Construction & Refurbishment – Sustainability Strategy and Targets
We recognise that construction and refurbishment of buildings provides the ideal opportunity to make design decisions which enhance the energy performance and sustainability credentials of a property and in our policy we commit to considering appropriate sustainable construction, energy and water efficiency opportunities in the design, modification, and refurbishment of new and
existing facilities and maintenance practices where practical. Within our Environmental Energy Management System (EEMS) we have also set an objective to reduce the environmental impact of the institution’s capital projects (see objective 8 of our Environmental Objectives).
As such, we have set a SMART target for the construction and refurbishment of buildings as part of our strategy for implementing the Environmental and Energy objectives in our policy, using the BREEAM standard as the specific measurable.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Assessment Method) is a building assessment which uses scientifically-based sustainability metrics and indices covering a range of environmental categories. Its categories evaluate energy and water use, health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology, and management processes. Buildings are rated and certified on a scale of ‘Pass’, ‘Good’, ‘Very Good, ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’.
Our SMART target is for all newly constructed and refurbished buildings across our London Road, Whiteknights and Greenlands campuses to achieve a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating, or better. In terms of timeframes, this requirement was introduced as a formal target/requirement in 2014, and the BREEAM rating is required to be attained by the time of building/project completion for each new build or refurbishment project. We are currently discussing plans to increase this target to ‘Excellent’ from 2023.
Progress against this target is tracked. We currently have limited large-scale projects in progress, with the following project targeted to achieve a Very Good BREEAM rating in 2023:
- School of School of Art refurbishment and extension
The next major construction project will be the refurbishment of the URS building, which is currently at the outset of feasibility and we are discussing the appropriate environmental targets that will apply to that scheme.
A list of our previously assessed buildings is provided below, along with the rating attained and a link to the corresponding BREEAM certificate.
- Health and Life Sciences Building– Very Good 2021
- The Library – 2019 refurbished and assessed to BREEAM Very Good standard, but not formally certified
- The Gateway Building, Thames Valley Science Park– Very Good 2018
- Berry Brook & Bourne at Greenlands-Very Good 2018
- Bulmershe Athletics Pavilion– Very Good 2015
- WhiteKnight Athletics Pavilion– Very Good 2015
- Student Union Nursery – Pass 2010
Last review date: May-23, next review date: May-24