The Method
1
Environmental Performance Assessment
To achieve these goals, Ney & Partners WOW employs a range of tools and methodologies:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
The team uses traditional environmental performance assessment tools like LCA to meticulously track and reduce the carbon footprint of their projects.
Project Circularity
Beyond just reducing emissions, the team also evaluates the circularity of their projects. This involves a comprehensive assessment of key factors such as:
- Flexibility: How adaptable is the design to future changes?
- Construction Method: Are the construction techniques sustainable and efficient?
- Reusability: Can the materials and structures be reused in future projects?
- Demountability: How easily can the building be disassembled or repurposed?
2
Innovation and Internal Tools
In addition to using established tools, Ney & Partners WOW has developed its own proprietary tool for determining the carbon footprint of a building’s shell. This innovation is underpinned by:
Enhanced Database of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Through extensive project work, the office has enriched its database of EPDs, allowing for a critical approach to the assumptions behind these declarations. This helps in understanding the significant variations between similar products and making more informed decisions.
Performance Benchmarking
By establishing the carbon footprint of their own projects, Ney & Partners WOW benchmarks the environmental performance of buildings, linking this data to other important criteria such as cost, flexibility, dismantlability, and robustness.
3
Long-Term Strategic Goals
Looking to the future, Ney & Partners WOW aims to create a vast, comprehensive database. The analysis of this data will enable the office to:
Improve Project Outcomes
Make increasingly informed and sustainable choices for future projects.
Provide Expert Advice:
Offer well-founded recommendations and insights to clients based on a deep understanding of environmental impact and sustainability metrics.
4
Expanding Expertise in Biobased Materials
Ney & Partners WOW is also broadening its expertise beyond timber structures to include a wide range of biobased materials. This expansion is driven by:
Support for Low-Carbon Construction
The Sustainability team actively keeps up with developments in alternative construction materials, both structural and non-structural, to integrate and offer comprehensive low-carbon solutions.
Materials Under Surveillance
The team is conducting ongoing technological research on innovative materials, including:
- Straw
- Raw earth
- Natural stone
- Grass-based insulation
- Screeds made from recycled shells
