The DfMA landscape is littered with acronyms, abbreviations and terminology that is often poorly defined and even more poorly understood.

The solutions may be different, but the principles we are exploring here have very positive ramifications for other areas.. Local/central government: the principle of making information interoperable and shareable, or policies more machine-readable and rules-based, while smoothing flow of information ‘before use’, is applicable in many areas: domestic planning, perhaps, where we could unblock permitted development and focus more on sustainable development; or major infrastructure projects where incompatible information systems breed wasted time and resources.. Local plans: are all based on evidence, which is all based on data.Data fixed in time is by definition out of date, while digitisation in the holistic context – as this project is demonstrating – gives us the opportunity to keep data and evidence current, informing and improving engagement and decision-making.. Next steps: collaboration to foster continuous improvement.

There are others operating in this space.This project has the potential to enable effective and creative collaboration between all of them, providing the shared basis on which other projects can connect, operate and develop.Involving more people and projects to test the process and demonstrate value would also be a good thing..

Given the potential scale of this project and its broader applications, we would seek to connect with MHCLG, both in terms of technical development, and to benefit from their convening power..The more connections we enable, the stronger those connections become and the more benefits arise from them.

A key principle of this project and the thinking within it is actively and consciously to reinvest the positive impact and learnings of the project for the people involved, to create a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement and progress.. To learn more about our Design to Value approach to design and construction, sign up for our monthly newsletter here:.

http://bit.ly/BWNewsUpdatesWhat is operational carbon?.Suddenly, wellbeing and temperature control are higher on the priority list than energy efficiency and the climate emergency.. More fresh air, and its impact on energy efficiency.

Normally, having fewer people in a building would allow ventilation rates to be reduced, making a building more energy efficient.However, in order to reduce the risk of viral spread within the building we have to increase ventilation rates as far as practically possible, so that the occupants have more fresh air.. A higher ventilation rate, whether it is via natural or mechanical ventilation, will result in an increased demand on heating in cooler weather, and increased demand on cooling in warmer weather.

This may be exacerbated in a mechanical ventilation system where we’ve had to disable the heat recovery device.Extra heating or cooling not only adds to our energy bills, but it also puts more pressure on hitting our carbon reduction targets..