Net zero building centre with BSRIA and LSBU

[edit] Introduction

The Net Zero Building Centre is a joint venture between BSRIA and LSBU. It was created to be an innovation hub and centre of excellence that builds on the shared strengths of BSRIA and LSBU in the field of low carbon buildings. The Centre creates knowledge and innovation for LSBU’s curriculum through research informed teaching, and helps shape BSRIA’s industry leading training and CPD's bringing together expertise across academia and industry.

[edit] Key areas of work

[edit] Decarbonisation of heating and cooling

Decarbonising heating and cooling for the entire building stock is an essential factor in meeting 2050 climate mitigation goals. Alternative low and no carbon energy sources can provide cleaner, more efficient solutions to providing thermal comfort. The Centre explores and use of heat networks, heat pump design, energy recovery, electrical building design, storage, hydrogen, renewables, and data centres, defining the future of a decarbonised built environment.

[edit] Smart building performance

Smart technologies and digitisation can optimise building performance in a way that reduces energy and carbon emissions without compromising comfort. The Centre advocates for increased technological innovation in the built environment. Areas of interest are offsite construction methods; smart manufacturing processes; performance data for compliance and verification; data driven facilities management and maintenance.

[edit] Indoor environmental quality

Air pollution contributes to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, lung cancer and dementia, and research shows that air quality indoors is often worse than that outside, whilst covid-19 transmission further highlights the importance of good ventilation in buildings. The Centre seeks to advance knowledge around indoor air quality; links between air tightness/ventilation and health outcomes; fire safety; comfort and productivity; well-being; acoustics and vibration. To advancing life quality through improvements to indoor environmental quality.

[edit] Policy implementation

The Centre works to produce impactful, applied research that ushers in positive change at scale. The challenges posed by decarbonising the built environment require a seamless interaction between research and policy. The Net Zero Centre collaborates with local government to further heat policy; retrofitting existing stock; improve compliance; link building performance to policy; education and changing practice.

[edit] Working projects

[edit] Bridgend local energy markets

Bridgend Local Energy Markets, creates a pathway for decarbonisation with a Local Area Energy Plan funding a Local Energy Market competition to develop projects that build the tools necessary to accelerate the pathway to net zero carbon in Bridgend. ICAX, Cambridge Energy, and the BSRIA LSBU Net Zero Building Centre were among the successful projects chosen to test innovative options for Local Energy Markets in Bridgend Council.

[edit] Bridgend minewater SBRI scheme

Bridgend Minewater SBRI Scheme, studies found that extracting heat from water contained in a disused coal mine, might be technically feasible but practically challenging and costly to implement. The consortium of ICAX Ltd, Cambridge Energy, LSBU and BSRIA were among the successful applicants in an SBRI Affordable Heat Networks competition to explore innovative options for cost reduction and design flexibility.

[edit] Lambeth net zero skills programme

Work with Lambeth Council to understand the local retrofit supply chain and workforce in the two main retrofit channels: Public-Procured and Private-Purchased. Gap analysis and evaluation of the roles and skills needed across both channels to 2030 and 2050, a stakeholder map of employers and supply chain, and what the council and other stakeholders should do to address gaps and barriers and optimise local benefits from the delivery of net zero retrofits

[edit] Lambeth net zero accelerator

The Lambeth Net Zero Accelerator follows from the successful Lambeth Net Zero Skills research project. In this project NZBC and Lambeth Council are partnering to create a toolkit to help Local Authorities more easily address communication barriers and accelerate the roll out of net zero projects in their communities.

[edit] Gloucestershire innovate to renovate

The 6 district authorities of Gloucestershire, in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council are formed as the Innovate to Renovate partnership. Innovate to Renovate is the first phase of work to build an offer around home retrofit, shaping and creating a service for Gloucestershire branded as Retrofit Centre. The Net Zero Building Centre is very pleased to have been appointed to carry out an early scoping exercise and looks forward to releasing updates as this exciting project progresses.

[edit] Training course and CPD's available

• Net Zero Short Courses at LSBU
• BSRIA Net Zero Training and CPD
• Soft Landings Level 1
• Air Tightness Testing Level 1
• Air Tightness Testing Level 2
• Building Regulations: Understanding Part L and Part F
• Life Cycle Costing - Theory and Practice
• Acoustics in Building Services
• Building Services Explained
• Introduction to Ventilation Systems
• Electrical Building Services - An Introduction
• Mechanical Building Services - An Introduction
• Building Regulations Explained

[edit] Research laboratories and testing facilities

• Digital Architecture and robotic lab
• Acoustics reserach at LSBU
• Virtual engineering lab
• Acoustics testing at BSRIA
• Heat Pump testing at BSRIA

This article is based on information sourced from the BSRIA / LSBU Net Zero Building website for further information on any of the points or to contact the centre directly visit https://www.netzerobuildingcentre.com

--BSRIA

[edit] Related article on Designing Buildings

• BSRIA.
• BSRIA articles.
• BSRIA definitions .
• Decarbonisation.
• Indoor Air Quality.
• Net zero.
• Smart Buildings .

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