RIBA International Awards sustainability questions
RIBA's 2030 Climate Challenge sets a series of performance outcome targets for practices to aim towards, as explained further in the Sustainable Outcomes Guide. The challenge is predicated on the assumption that we must all play a part in responding to the climate crisis. Each year, RIBA Awards eligibility become more closely aligned with the objectives of this challenge, demonstrating the crucial role architecture must play in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis.
The challenge sets out targets to be achieved in fully operational buildings, namely operational energy, embodied carbon, and water use. Whilst these targets are based on UK regulation and compliance, as well as businesses usual benchmarks - the ethos and principles behind the challenge are universally applicable.
International projects, as well as those projects that fall outside the main 2030 Challenge typologies (schools, homes, non-residential offices), should seek to comply with the reduction trajectories i.e. demonstrably achieving 60 to 70% reduction in operational energy consumption by 2030 compared to a typical new build of that typology in that location today, please therefore demonstrate how your project performs against this reduction pathway.
All projects are expected to achieve statutory targets for sustainable outcomes and to measure and verify how they perform - please complete as many questions as possible so that we can best understand the credentials of your scheme.
Read on to discover the questions you will be asked to fill in when you submit your project. Some information requested is mandatory, however if mandatory data is required but not applicable to your project, you can insert ‘0’ (zero) in the data field and provide an explanation in the relevant text box ; for example a bridge will not be able to provide some mandatory data due to its typology.
Questions
1. Which climate zone is your project located in? (mandatory)
Tropical / Dry / Temperate / Polar / Continental
Climate zone is an area with a distinct climate. This question is based on the Köppen climate classification system which divides climates into five groups.
2. Outline sustainability drivers, concepts, and specific environmental performance outcomes of the building. (max. 300 words, mandatory)
How was sustainability considered during the architectural concept, form development, construction, and building end-use stages? Describe any performance analysis undertaken and the measured sustainability outcomes. Were there any special project objectives, challenges, or constraints? Was the design reviewed against the impacts of future climate change (e.g. future weather, flood risk, overheating risk)? Are there any innovations in sustainable construction? What are the key indoor and outdoor water use strategies? Please state how the project aligns with the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. Did the brief inform the sustainability strategy? What is the net-to-gross efficiency?
3. Describe any strategies used in the project’s design to reduce operational energy use. (max. 300 words, mandatory)
4. Describe any strategies used in the project’s design to reduce potable water use. (max. 300 words, mandatory)
5. Describe any strategies used in the project’s design to reduce embodied carbon. (max. 300 words, madatory)
6. Gross internal conditioned floor area (m²)
'Gross internal conditioned floor area' is the gross internal floor area that is conditioned (e.g. heated and/or cooled).
7. % Occupancy during 12 month period
The percentage occupancy, for this form, must relate to the energy data collection period.
8. Predicted energy use (kWh/m²/y) - a design prediction
This is the total annual predicted regulated and unregulated energy use (measured in kilowatt-hours per metre squared per year based on the gross internal area (GIA) of the building).
9. Actual energy use (kWh/m²/y) - the onsite reality
This is the total annual gross operational energy use (measured in kilowatt-hours per metre squared per year based on the gross internal area (GIA) of the building) taken from measured data. Figures should reflect gross energy use and therefore should include energy used on-site from any on-site renewables. The measurement should be taken from energy meter readings (or energy bills + PV meter) for the building over a year, so that both winter and summer seasons feature in the calculation.
A worked example can be found in this RIBA J article: .
10. Is gas used on site?
Yes / No
11. Onsite renewable energy generation (kWh/yr)
This is the total annual renewable energy generated on-site, excluding heat pumps.
12. Is your project connected to a district heat system?
Yes / No
13. Potable water use (l/person/day)
This is the total annual drinking water used on site, measured in litres per person per day (l/person/day) in domestic and non-domestic, and metres cubed per pupil per year (m3/pupil/yr) for schools, taken from measured data.
14. Building design life (years)
15. Upfront carbon (KgCO鈧俥q/m²)
‘Upfront Carbon’ emissions are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with materials and construction processes up to practical completion (Modules A1-A5 of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment). Upfront carbon excludes the biogenic carbon sequestered in the installed products at practical completion.
16. Embodied carbon (KgCO鈧俥q/m²)
The ‘Embodied Carbon’ emissions of an asset are the total greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole life cycle of an asset (Modules A1-A5, B1-B5, C1-C4 of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment).
17. Whole life carbon (KgCO鈧俥q/m²)
‘Whole life carbon’ emissions are the sum total of all asset related greenhouse gas emissions and removals, both operational and embodied over the life cycle of an asset including its disposal (Modules: A1-A5; B1-B7 (plus B8 and B9 for Infrastructure only); C1-C4 of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment).
18. Confirm the basis for the carbon footprint breakdown provided above. Please expand and explain the method used for the calculation. (max. 300 words)
Confirm which RIBA Stage calculations were undertaken at, and state assumed building life and assessment boundary (cradle to gate/cradle to practical completion/cradle to grave).
Confirm which lifecycle stages were included (Upfront carbon RICS Modules A1-A5; or Embodied Carbon RICS Modules A1-A5,B1-B5,C1-C4; Whole Life Carbon RICS Modules A1-A5,B1-B7,C1-C4).
If you have been unable to provide whole-building carbon figures, but have calculations for specific building elements, you can use this textbox to provide the data and specify how they have been reached.
19. Explain key the ecological strategies. (max. 300 words)
How does the project enhance biodiversity, increase green infrastructure or create opportunities for productive growing spaces (e.g. local food production)? Were considerations made for biophilic design? What measures have been taken to mitigate any loss of Category A and B trees? Is the project situated on designated landscapes (e.g. greenfield land, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, locally designated landscapes)? If so, what measures have been taken to mitigate the impact on the environment? How are any biodiversity net gain benefits safeguarded for future years on the site? Please refer to our Sustainable Outcomes guide for further information.
20. Biodiversity net gain (BNG) %
21. Any other supporting information relating to the sustainability data. (max. 300 words)
Please include any sustainability certifications achieved.