Sustainability Lead, Emily Newmarch, shares key insights from the practice’s newly launched ‘Go Zero’ Low Carbon Design Guide, which provides clarity and actionable steps toward reducing the environmental impact of the built environment.
As the climate crisis continues to unfold with undeniable urgency, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more pressing. From rising temperatures to extreme weather events, it is clear that our current trajectory is unsustainable. Even former cynics like Jeremy Clarkson are acknowledging the reality of global warming – underscoring the consensus that action must be taken now.
The construction industry, a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, plays a critical role in shaping a more sustainable future. As architects, we understand that the choices made in designing, building, and maintaining spaces have far-reaching consequences. But armed with the latest insights and technology, we can now mitigate both the embodied and operational carbon impacts of projects to reduce their climate footprint.
Navigating the world of sustainable design can often feel overwhelming. The industry has developed a complex array of technical jargon and theories, making it difficult for many – particularly those at the start of a design process – to engage meaningfully with sustainability efforts. For investors, developers, and consultants, this often results in frustration or the assumption that sustainability is too difficult, expensive, or complicated to pursue.
Recognising this challenge, Warren and Mahoney has developed the ‘Go Zero’ Low Carbon Design Guide—a comprehensive, accessible resource to help stakeholders cut through the jargon and take practical steps toward reducing the environmental footprint of their projects.
The ‘Go Zero’ guide provides a clear, actionable framework for sustainable design, outlining:
- Why sustainable design matters, and why it’s critical to invest in it
- Practical design strategies that can be implemented in real-world projects
- Ways to measure and track carbon reductions
This guide is not just a theoretical document, but a pragmatic tool to help those in construction make informed decisions to enable better design outcomes for both people and the planet.
“We hope that by demystifying low carbon design, we can unlock greater collaboration and innovation across the industry,” says Emily Newmarch.
“The more we can empower others with a foundational understanding of low-carbon design, the greater the collective impact will be in creating a healthier, more sustainable world.”
By breaking down the complexities of sustainable design, the ‘Go Zero’ guide serves as an essential tool for anyone in the design, development, and construction sectors. Warren and Mahoney’s hope is that it will spark more conversations and inspire more action to design spaces that are innovative, beautiful and sustainable.
Download Warren and Mahoney’s Go Zero – Low Carbon Design Guide here.