Centre
Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit
Unit(s) of assessment: Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
Research theme(s): Safety and Sustainability
School: School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Overview
Net Zero by 2050 presents a huge challenge to the construction sector, which accounts for up to 50% of carbon emissions. An absence of skills, knowledge and expertise threaten to derail plans to retrofit the current building stock. This Centre will build on and enhance the existing activity with the School. Sustainability in the built environment has been a research strength of ADBE and we have a strong reputation in housing retrofit.
Our ‘Scale-up Retrofit 2050’ whitepaper report called for a nationwide programme to boost the energy efficiency of existing homes through deep retrofit. The REMOURBAN project demonstrated the benefits of deep retrofits and was showcased as part of the UK Built Environment Virtual Pavilion during COP26. It was followed by a ‘scaling-up deep retrofit for social landlords’ pilot project, funded by the Energy Saving Trust and ongoing collaboration with ARC Partnership and Nottingham County Council.
Our vision is to develop solutions, skills and support locally and nationally to enable a low carbon transition within the built environment sector.
Core approaches and themes
CSCR is a unique centre that aims to both explore the applied research question of how the built environment sector transitions to a low carbon future alongside practically addressing the retrofit skills gap via the creation of new courses and providing consultancy support for business. It has three approaches:
The research stream will build research capacity and impact in retrofit and low carbon construction to explore the practical and policy related questions related to the decarbonisation of the built environment.
Themes include:
- Socio-technical challenges and opportunities for scaling up retrofit solutions
- Improved understanding of the skills gap and barriers for SMEs
- Addressing the challenge of heritage and conservation buildings
- Improved understanding and calculating of life cycle assessments and net zero
- Circular economy
- Smart cities, citizen engagement and urban planning
The skills stream will oversee and support the creation and delivery of courses to ensure we are a leading provider of low carbon construction and sustainability education.
See below for a list of qualifications and short courses we offer.
The knowledge exchange theme will support local organisations, especially SMEs, with individual and student consultancy and short courses to help individuals and organisations build knowledge, capacity and skills to be more sustainable.
Themes include:
- Short microcredentials
- Carbon literacy training
- Consultancy for SMEs to help reduce their carbon footprints and management of their built environment
Short courses and professional development for construction, engineering and real estate industries
You might be just starting out and looking to enhance your CV or a professional exploring how continuing professional development (CPD) can support your career progression. Whatever your motivation, NTU is the place to come.
We offer a range of short courses that start throughout the year and are specifically designed to fit around work and other commitments. Daytime, evening and Saturday courses are available. Some offer credit, others a CPD certificate.
Explore our range of short courses and professional development opportunities.
Our Sustainability Consultancy is tailored around your needs and requirements
NTU’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (ADBE) Sustainability Consultant offers a consultancy service delivered by a professionally qualified architect and experienced consultant to help you understand your business’ carbon footprint, (and make recommendations to reduce this), while improving environmental performance, reduce costs and ensure long-term sustainability.
The support includes:
- a full site survey and evaluation of the energy efficiency of your premises and processes
- a sustainability diagnostic report with recommendations to help optimise the sustainability and futureproofing of your business
- development of a bespoke action plan based on these recommendations to address any key areas raised and to implement changes
The support from our Sustainability Consultant can be complemented by free consultancy from our final-year undergraduate students.
You can work with students from the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (ADBE) to look at improvements relating to business premises.
Supported by the Design Matters group within our School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, we can support you to achieve greater productivity and innovation, reduce carbon emissions and design out waste.
In addition to our expert advice, we can also embed our Product Design students within your business to complete projects to help you achieve this.
If you have any questions regarding the services offered by NTU please feel free to contact our dedicated Sustainability Consultant Michelle Johansson who will support you regarding the above services.
The Sustainability in Enterprise project
The Sustainability in Enterprise project, an initiative successfully concluded at NTU, supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Greater Nottingham region on their journey towards achieving Net Zero. For an in-depth exploration of the substantial support we delivered, we invite you to visit our dedicated webpage.
Sustainability in Enterprise