The research project discussed in this paper is driven by the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) need to reduce operational energy and carbon by promoting the adoption of the Active Building (AB) concept for UK building projects. The AB concept offers a practical solution to reducing the operational energy use and carbon emissions of buildings by using emerging technologies applied to architectural design; thus, helping the UK meet its decarbonisation targets and, consequently, helping to combat the global problem of climate change. The aim of the project was to design and implement an AB Protocol with an AB Toolkit, to provide a knowledge base and sustainable architectural design guidance to aid the design of ABs. The AB Toolkit was tested, evaluated, and refined by engaging with architectural designers in the UK through focus groups (FGs) that combined data collection with knowledge dissemination—a method which provided a contribution to the continuous professional development (CPD) of architectural designers in the UK, while aiding the research project. The FG data proved the original hypothesis that a whole host of measures are needed to support the adoption of the AB concept (as outlined in the AB Protocol), but that some design guidance was needed initially to enable the development of other supporting measures. Therefore, the main output of this research project was the development of a structured approach to enable architectural designers and other built-environment professionals to adopt the AB concept for the delivery of net zero operational energy buildings, supporting the aims of the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, Swansea University, and the Active Building Centre (ABC). The method of data collection developed, and the structured approach to enabling the adoption of a new concept outlined, could be beneficial to other researchers.
This paper discusses the development and validation of a new Code of Practice for the design of Active Buildings, which will be the main output from a Professional Doctorate in the Sustainable Built Environment (D.SBE) research project being undertaken by the first author. It sets the context for the Code, related to UK, European and Global Climate Change targets, before describing the aspirations of the first author to develop the guidance document in conjunction with architectural practitioners, combining knowledge sharing and education with government targets for reducing energy consumption and associated carbon emissions from buildings. An explanation of the term 'Active Building' is included and the recently (2019) established Active Building Centre is also discussed, to explain the need for the Code of Practice, which will be one of the main outputs from the centre at the end of its current three-year programme ending in 2022. Progress on the development of the Code of Practice is discussed, including how the document is being tested with Architects and students, and how it could align with government policies, as well as enabling the roll out of Active Buildings across the United Kingdom (UK).
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