The existing buildings challenge. In this episode, I'm joined by Sam McCabe, architect and PassivHaus Designer to discuss the oft repeated fact that 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built and the challenge of how we align them with a Net Zero future.

We have a teensy pop at Project Managers who don't give enough time for feasibility work. And architects who still like fully glazed buildings. Oh, and agents. But only a little bit...

We also discuss the importance of comfort, the need for incremental change, and how the professional team need to support clients and help them understand the need for compromise, all in the context of existing buildings.

Don't miss this great chat - listen now!

Things mentioned in the chat:
The PassivHaus standard: PassivHaus Trust
Reusing building materials: Building Materials Exchange 

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode, I'm excited to be joined by Tom Wigg, Senior Advisor, Net Zero Carbon Buildings at the UK Green Building Council to talk all things NZC Buildings Standard.

If you're in any way connected to the built environment industry in the UK, you'll have no doubt heard about this new standard, created through the unprecedented collaboration of 9 professional and industry bodies and over 350 experts, it should represent a step-change in the way that we think about, and verify, the impact of buildings on the Net Zero future of the UK.

In the show, we talk about the problem the standard is trying to solve, how it was created and the key principles of how it works. We also delve into some things about the standard that some might find surprising (offsetting isn't mandatory, for instance), things that Tom would have loved to include but couldn't and how people and projects can get involved.

Post show note
Tom wanted to clarify that, although he suggested that the limits for certain sectors were unlikely to change at the end of the pilot period, that might happen if there is sufficient feedback - so, if you think something could be improved, please do engage with the process and provide the feedback, I know Tom and the wider team will welcome it!

Things mentioned in the show:
Net Zero Carbon Building Standard: Home | UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
Submit your project to the pilot study: Pilot Testing | UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework: Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework | UKGBC
Net Zero WLC roadmap for the built environment: Net Zero Whole Life Carbon Roadmap for the Built Environment | UKGBC
UKGBC Renewable Energy Procurement guidance: Renewable Energy Procurement Part 2 | UKGBC
ISO14068 - Part 1: Climate change management — Transition to net zero: ISO 14068-1:2023 - Climate change management — Part 1: Carbon neutrality

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

Risk. It's a language every business should understand but do organisations have climate risk in their lexicon?

In this episode I'm joined by founder of Bemari Consulting, Marina Bradford to talk about some of the myths that organisations fall foul of and which mean they aren't as prepared as they should be for a range of climate risks.

Find out what's meant by physical and transitional risks, how companies can avoid being overwhelmed by the issues and how to break the problem down into digestible chunks.

Things mentioned during the show:

Bemari Consulting: Bemari - Sustainability Consulting and Systems Change
Task Force on Climate-related Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations: Recommendations | Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures
UK Flood risk maps: Check the long term flood risk for an area in England - GOV.UK
UKGBC Physical risk guidance: Measuring & Reporting Physical Risks to Built Assets | UKGBC

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

This time I'm super excited to be joined by Anna Sturtivant, a sustainability practitioner with experience in consulting, central government and now a Sustainability Manager at the BBC.

I was really interested to dig into the particular challenges facing large and complex organisations when it comes to creating traction for carbon reduction activity - we discuss the importance of relationships, language and stories, and why you should make friends with your internal comms team!

Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts to find out more!

Things mentioned in the show:
Richard Tetlow's EngD research - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Tetlow 

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode I'm thrilled to be joined by my old colleague, Cat Hirst.

A sustainability lifer, Cat published her book 'A Regenerative Mindset' last year to cement her place as one of the growing band of expert practitioners who believe sustainability as we know it isn't enough to bring the world back into balance.

In this fascinating episode, we explore what it means for a business to be regenerative, planetary boundaries and why we need to leave the Earth better than we found it. We also get into why a shift of mindset is critical to achieving a regenerative future and the very broad benefits of such a transition.

Things mentioned in the show:
A Regenerative Mindset (Cat's book): https://tinyurl.com/ye7j2ybh
Beyond Sustainability (Cat's company): Home - Beyond Sustainability (beyond-sustainability.co.uk)
Johan Rockström TED Talk: https://tinyurl.com/ycka53vc
Ask Nature website: Innovation Inspired by Nature — AskNature
Start with Why (book by Simon Sinek): Start With Why Book | Simon Sinek - Simon Sinek
On Art and Life (book by John Ruskin): https://tinyurl.com/2ks9mym4
The Regenerative Business (book by Carol Sanford): https://tinyurl.com/5bd7f2mb

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode, I chat to Elina Grigoriou owner and Design and Sustainability Director of Grigoriou Interiors, and the chair of the new Ska Rating board.

We explore some great new research, recently published, on the up-front carbon in Cat B fit-outs - an often poorly represented and therefore frequently ignored part of a building's overall carbon impact. We talk about Elina's upbringing in Greece, her career-long involvement with Ska (the only assessment framework dedicated to fit-outs) and why it's the decision that's sustainable or not rather than the product.

Elina's stint as a professional basketball player also gets a mention, but I had to let that slide in the interests of time!

Links mentioned in the show:
Grigoriou Interiors: https://grigoriou.co.uk/
Ska Rating: https://skarating.org/
Cat B carbon research, Part 1: https://tinyurl.com/4wtykre3
Cat B carbon research, Part 2: https://tinyurl.com/bdfzfdyz
Net Zero Carbon Building Standard: https://www.nzcbuildings.co.uk/
Regenerative by Design (book by Dave Cheshire): https://tinyurl.com/222kvw47

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode I chat to Andrew Chamberlain, MD of Elevated and specialist in non-profit business management.

We get into a discussion about the role of membership associations in supporting their members on climate action - we cover the role of signposting, not trying to solve the whole problem, and how framing their role in the conversation can support members.

If you're a membership association, or a member of one, listen in!

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet

In this episode I chat to Kenneth Van den Bergh, CEO and co-founder of the online carbon accounting platform Carbon+Alt+Delete.

We talk about the platform's altruistic backstory, the BIG carbon reporting problem facing every company and the exciting stuff the guys have planned for the future.

If you want to continue the conversation, comment or review!

Website: https://www.hut22.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-couling/

Music credits:
March of the Bold by Balloon Planet (via Artlist.io)
Check out their stuff here: https://soundcloud.com/balloon-planet