Last week, we celebrated our annual World Green Building Week, an event that serves as collective inspiration for transitioning towards a more sustainable built environment. Throughout the week, we engaged in a series of enlightening activities and discussions to show how we can drive and accelerate this transition, together.
Webinars to Kickstart the Week
Our week commenced with a webinar, focusing on the application of circular economy principles. During this session, we introduced the Construction Material Excess initiative, which has been recognised as one of the top 10 projects by the Circular Buildings Coalition through a competitive open call for Blueprint Projects.
On Tuesday morning, we hosted yet another webinar, this time shedding light on the implications of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast for commercial buildings in Ireland. The webinar highlighted some key changes likely to be introduced by the Directive, including Zero Emission Buildings (ZEB), Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPs), Renovation Passports and Whole Life Carbon measurement.
Demystifying Decarbonisation
Thursday morning brought us a breakfast event in collaboration with Hibernia, where we delved into the net-zero carbon journey of 1 Cumberland Place, an office asset. We demystified the complexities of decarbonisation and unveiled clear strategies and solutions to navigate this crucial aspect of sustainability, through the example of this 1970’s building.
Inspiring Site Visits
From Tuesday afternoon to Thursday, our members had the privilege of embarking on three enlightening site visits that showcased different aspects of reusing materials and structures.
Clearys with JLL Architects
Our first tour took us to the iconic Clearys building in the heart of Dublin city centre. This soon-to-be-opened department store and office building has undergone a remarkable transformation, aiming for LEED Gold certification. The project reused and retained as much of the original structure as possible. This approach led to a 35% reduction in emissions compared to building from scratch and alternative structures.
Opera Square in Limerick with Sisk and Limerick Twenty-Thirty
Wednesday’s tour led us to Opera Square in Limerick, an urban regeneration project. The development is making use of reclaimed materials, diverting more than 99% of construction waste away from landfills, with 74% of it reused on-site. Our CE-CON initiative will further explore circular economy opportunities throughout the project.
Tropical Fruit Warehouse with IPUT
Our final tour took us to the impressive Tropical Fruit Warehouse, now a transformed office development. Here, as much of the existing iconic structure as possible has been retained, including exposed brick, stone walls, feature keystones, and original timber roof trusses. The development also includes a public ground, a glass box and a new structure designed to be fully electric.
Diverse Perspectives from our members
Throughout the week, our members Cundall, Velux, and Saint-Gobain also joined us, hosting events on topics ranging from climate-resilient built environments to regeneration and healthy, affordable housing.
Education Empowerment During World Green Building Week
We also unveiled our Whole Life Carbon online training on a new education platform, designed to streamline your journey to upskilling in this critical area. The enrolment is FREE for members for a limited time.
Join the Conversation on Net Zero Carbon Definitions
In another significant development during World Green Building Week, we introduced our Net Zero Carbon Definitions, which are currently open for public consultation. We value your insights and welcome your feedback to help shape this crucial initiative. Share your thoughts with us here.
As we conclude this vibrant week, we hope you enjoyed LEED 5k course featuring newly certified LEED Platinum and Gold buildings right in Dublin city centre. If you had the opportunity to capture any memorable moments along your route, share your photos with us and on your social media. Here you can check who are the lucky winners of this year.
World Green Building Week 2023 was a celebration of innovation, sustainability, and the collective effort to build a greener, more resilient future. We look forward to continuing our journey towards a sustainable built environment and hope you found inspiration in our activities and discussions throughout the week.