This project is part of NTU's commitment that all students will benefit from work-like experience opportunities embedded into their course, allowing them to engage directly with industry and develop essential professional skills, knowledge and attributes for future career success.
The project:
Through their Technical Studies module, our Interior Architecture and Design students were given a local case study for a local business in Nottingham.
The business at hand was the Nottinghamshire Deaf Society (NDS). NDS had signed up for the Sustainability in Enterprise (SiE) programme, taking part within the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment (ADBE). The aim of such project was to generate consciousness of carbon (embodied and in-use) and intended to reduce carbon through design interventions and user behaviour.
ADBE students were invited to visit the NDS facilities, with the initial objective to appraise the building and business itself. The factors that were considered and analysed were the building fabric, construction, business operation and behaviours. For this initial stage of consulting, our student’s feedback comprised of site notes and drawings.
The next stage involved students giving design recommendations and building use guidance (under the supervision of tutors) to the business, targeting areas which used lots of energy or gave indications of design interventions which would save energy (and ultimately carbon).
Together with a report from Michelle Johansson (School Sustainability Lead) they formed a report which was then given to the business in which the recommendations given could form part of a grant application for up to £9,600 to undertake changes.
The project background:
This brief was set and led by both Sam Duffy, Module Lead and Michelle Johansson, School Sustainability Lead.
The ERDF-funded SiE programme was ideal to be integrated into specific modules within the School of ADBE. After much analysis, it was deemed that the Technical Studies module at level 6 was the most appropriate. Then, through the summer planning cycle, the project was incorporated into the module for the following academic year.
Sam Duffy organised and supervised all building visits with HPL support staff from the module. He also organised all sessions in which the project students had contact time with lectures, scale up seminars and workshops.
Alongside Sam’s efforts, Michelle led the cohort of students to produce the necessary reports to calculate the net carbon gains/losses of the business.
Early site visits to local building case studies were very interesting and gave good insights into historic construction
- MySay Student Questionnaire
Project outcomes and recommendations:
The top three recommendations for improving energy efficiency of the premises have been identified based on being the most impactful and realistic to implement:
| Recommendations | Existing Emissions (tCO2e) | Emissions (tCO2E) of alternative | Carbon reduction (tCO2e) |
|---|---|---|---|
Fitting existing single-glazed windows with secondary glazed windows on the non-Grade II listed part of the building. | 1.791 | 0.852 | -0.939 |
Insulated plasterboard 27.5mm on timber strapping with 50mm mineral wool insulation between – to internal face of solid walls. | 0.765 | 0.152 | -0.613 |
Cavity insulation to cavity brick walls. | 2.774 | 0.888 | -1.886 |
| Total: | -3.438 |
The Nottinghamshire Deaf Society on their experience taking part:
NDS representatives were engaged in all building visits, helping our students learn more about their facilities (construction and history) and its adaptations over its lifetime. The business representatives also shared vital information regarding the building use and operations. This gave our students an insight into its habitual use, offering them a perspective from the business and building owner which proved very valuable experience for students experience to later take to future client meetings.
- Employer Feedback: Feedback was very positive following the visit and ‘exit interview’ which were co-ordinated by Michelle Johansson and Kay Wilson in the NTU Sustainability team. The student reports were incorporated into the final report by Michelle and all recommendations were with the employer who found it valuable and insightful.
This brief, devised around the SiE programme, was very successful and the Nottingham Deaf Society was very happy with the intended and actual outcomes.
Project images:
Find out more:
Sustainability in Enterprise
This programme provided practical support and funding to reduce the carbon footprint of SMEs in the local area. Support focused on four key areas of business performance: people, processes, premises and products.
Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
We make, create, design and build. We’re planners and problem solvers. We draw lines, and we break boundaries. We’re a provider of industry-accredited learning; a worldwide centre for professional connections; and a hub for some of the UK’s most exciting collaborations and research projects.
Further information
For more information about this project, please contact Sam Duffy: sam.duffy@ntu.ac.uk