MMC can be considered as the DfMA designer’s “toolkit”.
Jacqui discusses how construction can learn from more integrated sectors like aerospace and automotive, where industry voices are more unified and the government provides more substantial support, allowing for quicker advancements.. 5.Future of Construction.
The industry needs a shift in business models, moving away from return on capital employed to a focus on sustainability and innovation.Achieving net-zero carbon goals is critical, and future construction must be more digitally integrated and collaborative.When we talk about the sustainable design of buildings, we have two core objectives: reducing environmental impact, and providing a healthy space for occupants.For this reason, implementing a sustainable design strategy incorporates every aspect of the building process, from the earliest design stages through to construction and post-completion.
Evaluating an asset’s performance, and understanding how its entire environment operates, forms a key part of our work within Sustainability and Building Physics at Bryden Wood.We look at how a building gains heat in summer, or loses it in winter; how it requires natural or artificial light; as well as issues like temperature control, moisture and air movement.
Although some of the focus on this topic was lost in the last recession, the industry’s renewed commitment to sustainability in design is intensifying.
This is in large part due to the climate emergency and our need to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.This necessitates mechanical cooling to maintain design conditions.
The larger the temperature difference, the harder the mechanical cooling system must work.Compared to free cooling, mechanical cooling requires substantial electrical input, which ultimately contributes to more heat being rejected.
This can further increase water consumption if the heat rejection plant utilises adiabatic cooling.. Reducing the mechanical cooling demand.The obvious, although usually impractical, way would be to locate the data centre in a colder climate where the average temperature is lower, allowing for free cooling to operate for longer and reducing the mechanical cooling hours operated.