Follow these 3 steps to design for low carbon!

Follow these 3 steps to design for low carbon! A 'Trias Energetica' Approach to the use of material in building design.

Yesterday, I revisited this principle from the late 70’s again. Trias Energetica.

It has been a cornerstone for the design of energy efficient buildings and has been at the heart of efficiency regulations for a long time.

And while it has traditionally been used for reducing operational carbon, the idea of it might also serve as a simplistic way to guide our thinking about material use for low carbon in construction.

Here it is translated to embodied carbon... so we can follow these steps, IN THIS ORDER, in our designs:

➊ Reduce Demand: First it is about minimizing the demand for materials in general. We have to question ourselves and the entire team if we really need this building, does it really have to be that size, can we not reuse or repurpose another building, and so on... Then we need to think about how to optimize our designs for efficiency (spatially, functionally and structurally), making the most of our spaces, and embracing construction methods that demand less material.

➋ Use Materials from Renewable Sources: Once we've slimmed down our requirements, the next step is to choose materials wisely. Opting for resources from reused or repurposed materials or renewable sources such as timber or innovations in bio-based materials – drastically reduces the embodied carbon footprint of our projects.

➌ Use High Carbon Materials as Efficient as Possible: Finally, for the areas where the use of high carbon materials is unavoidable, employ them with care and efficiency. This might involve more precise calculations and detailing in the planning, design, and execution to make sure that the materials serve a purpose. One could add design for longevity and disassembly here, too so the detailing ensures the use for a long period and the potential reuse of the high carbon materials in the future.

Agreed, it is simplistic, and there is so much more to be said about it,
but if you use these three steps on a project and make choices in that order (the order is important) you are on the right track.