By working with climate calculations at an early stage, they can not only ensure that climate targets and legal requirements are met - they can also strengthen their business, win more contracts and competitions, and influence crucial design decisions. Here, Plant's own expert in sustainable and climate-smart architecture, Alexander Ståhl, explains how the entire construction industry benefits from architects working actively and strategically with climate calculations from an early stage.
- If architects can integrate climate impact as a natural part of their methodology, they will be able to create a great benefit for clients, contractors and other actors
How do you see the role of architects in the green transition of the construction industry and how can climate calculations help them take a more central role in that process?
Architects are in a unique position to take on different roles, including an advisory one. At the same time, they have the opportunity to combine design with climate-smart architecture at an early stage. By analyzing the climate impact of different designs, building systems and materials, they can ensure that climate targets and legal requirements can be met cost-effectively. If architects can integrate climate impact as a natural part of their methodology, they will be able to create a great benefit for clients, contractors and other actors as they have the ability to see the whole and communicate about it better than any other party.
What are the main business benefits for architects to work on climate calculations in the early stages of a project?
Winning contracts by being able to quickly, easily and clearly demonstrate to clients that they already have clear ideas in tenders or competitions about how it is possible to achieve climate goals is a great advantage. At the same time, it assures potential clients that they can take responsibility for climate impact in the design process, but also follow projects from start to finish with full control over the project's climate impact. Climate calculations are now an extremely important and obvious part of the design process, so it is also reasonable that they should be able to charge for performing climate calculations, which strengthens their business.
How can architects use climate calculations to inform decisions on building systems and materials?
Based on good climate data and evidence, architects can integrate climate calculation into their design process. This allows them to easily and visually communicate which building systems and materials can be cost-effective alternatives to reduce the climate impact of projects. Initially, they can start with a reference project or an imaginary building system. In connection with this, they can develop a climate budget. Based on this, they can analyse the climate impact and study which parts of a building or a block are best constructed with different building systems and materials to create climate-smart architecture and communicate alternatives to, for example, clients, contractors or design teams. In this way, they can guide the design with climate impact in mind.
- Architects are best placed to see the big picture, so it is vital that they are given the space and confidence to work on climate impacts at an early stage from different perspectives.
Why is it important for real estate developers and construction companies to involve architects early in the process when it comes to reducing climate impact?
Collaboration is essential to create climate-smart and sustainable architecture that meets climate requirements. Equally, we need to bring about transformative and systemic change. Architects are best placed to see the big picture, so it is vital that they are given the space and confidence to work on climate impacts at early stages from different perspectives.
How can architects use tools such as Plant Concept to analyze and ensure that climate targets are met at both project and company level?
Through quick, easy and reliable climate calculations, architects can use Plant Concept to ensure at an early stage, already in tenders or competitions, that their sketches and ideas have a good chance of ultimately ensuring that projects meet climate targets, environmental certifications and legal requirements. They can also take on a more advisory role and elaborate on the Plant Concept with clients to find strategies at a more comprehensive level. This can contribute to work on sustainability reporting and roadmaps at company level.
Can climate calculations be as valuable in renovation and extension projects as in new construction? How can architects best apply this?
Absolutely. Only creativity sets the limits. There are opportunities for architects to study and communicate about what is most appropriate when refining or developing buildings. Through climate calculations, it is possible to study what type of transformation is appropriate for a particular building and analyze which measures have the least climate impact. Similarly, it is possible to compare what is most strategic for a client, to invest in new production or transformation based on climate impact.
