COMMERCIAL SAFETY & SECURITY
Upgrading our Built Environment : A Retrofit Project
With most of the construction infrastructure already developed , Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explores the process of retrofitting and why it is integral to the progression of our built environment .
» REDEVELOPMENT , RESTORATION , retrofit . No longer are these terms modestly viewed as construction buzzwords . Across the world , there ’ s an increasing appreciation and a budding culture that maintaining older buildings is the way forward for our planet and its people .
Globally , cities are said to be responsible for 78 % of our energy consumption , of which , buildings account for around a third of the total . And when you consider that up to 80 % of today ’ s buildings are expected to still be in use by the year 2050 , it ’ s evident why so many are now pushing for a conscientious approach .
Across the UK , the built environment also contributes 40 % to the country ’ s total carbon emissions , with its 28 million homes , by most assessments , constituting the least energy efficient in Europe . With so many of our current buildings set to exist 30 years into the future and beyond , why should so much of the focus fall on new-build projects ? Output must be improved now , and the real substance of the challenge is retrofitting , we need only unlock its potential , says Karen Trigg of Allegion UK :
“ Despite its many applications , in the context of the built environment , a retrofit is often described as the addition of new components or features to older systems . The process is designed to make a building perform better , and because of its benefits - both economically and environmentally speaking - retrofitting has emerged as a popular solution for advancing the efficiency of buildings .
“ On an environmental level , it ’ s widely understood that the construction industry must strive to do better . In many developed countries , four out of the five buildings set to stand in 2050 already exist , meaning the onus of addressing energy consumption lies upon us now . Accordingly , decision makers are obliged , and actively encouraged , to prioritise activities such as retrofitting in order to meet the energy-saving targets as outlined in the Paris Agreement .
“ In terms of cost savings , the process of adding better functioning components to our buildings will benefit many . Retrofitting is an attractive proposition for most large or ageing structures as it provides decision makers the ability to improve upon key problem areas without having to consider large-scale reconstruction or demolition - saving on time , resources and costs . Modern housebuilders and homeowners can look towards retrofitting , too , improving their own footprints and putting money back in their pockets , as they seek to combat the significant rise in energy costs .”
Understanding retrofit Investment in retrofit projects could have a seismic effect on the construction industry , acting as a catalyst to the economy and improving various areas of our building network . And while it ’ s true retrofit can play an important role , consequences can arise when a project isn ’ t approached correctly . Karen Trigg continues :
Sources : https :// www . un . org / en / climatechange / climate-solutions / cities-pollution | https :// www . iea . org / topics / buildings https :// www . ukgbc . org / climate-change-2 / | https :// www . pbctoday . co . uk / news / energy-news / decarbonising-construction-2 / 100961 / https :// unfccc . int / process-and-meetings / the-paris-agreement / the-paris-agreement | https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents / made
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NOV / DEC 2022
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