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GBE Screening Criteria CPD
GBE > Encyclopaedia > Files > CPD > Topics > G#42156
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GBE CPD Screening Criteria
- NGS GBE
- Is created by green architects and specification writers for generalist UK architects and specification writers
- Aim is to make their lives a little easier by signposting lots of green stuff to help them on their way into the world of Green
- The rest of the world is watching
- We try to put ourselves in their boots/hats
- Designing and specifying buildings is complex and time consuming
- Greener a building even more so
- They do not know where to look for information
- They only know conventional sources
- They want quick easy answers to everything
- We try to provide it
- When NGS GBE was launched
- We were asked will we do environmental profiling
- We said no, that will delay delivery of information
- We are not BRE they do that and charge a lot of money for it
- And in NGS GBE’s view, make a poor job of it
- It will be far better to bring a lot of information on materials that look green, to the audience quickly
- Then as we progress, check if there is any evidence to substantiate such views
- Violet manufacturers want their violet materials to look Green
- How do NGS GBE find green products?
- We know of many Green databases
- We have many guidance books
- We visit green builders merchants
- We attend exhibitions, see products and assemblies
- We learn at conferences, workshops
- We see and scrutinize advertising
- How do NGS GBE judge materials?
- We look at manufacturer’s literature and samples
- We ask questions about them
- We make judgements like any architect would but with a greener flavour
- If it addresses an issue(s) we give it credit(s)
- If we like it we take note and add to our schedules
- It can become part of Green Building Calculator
- If and when we can we add it to GBE to promote it
- What level of evidence?
- We do not look for any more evidence than an architect might be expected to look for in normal practice
- We ask for the literature and any/all supporting evidence and read it
- We also read the bits that architects get bored with
- E.g. H&S datasheets and specifications
- But with our backgrounds we know when greenwash prevails and ask questions
- When asked do we take any responsibility
- We can and will justify our opinion
- The reason we chose something is in its specification or product page data for all to judge for themselves
- The more we learn the better our judgement
- We do this full time
- What do we do that saves architects time?
- We find, gather and deliver the information in a consistent format that architects can use in practice and in contract documents.
- Product pages and specifications
- When we write specifications for products:
- We collect samples, read the literature and merge the data
- “The best way to understand something is to try to improve it”
- We rewrite guidance literature as instructions and specifications
- We interrogate the data
- We reformat it and have to understand it to do so.
- Transparency
- NGS GBE discloses:
- Process
- Methodology
- Evaluation
- Criteria
- * Ratings
- Green Product Definition
- For the purposes of NGS GBE , a ‘green’ product / material is:
- A commercially available product / material (currently available in the UK) that embodies one or more positive environmental attributes or qualities that distinguish it from other products or materials in the same function category.
- Evaluation
- By panel of selected experts
- In practice one of us reviews the product and records our thoughts on file
- Forward the file to other panel members and ask if we have missed anything or got it wrong and ask for feedback
- Usually the first person gets it right
- Usually products are rejected if manufacturer approaches NGS GBE
- *, ** or ***
- NGS GBE assessment is *
- NGS GBE EPD is ***
- NaturePlus is *** top 10 % green products
- CD2E profiling is ** or *** EPD
- CAP’EM is *** EPD Bio-based SME bias
- BRE Environmental Profiling is *** but has been superseded by EN 15804 LCA and EPD
- but strangely biased towards violet
- Manufacturer’s self declaration is ** rating
- NGS GBE BEST
- Building Element Screening Test
- Elemental Assembly
Scoring system - NGS GBE is now formalising the process with a scoring system
- Its still about:
- does it address an issue
- If Yes score 1
- if No score 0
- Total up and there is a score
- No weightings, yet
GBE CPD Screening Criteria
- Thermal lag/Decrement delay
- Thermal mass
- Energy saving in use
- Cold bridge reduction/avoidance
- Breathing construction
- Hygroscopicity Durability/Long design life
- Maintains/Improves function over time
- Absorbs smells
- Moisture mass
- Low allergy
- Exclude methane and radon
- Electromagnetic radiation absorption/barrier
- Water demand reduction in use
- Water harvesting
- Water recycling in use
- Avoiding Noise/transfer/vibrations isolation
- Acoustically insulating
- Damage prevention/avoidance
- No site excavations/waste to landfill
- Stewardship certification/take back schemes
- Recycled or secondary aggregates
- Industry bi-product usage
- Recycled content
- Recyclable
- Reusable
- Reuse of arisings on site
- Enables deconstruction and reuse
- Recoverable: Compost/Energy
- Optimum/Avoidance of excess use of resource
- Avoidance of adhesives/demountability
- Low/zero health risks in use/construction
- Low/Zero VOC/Good indoor air quality Zero/low formaldehyde content/offgassing
- Avoiding non-renewable petrochemical/plastics
- Alternative to/Avoidance of preservatives
- Natural/plant based ingredients renewable Carbon sequestration in growth
- Renewable/Rapidly Renewable ingredients
- Abundant, economically and environmentally accessible ingredients
- Low/Lower embodied CO2
- Avoidance of synthetic adhesives
- Low/Lower embodied energy
- Local sourcing:
6=Site 5=Local 4=County 3=Region 2=UK 1=Continent 0=World - OPC cement replacement/CO2 reduction OPC cement elimination/CO2 reduction
- Avoidance of chlorine (CFC HFC HCFC HFA PFC)
- Zero Ozone Depletion Potential
- Avoiding PVC/emissions/off-gassing
- Suitable/developed for refurbishment/alteration
- Low skill requirement/Suitable for DIY/Self build
- Low/Zero irritant in application
- Dry construction/Waterless
- Accommodates thermal insulation thickness
- Layering: simplified servicing/low penetrations of barriers
Post CAP’EM Spin-offs
- Specifiers want all green materials in elements
- Specifiers want a system
- Want the ability to do own calculations for:
- unique assemblies
- Unique buildings
- Instantaneously
- Easy
- Not by government agency (or BRE)
- Opportunity
- NGS GBE: Brian & Renuables: Andrew
- MyNGS GBE Specification assembly tool
- + CAP’EM product LCA data
- Elements made of many components
- Components replaced by products
- LCA for products > elements
- Buildings made of elements
- Feed in areas
- LCA for whole buildings
- Funding?
- Unsuccessful bid
- TSB Technology Strategy Board
- Design & Decisions Tools
- Government Funding
- 50% funding, 50% match time
© GBE GBC GRC GIC GGC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan ******
27th August 2024 1st September 2024
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© GBE GBC GRC GIC GGC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan ******
27th August 2024
See Also:
GBE CPD
CPD Topics N#478
LCA Life Cycle Analysis:
- Architects Dont Need LCA (CPD) G#949 N#968
Materials:
Seminars:
- BREGG Green Materials Olympics short (CPD) G#2096 N#240
- Building with Reclaimed Materials
- Green or Violet materials Which do you use (CPD) G#15560
- How do GBE Select Products (CPD)
- Jargon Buster Carbon Dioxide (CPD) G#291 N#292
- 57 Carbon and CO2 related terms
- Low Carbon Green Building (CPD)
- Low v High Carbon Lifestyle (CPD) N#307
- PASS Product Accessory System Screening (Assessment) G#515 N#533
- Reclaim Reuse Specification (CPD) G#316 N#317
- Specification Clause Content (CPD) G#371 N#372
- Surveys Tests Analysis (CPD Lecture) G#389 N#390
- Violet Materials (Materials) G#963 N#983
- Zero Carbon Development Passive Approach (CPD)
GBE Shop CPD
GBE In-House CPD
- CPD Your In-house CPD G#2404
GBE Lectures
RIBA Part 1 Under Graduate
RIBA Part 1 Year 2 2018-2019-2020 (University of Hertfordshire)
- S1 Adopt A Material (Studio Lecture) G#19183 2018-2020
- L1 Building Envelope Principles (Lecture) G#31815 2019/20
- L2 Introduction to Materials (Lecture) G#31821
- L9 Future Systems: Sustainability (Lecture) G#20396
RIBA Part 2 Post-Graduate
RIBA Part 2 M Arch Lab 1 University of Hertfordshire 2019-2020
- 1 Sustainability Introduction
- Sustainability Introduction (Lecture) G#31739
- 2 Green Or Violet Insulation Materials
- Green or Violet materials Which do you use (CPD) G#15560
© GBE GBC GRC GIC GGC GBL NGS ASWS Brian Murphy aka BrianSpecMan ******
27th August 2024