Decarbonising buildings

Combining global expertise with local insights and experience, our buildings decarbonisation experts will work with you to optimise the refurbishment and retrofit of your building systems to reduce emissions and operating costs across energy, carbon and water.

Our green buildings consultancy team consists of chartered engineers, façade specialists, Passivhaus designers and award-winning embodied carbon experts who draw on Sweco’s Scandinavian heritage and international expertise to shape our truly holistic approach to sustainable building solutions – from design, engineering, commercial EPC assessment and performance evaluation to analysis, ESG support and certification advisory. policies around health and wellbeing, enhances positive social impact.

Unlocking the potential of performance-based building decarbonisation

1. Currently, global temperature increases are set to go beyond a 1.5˚C limit in the next 4-5 years, significantly quicker than anticipated scenarios.
2. The UK government has confirmed that the future trajectory for a non-domestic minimum energy efficiency standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be ‘B’ rating by 2030.
3. The UK government has consulted (2021) on future energy performance measurements via actual energy matrix which will provide performance rating using actual metered consumption.

Our net zero focus areas

Our solutions fall into two distinct, yet interlinked pillars…

1. Net zero & retrofit design

Decarbonisation feasibility:

1. Analyse existing building information, including system drawings and heating, cooling, gas and electrical loads.
2. Assess decarbonisation pathway to EPC B, NABERS & net zero strategy.
3. Advise on whole life carbon impact.
4. Provide sketches & mark-ups to assess viability.

Building services

1. Full building services design from Stages 2-6, including full design for sustainable implementation measures and any additional refurbishment.
2. End-to-end support across:
   1. Building Sustainability
   2. Whole Life Carbon Advisory
   3. NABERS / Passivhaus / CRREM
   4. BREEAM / Wired / WELL Score
   5. Building Management Systems
   6. Lifts / Façades / Acoustics

2. In-use energy optimisation

Building energy optimisation

1. Net Zero Pathway.
2. Energy Consumption Analysis.
3. Draft NABERS certification & predicted rating.
4. Energy reduction analysis including detailed survey of building hydronics.
5. Green Tenant fit-out & Operation guide

Performance monitoring gap analysis

1. Desktop metering gap analysis.
2. Review building systems and existing metering provision.
3. Advise on additional metering required for NABERS energy split.
4. BMS Energy Dashboard for performance monitoring.
5. BMS System surveys.

At Sweco we never settle for minimum standards when advising on and implementing building performance optimisation. We aim to raise the bar for green building design and use, incorporating advice from different sustainability bodies and innovative digital tools in our thinking alongside global insights from across our built environment and specialist carbon teams

Peter Hale Sweco Building Services Division Manager

Project highlights

Integrated building performance evaluation, leading to accurate data-led analysis and clear reporting, is critical in meeting the increasing demands for comprehensive sustainable development disclosure. At Sweco, our experts can provide guidance and class-leading solutions to help you ‘assess and address’ across your portfolio.

21 Bloomsbury Footprint Extension

The refurbishment of this multi-tenanted commercial office building in London will extend its area from 6,900m² to 7,500m², enhancing central London office space while minimising impact on key views and heritage assets. The design retains much of the existing structure, reducing embodied carbon, and includes an upgraded façade for improved energy efficiency and a 5-star DfP NABERS rating. Benefits include a high-efficiency Hybrid VRF system, advanced air handling units, and SMART building features.

ITN Headquarters, Live Building Retrofit

Sweco carried out a deep retrofit of an existing and live 10-storey 300,000 sqft building with operational TV Studios, designing the building electrification and services systems transition for implementation within the occupied building.

201 Bishopsgate, Decarbonisation Feasibility

Sweco completed feasibility assessments for the physical implementation of commercial building’s Net Zero Pathway, including energy modelling and implementation phasing in an occupied building.

Sudcal, District Heating Network Hydronic Digital Twin

Sweco is advising on the optimisation of the Sudcal Luxembourg district heating network. As part of the works Sweco undertook the digital twin modelling and advisory of the district heating network. Sweco also optimised the district heating network to achieve a reduction of the flow temperature from 105°C down to 85°C flow.

No.1 Spinningfields In-Use Energy Optimisation

No.1 Spinningfields is a Grade A, 19-storey office building situated in the heart of Spinningfields, Manchester. Completed in 2017, it offers premium office space with the highest rent per sq ft in the city. The building features a modern design with an insulated envelope and optimised glazing to reduce solar gains. Currently, it is 100% occupied by reputable corporate tenants, including PwC, Moneysupermarket, WeWork, and the rooftop restaurant, 20 Stories.

The No.1 Spinningfields Unit Trust appointed Sweco to assess the building’s current performance and establish a likely NABERS UK rating. Sweco aimed to optimise existing building services to improve this rating and outline requirements for future NABERS UK Certification. Their recommendation was to focus on operational performance and energy reduction rather than any immediate replacements.

After receiving Sweco’s comprehensive Building Operation, Performance Review & NABERS UK Certification overview in September 2023, the Sustain facility management team began implementing key measures outlined in the report. Thanks to Sweco’s guidance, the majority of initiatives were executed internally. Remarkably, within approximately 10 months, the building achieved significant energy savings, with gas consumption reduced by 32.9% and electricity by 10.57% year-to-date

Let’s transform society together

As we adapt existing buildings, we must seek to make the most practical and value driven design decisions that will also reduce carbon emissions through design and collaboration. By leveraging our global expertise, we can work with you to renovate building systems and reduce emissions and operating costs across energy, carbon and water.

We understand that a reduction in operational carbon must be delivered in tandem with reduced energy costs and building asset enhancement. It’s about delivering low carbon energy affordability and securing building assets against the future. We have real experience bridging the performance gap of in-use assets, delivering projects in occupied buildings and optimising energy use at building and district network scales.