Success Stories with Naomi Sakamoto and Emily Segal
1/ Can you give some challenges you faced in during designing for green building practices and how did you solve it?
Budget constraints are a big challenge. For example, reupholstering existing furniture is often more expensive than buying new, so convincing clients to invest in sustainable choices can be tough. We try to balance pushing for sustainable practices with meeting budgetary limits and client expectations.
Another challenge is regulatory barriers also pose challenges. New materials like mass timber face higher scrutiny for fire safety, accessibility, and durability. Convincing clients and agencies to adopt new, untested materials is difficult because they don't want to be the first to try something new.
2/ Does Gensler prefer working on new buildings or retrofitting existing, non-sustainable ones?
We typically work with clients based on their needs. Often, we analyze whether it's better to construct a new building or retrofit an existing one. This involves detailed lifecycle analyses to understand the total carbon impact. Retrofitting older buildings can be a challenge, but finding clever ways to make them more sustainable is a key part of our approach.
3/ What impact do green building projects have on the environment?
Green building projects significantly reduce environmental impact since buildings account for about 40% of global emissions when considering both embodied and in-use carbon. For large firms like Gensler, working on numerous large-scale projects provides a tremendous opportunity to make a positive change, and we take this responsibility very seriously.
Technologies and Innovations with Lucie Ladigue
1/ Will information carriers for a building's material passport still exist after 50 years, given the rapid disappearance of disks, tapes, and IT systems due to digitalization?
Yes, the European Union is addressing this with the digital product passport, starting with textiles and cosmetics due to their shorter use phases. They have launched an open tender for companies and researchers to develop management systems and a digital platform to preserve, update, and ensure traceability of material data over time. This effort is still ongoing.
2/ How are new materials improving construction sustainability? Is it advantageous?
Definitely. In the past, materials lacked regulations for safety and recyclability. Now, new eco-designed materials follow stricter guidelines, focusing on modularity, easy dismantling, and the absence of toxic chemicals. This ensures safer reuse of materials from old buildings and a transition to safer, more sustainable materials in new construction.
3/ What is the most challenging aspect of the Cradle to Cradle certification process?
Certification provides a valuable roadmap for companies, but it's time-consuming. The challenge, also seen in the circular economy, is needing the right resources and people to collect data and engage with suppliers. This involves data sharing, NDAs, and getting suppliers on board. The process typically takes 10-18 months to meet all criteria and requirements.
4/ Where can I find more information about all the product passports?
It will take time, as directives approved at the European level require two years for member states to integrate them into national laws, possibly with slight alterations. Anticipate the launch of the first digital product passport around 2027-2028, likely beginning with textile products.
Building a Sustainable Future with Sabine Oberhuber
1/ Does reusing recycled materials cost more or less than using new materials, and do they lose structural integrity in the process?
The cost and quality of recycled materials depend on market conditions. For example, recycled plastics fluctuate with oil prices, making them sometimes cost-effective and other times not. Regulations are being developed to make recycled materials mandatory. Structural integrity varies: recycled aluminium retains its quality, while steel depends on the alloys used. There are experts and ongoing advancements in the field, such as companies developing methods to recycle and customize metal alloys effectively.
2/ What are the biggest challenges you've encountered with materials used in construction?
One major challenge is pricing and availability, especially due to supply chain disruptions. We've seen initial impacts during COVID-19, and this is likely to be an ongoing issue we need to be aware of.
3/ Collaborating with various stakeholders in earlier projects, how were these initiated and managed from the start to align everyone's goals?
It's crucial to involve all stakeholders from the beginning to create integrated solutions with diverse expertise. This prevents costly redesigns later. Even for renovation projects, early involvement ensures valuable input on using existing materials effectively, avoiding waste.
