What Sustainable solutions will 2023 bring?
Reducing global carbon emissions will take a multitude of innovations. With 2023 nearly upon us we have asked the Mainer family for Sustainability stories that give positive solutions which we can take into the New Year.
Green Hydrogen - Did you know, the next big ‘green’ thing is an idea that is centuries old?
Photo source: Production - Hydrogen UK (hydrogen-uk.org)
Green Hydrogen has the potential to help decarbonize sectors like power generation, transport and some heavy industries but did you know the first internal combustible engine was powered by hydrogen in 1804?
Before any type of fossil fuel Franco-Swiss inventor Isaac De Rivaz designed and developed this engine which is very similar to the combustion engines we use every day with a spark ignition and a piston.
However, throughout the 20th century hydrogen power seemed to get beaten in price and convenience by fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
The problem was Hydrogen requires massive amounts of initial investment for the extraction, production, storage, and infrastructure needed to support hydrogen as an energy source.
In the 21st century however climate change has meant industries are picking the book on hydrogen energy back up.
It’s important to distinguish between the different Hydrogen production
Grey Hydrogen is Hydrogen produced by combusting natural gas which emits CO2 into the atmosphere. (This method emits less than black or brown hydrogen produced using different types of coal.)
Blue Hydrogen is Low-carbon hydrogen produced by combusting fossil fuels but with carbon capture & storage; and
Green Hydrogen means emissions-free hydrogen produced using an electrolyser powered by renewable energy.
The UK has set a target to deliver 5GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
Written by
Chris Pimm - Graduate Sustainability Consultant
To contact please email:
chris.pimm@mainer.co.uk
Driving Ahead - Can e-scooters speed up our ability to help with Climate Change?
In 2023, the UK Government is set to legalise the use of privately owned e-scooters on public land. At present, only e-scooters that are part of government-approved rental trials are currently allowed to be used on public roads; privately-owned e-scooters, meanwhile, can only be used on private land.
The legalisation of private e-scooters was announced as part of the Transport Bill during the Queen’s Speech in 2022; it is set to be approved by Parliament in 2023. Under the Transport Bill, a new category of low-speed zero-emission vehicles will be created – allowing e-scooters to be regulated and, subsequently, legalised. It is expected that private e-scooters will be required to meet similar regulations to those currently used in government-supported trial schemes, such as: a speed limit of 15.5mph, a minimum wheel size, daytime running lights, indicators, and potentially acoustic warning systems.
But why is this positive news for the climate and the environment?
Research has found that one in five drivers would consider replacing short car journeys (those below 1 mile) with an e-scooter, saving 44,261 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year – the equivalent of the annual emissions from 29,000 cars. Similarly, other research has concluded that approximately one in four people would switch to light electric vehicles (LEVs) – including e-scooters – to reduce their carbon footprint. The research identified that changing transport habits to reduce individuals’ carbon footprint was more popular than other initiatives, including reducing meat intake or even taking less flights. Moreover, 42% of people believe that LEVs are a viable solution in helping urban areas to reduce air pollution.
With one in seven UK adults planning on purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter, the legalisation of private e-scooters in 2023 is set to change transport forever - and, indeed, help to mitigate the climate crisis.
Written by
Dan Skelton - Graduate Sustainability Consultant
To contact please email:
dan.skelton@mainer.co.uk
Digital Twins - Helping Cities to become Net Zero
Photo source: Integrated Environmental Solutions | IES (iesve.com)
The term digital twin is growing in popularity especially over the past year.
A digital twin or digital replica is a 3D digital image of a physical building or object which allows it to be externally manged. This real time model is created by artificial intelligence by collating all the data surrounding the object in question and allows you to vet the functionality of a building. The digital twin helps to identify any faults in the building structure and can predict failure prior to it happening saving time, money and energy as a result.
One city in the UK that has used this technology trend to their advantage is the city of Warrington
Warrington Borough Council is committed to reaching net zero and in November of this year they worked with IES’s master planning and urban design tool known as iCD to create a digital twin of 29 areas of the city. The hope is that this will enable the council to see their return on investment for various decarbonisation initiatives and track the impact of population growth and renewable energy systems impact of building infrastructure.
It was identified that in one area in Warrington that a basic retrofit of district heating mass PV and community storage would result in a 41% annual cost saving, worth £583. The maximum retrofit scenario with the same interventions sees a 56% reduction in annual cost saving compared to the simulation run in 2020.
Written by
Alice Greville - Graduate Sustainability Consultant
To contact please email:
alice.greville@mainer.co.uk
Smart Glass - A window into an environmentally friendly future.
In the construction industry a lot of attention is given to reducing carbon emissions through building materials such as concrete, steel and timber, however windows play a significant part in the sustainability of buildings. In a typical house, around 10-20% of heat is lost through windows.
How can we reduce this?
Let me introduce you to Electrochromic glass (smart glass). The smart glass allows users to control the amount of heat or light that passes through glass windows at the flick of a switch, giving them the ability to regulate temperatures and create privacy.
This technological process relies on ions and electrons being inserted between glass sheets which can change the shade of the glass through a small electric pulse. While a small burst of electricity is required for changing the opacity of the glass, no electricity is needed for maintaining a particular shade once the change has been affected.
This technology can provide savings of up to 44% in energy consumption for lighting and a 19-26% decrease in peak loads associated with the operation of air conditioning systems.
Furthermore, it reduces glare and allows for greater privacy, all by button, voice, or Wi-Fi. On top of this, adding smart glass and doors to buildings also increases property value and selling prices.
Written by
Joe Clough - Graduate Sustainability Consultant
To contact please email:
joe.clough@mainer.co.uk
London Calling! - What role do global cities have in tackling climate change and environmental issues?
Green Block, London
Photo Source: WATG and Pixelflakes
From the 6th-8th June 2023, London will be the host of the Ecocity World Summit. The summit positions itself as the global conference on sustainable cities and brings together key urban stakeholders to focus on key actions cities and citizens can take to rebuild our human habitat in balance with living systems.
Hosted at the Barbican, which in itself is on track for Net Zero emissions by 2027, the 3-day event will be ‘physical-virtual’, allowing for those around the world and within the UK who can’t attend, to be part of the event, but to also reduce the carbon intensity of the related travel.
King’s Cross W3
Photo Source: ArsVisualis and Haptic Architects
One of the positive actions arising from the summits pertains to local actions being highlighted and undertaken - it is hoped this will kick start both London and the UK’s sustainable city revolution. In addition, a legacy project will deliver a new piece of sustainable infrastructure in London, developed through a collaborative process and The London Festival of Architecture will provide a month-long backdrop with activation across the city throughout the month of June.
Finally, the Ecocity organisers have set out their ambitions for 2023. These are incredibly important as most of the global workforce is concentrated within cities and by improving the sustainability of our cities, and the practices which we undertake, we can help make a difference for global sustainability. The ambitions are as follows:
Morden Wharf, Balcony View
Photo Source: OMA, Carmody Groarke, U+i and Pixelflakes
Gather and grow a network of urban stakeholders supporting sustainable futures
Disseminate learnings and intelligence between cities and city markers
Provide a forum to challenge existing urban systems, policies, and priorities
Inspire and support professionals and citizens to take action to meet key targets
Leave a legacy in London through a series of partner pilots and learning programme
Written by
Dan Coupland - Graduate Sustainability Consultant
To contact please email:
dan.coupland@mainer.co.uk
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