Sustainability

The RIAI is committed to inspiring excellence in architecture to deliver a sustainable and resilient future. The RIAI calls for urgent action to be taken by Architects and the wider construction industry in tackling the climate emergency. 

It is imperative that we change the way we practice in order to combat climate change. We advocate for all new and retrofitted buildings to achieve net zero whole life carbon by 2030 under the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge, a climate change initiative for the architecture profession and wider construction industry. We are confident that these 2030 targets for embodied carbon, energy, and water use will place projects on the trajectory towards net zero.

Sustainable Design

An Architect can advise on how to optimise the potential sustainability of a project by advising on such features as site orientation, building fabric, lifecycle costs, and predicted energy and water consumption. By focusing on effective and appropriate design responses, an Architect can help minimise the material and energy required in the construction and operation of new and existing buildings.

What does the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge mean for your project?  

It is a voluntary initiative for Architects and clients, which sets targets in the following areas:  

Operational Energy - The amount of energy to run and use the building.
A reduction in the amount of energy needed to operate your home. This could be through improving the building fabric, reducing heat loss and introducing renewable technologies.  

Embodied Carbon - All the carbon emitted in producing buildings.
A reduction in the amount of carbon typically produced for a project of this size. This could involve specifying low embodied carbon products and also being mindful of waste reduction.  

Potable Water - Water used by individuals for washing, drinking, cooking.
A reduction in the amount of water required to run your home, through water efficiency. It helps to build resilience to future stresses on water supply.  

Health and Wellbeing benefits  - Good ventilation, airtightness, low toxic finishes and access to views and light, contributes to good indoor environment quality and can have a particularly positive effect on physical and mental health. 

What are the benefits to taking the Climate Challenge?

• Lower running (operational) costs
• A home which is more resilient to fluctuations in energy and water supply and external temperatures
• Measuring embodied carbon could create a leaner design with less waste
• Opportunity to avail of green mortgage rates from having an energy efficient home
• Opportunity to avail of home improvement grant schemes aimed at energy efficiency
• Potential increased value of your home
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Increased level of internal thermal comfort (warmer in winter, cooler in summer)
• A whole-life approach to sustainability, starting at home

Talk to your Architect about how to implement the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge goals within your project. You could also discuss how to integrate a Post-Occupancy Evaluation into the schedule of services provided. Further information is outlined in Working with an Architect - Edition 2.

Find out more about the RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge in the guidance documents for domestic and non-domestic clients below.

RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge - A Domestic Client's Guide

The RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge - A Domestic Client's Guide is a short guide aimed at domestic clients to introduce the Climate Challenge or provide information where they may already be interested in the challenge. This guide explains the reasons and benefits of embedding the Climate Challenge targets into a project and the steps involved in doing so.

Published: October 2023

RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge - A Non-Domestic Client's Guide

The RIAI 2030 Climate Challenge - A Non-Domestic Client's Guide is a short guide aimed at non-domestic clients to introduce the Climate Challenge or provide information where they may already be interested in the challenge. This guide explains the reasons and benefits of embedding the Climate Challenge targets into a project and the steps involved in doing so.

Published: October 2023