22 healthcaredm.co.uk SUSTAINABILITY I am excited to take on the coordinator role at a time when the standard is in its infancy; this is an opportunity to establish best practices and influence real change. Defined within the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, a Net Zero Carbon Coordinator is an identified and trained member of the design team, responsible for compliance against the standard’s process and technical requirements. This is done by facilitating collaboration, coordinating design activities and reporting. The NHS is on its own net zero carbon mission, like many other responsible and influential organisations. This mission includes the target to reach net zero by 2040 for the emissions it controls directly – something the health service refers to as the NHS Carbon Footprint. The NHS Net Zero Building Standard is just one of the many actions they are implementing to achieve this. Essential in this role is the ability to demonstrate knowledge of the key components and characteristics of embodied carbon, operational energy and whole life cycle carbon performance, as well as the design decisions that affect performance. This is important as the standard requires consideration of the whole life impacts of the building, with studies undertaken through both energy and embodied carbon modelling. NET ZERO CARBON COORDINATING IN ACTION CPW is working on two schemes with the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust in the Net Zero Carbon Coordinator role. The design process of the new Longton Integrated Care Hub and the existing Leek Moorlands Hospital is strongly integrated with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard to ensure the lowest operational and embodied carbon requirements are met. There are several ways to improve a building’s energy performance and reduce the impacts of operational carbon; CPW has designed the systems to ensure the highest efficiency while reducing operational energy as far as possible. Both operational and embodied carbon modelling have been undertaken to inform the building performance against the requirements set within the standard. These results have been used by the design team to make changes to the building form and materials used, and to ensure the building falls in line with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard requirements. DELIVERING THE STANDARD The coordinator role provides a great opportunity to influence design early in the process, ensuring sustainability is at the core of all developments and rigorously tested through benchmarks at each stage. You are challenged to think differently, question standard practice and better utilise existing resources. That may mean finding a local heating network that is already available or carefully considering the location of plant and services – the impact of these decisions may be enough to prevent the building reaching the benchmark. We must optimise structure, floor area and service strategy. Another responsibility assigned to Net Zero Carbon Coordinators is overseeing and influencing collaboration between the various disciplines within a design team, throughout the entirety of a project. The difficultly of the role and achieving the NHS standard shouldn’t be underestimated. Engaging with the design team as early as possible will benefit everyone, so the team can provide details of the design Net Zero Carbon Coordinator BECOMING A In October 2023, NHS Net Zero Carbon Coordinators were introduced as gatekeepers of sustainability within NHS projects, ensuring the development of eco-conscious, resilient and energy efficient buildings. Amy Clutterbuck, an associate at CPW, shares her experience in this new role
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