Building resilience to climate change

1 Introduction
2 Resilient design definition
3 Resilience anticipates change and context
4 Passive and flexible solutions are superior
5 Resilience identifies and mimics solutions in nature
6 Local renewable resources are superior
7 Resilience transcends scale
8 Resilience safeguards basic human needs
9 Resilience of diverse and redundant systems
10 Resilience is not absolute
11 A fabric first approach
12 Future-proofed
13 About IMA
14 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] Introduction

Faced with the disruptive challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic, war in Europe and widespread changes to our climate over the past two years, the world must strengthen its resilience against these global events. The same should be said for the built environment, as it adapts to changing climate conditions. It is why, when it comes to buildings, they must be designed in a way to adapt to changing conditions.

With the UK facing soaring and unprecedented energy prices, resilient design, its relationship to sustainability and how it will future proof our built environment to the challenges ahead must be considered.

Our world is changing and we must make changes in response. With more extreme climate events becoming the norm whether it is the deep freezes and floods of winter to the record-breaking temperatures of the summer of 2022, it is crucial that our built environment is able to withstand long-term climate changes. When you consider that a typical building will still be in use 60 years from now, the climate that building will encounter may be significantly different. It therefore needs to be resilient, particularly in light of the energy price shocks we are currently experiencing. But what do we mean by ‘resilient design’?

[edit] Resilient design definition

According to the Resilient Design Institute, resilient design is defined as ‘the intentional design of buildings, landscapes and communities to adapt to changing conditions in order to maintain functionality’. It is based on eight key principles which we will look at in more detail:

Resilience anticipates change and context;
Passive and flexible solutions are superior;
Resilience identifies and mimics solutions in nature;
Local, renewable resources are superior;
Resilience transcends scale;
Resilience safeguards basic human needs;
Resilience of diverse and redundant systems, and;
Resilience is not absolute.

[edit] Resilience anticipates change and context

One of the biggest changes we are currently experiencing are the energy price rises, and the context remains that we still need to achieve net zero. Enshrined into law, this 2050 target has not shifted, but the environment within which we are operating has, not just in terms of COVI-19 and the fact that people continue to work from home more, but also because of the energy price rises. It is imperative that we ensure our homes are adaptable to those sorts of changes within the context of the net zero targets. These are legally binding targets and we welcome the net zero review that Chris Skidmore MP will be carrying out over the future months to ensure the UK will deliver on its climate change targets. These are significant changes that people are experiencing and are likely to experience in the next few years.

[edit] Passive and flexible solutions are superior

Priority should always be given to passive solutions, which is why a building’s fabric needs to be upgraded first. Active, bolt-on renewable technologies exist, but are only as good as the building in which they are to be installed. Therefore, if the building is leaky and inefficient to begin with, there is only so much the new technology can achieve. By reducing the total energy demand of a building, the size and capacity of any renewables can be reduced, which in turn will reduce capital and running costs. Only when energy demands are reduced to a low level, is it possible to service those demands in the most efficient way. It is important not to add undue burdens through the running costs of renewables.

In 2010, analysis by the Energy Saving Trust1 found that of the sample tested, the majority of heat pumps installed as part of a government scheme did not achieve their efficiency of performance. Further research between EST, government and industry found that performance and efficiency of heat pumps improved in well-insulated homes2.

[edit] Resilience identifies and mimics solutions in nature

The natural world has evolved to achieve resilience and there is a move towards more bio-based solutions. There is extensive research and development into biomimicry (nature-inspired innovation) within organisations that are looking at how we can make our products more renewable and bio-based, both in terms of the environmental and social aspects. Of course, it is one thing having the most bio-based solution, but if this is at the expense of agricultural land, then it is not the right thing to do. Bio-based raw materials such as mycelium3 is one area of focus as a potential building material. This is a mushroom- based fungi insulation material which is durable and resistant to water, mould and fire. It’s a promising and unconventional new material and a low-impact solution for buildings, but this is early days in terms of its development.

[edit] Local renewable resources are superior

Renewable resources that are produced locally and reduce the need for travel are particularly relevant to resilience. Given the issues with COVID-19 and the very long lag times for delivery due to various lock-downs in China and other countries, global supply chains struggled to meet demand and manufactured products did not arrive in time. Local renewably sourced products can not only reduce transport-related carbon emissions but will help meet environmental targets, as many companies are looking at certifications such as BES 6001: Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products standard and reducing their Scope 3 emissions. Many companies have set in place ambitious environmental targets to become net zero. This involves targets for on-site generation and solar panels, alongside reducing the energy intensity of their products.

[edit] Resilience transcends scale

Climate change is a global long-term issue and efforts need to be taken now to ensure that the buildings we build today are resilient for future generations. This will mean avoiding expensive retrofits in the future to get to net zero homes as we have the resources, capacity and capabilities to build these homes today. The timescales that we need to work within are urgent but this would help build resilience of our built environment for the longer term.

[edit] Resilience safeguards basic human needs

Rising energy bills will mean an increase in fuel poverty this winter with many people having to make the choice between heating and eating. Research by the Institute for Government (IfG) has said that UK households are still likely to be facing high energy bills in the winter of 2023 which is why the adoption of resilient energy efficiency measures within our homes (which are currently amongst the least energy efficient in Europe) will safeguard these households from the shock of rising gas prices.

Those who cannot afford to heat their homes are typically living in homes that need the most work done
in terms of insulation – it is therefore a double dilemma. These are likely to be pre-1980s homes built to pre-Part L Regulations. If they are not able to afford heating, they are unlikely to be able to afford to pay for the cost of the installation of energy saving measures and as winter comes, will need to make choices between heating
and eating.

[edit] Resilience of diverse and redundant systems

More diverse communities, ecosystems, economies and social systems are better able to respond to the global challenges we face, which in turn makes them more resilient. It may sometimes be in conflict with our drive for a sustainable built environment, but a retained redundant system could increase resilience as it could provide a back-up in the event a primary system fails.

[edit] Resilience is not absolute

Resilience is not simply a tick box exercise when it comes to future-proofing our built environment. It is an ever-evolving process, as our buildings must be able to respond to both what is expected and also what is unexpected. The changes that have occurred due to climate change and the chaos this is likely to bring, will mean resilience must respond and adjust to different kinds of weather and the challenges this will bring. We also need to look at our populations, including our ageing population, mass migration and the nature of how we live. Whilst resilience to all situations is impossible, incremental changes can always be taken in order to respond to vulnerabilities.

[edit] A fabric first approach

One of the most important things we could do is to make our homes more resilient to some of these energy shocks that we are currently experiencing. As we have stated, the best way of doing so is to improve the fabric of the building, rather than relying on additional technologies and having to buy a renewable solution to reduce energy. By bringing

in passive measures from the outset, energy demand for space heating can be significantly reduced allowing energy to be used more efficiently, prudently and to a higher performance. This will mean improving the fabric of the building before bringing in other technologies to provide optimal performance for the home. In turn, householders will see reduction in energy bills and a quicker payback if energy prices continue to increase at this rate.

Eighteen months ago, the return on investment for a deep retrofit would have been much longer than it is now. Fast forward to today and the return on any investment made will have a much faster rate of return as the money saved on bills will be much more substantial4.

[edit] Future-proofed

Resilient design is a complex issue that involves long- term thinking both in terms of a building and its use, but also in relation to the altered climate of the future. As the first line of defence, an improved and thermally efficient building fabric will not only go some way to ensure our homes are resilient to a changing climate but also has potential to contribute to solving fuel poverty. Turning resilient design into reality can also be done at a fraction of the cost of the government’s short-term ‘sticking plaster’ approach to rising energy costs and will put us on the best route to building better for the future. Future Homes and Future Buildings Standards which will significantly improve the thermal performance are critical and therefore it is essential their implementation is brought forward to avoid building homes that will not be future proofed.