Nuaire has launched a new CPD, An Introduction to Sustainability, designed to give building services professionals a clearer understanding of the core principles of sustainability within the built environment, along with the terminology used.
The hour-long CPD provides an accessible introduction for people working within the M&E industry who may have limited knowledge of sustainability, or who want to build a stronger foundation before moving into more technical detail.
The presentation begins by looking at what sustainability means in practice and the factors driving organisations to adopt more sustainable approaches. It then considers the route towards net zero carbon and the importance of reducing emissions, rather than relying primarily on offsetting.
A significant part of the CPD focuses on the shift from the traditional linear economy towards a circular economy. The linear model is based on a ‘take, make and waste’” approach, whereas a circular economy aims to keep products and materials in use for longer through measures such as reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and recycling.
The CPD also considers what this transition means specifically for the HVAC industry. Examples include designing products so that they can be repaired or refurbished, using recycled and recyclable materials, integrating smart controls and reducing the environmental impact associated with refrigerants.
Embodied carbon is another key focus of the presentation. The CPD explains why the environmental impact of a product cannot be judged solely on the energy it consumes in operation, but should instead be considered across its lifecycle, including raw materials, manufacture, distribution, use, disposal and recycling. It also looks at some of the challenges involved in calculating embodied carbon.
For those increasingly being asked to provide or interpret environmental product data, Nuaire introduces two approaches commonly encountered in building services: Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and CIBSE TM65. An EPD is a standardised document based on lifecycle assessment data and independently verified by a third party, providing transparent information about a product’s environmental impact. TM65, meanwhile, is a CIBSE-developed methodology for assessing embodied carbon and can help fill the data gap where an EPD is unavailable. The CPD covers both the basic and mid-level TM65 calculation methods, together with the relative advantages and limitations of TM65 and EPDs.
Alun Thomas, Technical Director at Nuaire, commented: “Sustainability is now firmly embedded in the construction and building services agenda, but the language surrounding it can be complex and often misunderstood. Our aim with this CPD is to take some of that complexity away. It provides a broad introduction to the key concepts and methodologies, helping people working in building services better understand what the terminology means, why it matters and how it relates to the decisions being made across our industry.”
To find out more or arrange a CPD presentation, visit www.nuaire.co.uk/support/cpd-and-training/
