ARUP x ENGSOC Case Competition

Building a net-zero future

Alethea Anik Katrina Pranav Rongxuan

Dutton Golam Hindiarto Chanda Chong
Decarbonising Sydney’s Future

Challenges Built Environment Digital Technology

Embodied Carbon
Optimisation of space Adopting new and standardising
Changing carbon contributors
(e.g.housing & office space) efficiency processes

Criteria How can ARUP leverage its position as an industry leader to

increase operational performance and reduce embodied carbon emissions inline with state targets?

Commercial Energy Reduction Data Driven Sustainability

Strategy Combing BIM software (Dprofiler), carbon
Tackling carbon emissions and energy reductions
in commercial spaces assessment tools, and sensitivity analysis to
evaluate embodied carbon during design phase

Standardisation and further scientific

Impacts 40-65% embodied carbon reduction
rigour in embodied carbon reporting 6.5 t of Co2-e reduced by 2030
across residential spaces
data utilised in LCAs

Executive Summary 1
Stakeholder Analysis

Collaboration between government and industry will unlock new opportunities

NSW DPIE ARUP

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Long commitment to develop sustainable built environment

2030 Goal Global Firm comprised of: designers, advisors, and experts

Sophisticated project portfolio: ● Buildings

Emissions reduction on
35% 2005 levels
●
●
Markets
Services
●
●
Roads
Libraries/ Museums
● Countries ● Transport (EV, Light rail)
Priorities
Global case studies, connections, and data to draw upon
Low emission Investing in post
technologies 2030 technologies
Delivers holistic and complex strategies

Empowering NSW Gov to lead

sustainable choices by example

Government National level: largest procurement and

repeat clients for infrastructure projects

Sources: NSW DPIE - Net Zero Plan, ARUP

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 2

Emissions Analysis

Targeting embodied carbon within the built environment will create holistic decarbonisation solutions

Greater Sydney’s GHG emission profile Building lifecycle emissions

Carbon emissions from Australia's buildings in 2019 to 2050 (WorldGBC)
Emissions from materials across Product, Construction, and Use

Key drivers
● Decarbonising electricity grid
● Traditional manufacturing processes/ materials

CO2-e produced: 50 mt Challenges with LCA

55% from buildings
(residential, commercial, retail, and industrial) ● No standards for comparing buildings
● Measurement of material emissions across different areas of
Building emissions profile is projected to grow into 2036 the life cycle
● Data acquisition and transparency
Sources: Exploring Net Zero Emissions for Greater Sydney (2017), Embodied Carbon & Embodied Energy in Australia's Buildings (GBCA)

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 3

Emissions Analysis

Updating planning policies and elevating standards, education, and incentives are needed

Mechanisms Changes (emissions) Operational Energy Reduction

Government and Industry employed: On-site renewable generation is required across all building types
● NABERs, Green Star, BASIX, and Section J of NCC

New State Environmental Policy SEPP 0-10% Positive investment (IRR)

● Energy
● Water
● Thermal Performance International Learnings
● Provisions to measure embodied carbon New York, Seattle, and Vancouver (California)
● Incentives to develop on-site energy generation
Policy in effect: 1 October 2023
Large buildings offsite-generation is required

Other significant changes

Mid-tier Commercial–office buildings
NABERs Embodied Emissions Framework
● Measuring, benchmarking and certifying emissions Estimated 50 - 80 million sqm lag in energy efficiency

Green Star Buildings Certification 6x the area of A-grade buildings

● Greater embodied carbon reductions (2020 - 10% to
2030 - 40%) Improve energy retrofits and NABERs ratings

Sources: GBCA News, NABERs, TheFifthEstate, Planning for net zero energy
buildings
Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 4
Emissions Analysis

Updating planning policies and elevating standards, education, and incentives are needed

Mechanisms Changes (emissions) Operational Energy Reduction

Government and Industry employed: On-site renewable generation is required across all building types
● NABERs, Green Star, BASIX, and Section J of NCC

New State Environmental Policy SEPP 0-10% Positive investment (IRR)

● Energy
● Water
● Thermal Performance International Learnings
● Provisions to measure embodied carbon New York, Seattle, and Vancouver (California)
Given government objectives and changing mechanisms, ● howIncentives
can ARUPto develop on-site
leverage itsenergy generation
position as an
Policy in effect: 1 industry
October 2023
leader/expert to target embodied carbon emissions in with state targets?
Takeaway: Large buildings offsite-generation is required

Other significant changes

Mid-tier Commercial–office buildings
NABERs Embodied Emissions Framework
● Measuring, benchmarking and certifying emissions Estimated 50 - 80 million sqm lag in energy efficiency

Green Star Buildings Certification 6x the area of A-grade buildings

● Greater embodied carbon reductions (2020 - 10% to
2030 - 40%) Improve energy retrofits and NABERs ratings

Sources: GBCA News, NABERs, TheFifthEstate, Planning for net zero energy
buildings
Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 4
Strategy #1

Tackling two birds with one stone with adaptive re-use of commercial office buildings

Sustainable built environment Drivers and Implications

Tackling carbon emissions and energy reductions Arup offerings:

Achieving 4+ Nabers ratings and BASIX compliance across
new residential spaces Facilitate new strategic conversations and pathways with
1
client-designer to reach net-zero

40-65% Embodied carbon can be reduced

Utilise in-house design to optimise natural lighting,
2
acoustics, and ventilation
In-line with 15-minutes cities:

Supermarkets/ Retail
Policy amendments
Diverse range of consumables and food
offerings which support local businesses Large-scale housing retrofit policy to improve comfort of existing stock

Entertainment Targeting mid-tier commercial and large-scale cubicle spaces

Ease of connection between theatres, art
galleries, gymnasiums, and libraries
Major benefits
Essential Services ● Achieves sustainable outcomes
Highly integrated with public health and ● Alleviates housing crisis
transport services
● Mitigates urban sprawl

Achieved NABERs Energy correlated to higher GS certification

Sources: Sustainable Buildings, UNSW Newsroom, GBCA

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 5

Strategy #2

Advisory to NSW government to accelerate the democratisation of BIM in NSW

BIM & Common Data Environment (CDE) Sub-strategy 2: Implications and Risks

For medium-large project developments
Connecting systems and related data sets provides holistic
insights of the asset
● Systems engineering
● CAD Layers
● 2D/ 3D GIS
New procedures when engaging with key stakeholders:
Architects, designers, constructors, contractors, and property developers
Low-level BIM Actions
● 1: Contractor manages the CDE (e.g. Aconex - Oracle)
● Cost
○ Designers: 3D CAD for concept work and approval
● Document Management
documentation
● Time
● 2: CAD softwares must share common file formats (IFC or COBie)

Twin strategy:

NSW Government engages with Arup (industry) more to

1
mandate use of BIM across high-medium level projects

Arup scales lower level BIM to provide bespoke solutions

2
targeting hospitals, school and residential development
Mitigation strategies
Collaboration
Sub-strategy 1: Leveraging global project expertise & alliances
Parties must approach BIM in a collaborative manner

Legal initiatives
Construct clauses to grant access (data reliance, privacy, and liability)
Sources: ConstructionLaw, BuildingSmart, NSW

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 6

Strategy #3

By integrating Arup’s internal LCA database to BIM this will streamline projects and improve efficiency

Phase 1: Using Zero to develop local LCA platform Major benefits

Developing LCA platform Foolproof Approach:

Opens up local developmental projects to perform and add data to
the Arup database. Platform built with ISO14404 as a guiding Short term: Utilises 3rd Party Integrators
framework 1 Combing BIM software (Dprofiler), carbon assessment tools, and
sensitivity analysis to evaluate embodied carbon during design phase
Unique Feature: Common Data Environment (CDE) with dynamic data
Long term: Arup develops in-house integration software
updates as projects progress and evolve 2
Invests in human capital and capabilities to enhance digital arm
Streamlined process
Contractors and subcontractors share embodied emission data and
methodologies to cross-reference and standardise for the same
materials Reduces significant time for exporting BoQ and acquiring datasets
Indexed and tagged revisions to create seamless, integrated
platform
Further partnerships and studies
Tailored Interface and Usage ● Generates innovation in new designs
Customisable templates available for similar projects, and repetitive ● Connects suppliers to key
tasks automated. Aim is to consistently apply cradle to cradle
stakeholders
analysis to all projects

Democratises consistent LCA for all building projects

Sources: ScienceDirect

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 7

Timeline

Transitioning to a sustainable built environment in stages will compound with momentum

Streams Key Actions 2023 2024 2025 2026 2028 2030+

Stakeholder Man. Consultation Feasibility reports (Client and strategy partnerships, commercial re-use planning)
Planning
Internal Man. Training and restructuring (Streamlining efficiency of interdisciplinary collaboration in sustainability)

BIM/LCA integration R&D Testing Operational Launch

Data consolidation & (Ongoing operation and development)

Development LCA platform Testing Operational Launch
Front/Back end dev

Commercial Emission Design and Build & Certification & (Ongoing for current and future ARUP projects)
Reduction Planning Renovate Launch

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Commercial emission 100 Buildings Assessed 10+ CBD Buildings 4+ Nabers ratings and BASIX
reduction compliance for 60% of projects

LCA Technology User Feedback

Evaluation + Beta Testing 40% Market Reach
platform usage

2030: 35% 2050: 100%

Total Emission
Reduction

Sources:

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 8

Summary

Future proofing NSW’s sustainability outcomes

Understanding the project Achieving clear project goals Long-term focus

Project Scope:
Improved sustainability of high use
1 Reduce embodied carbon emissions 1
adaptive commercial spaces
in the built environment

Large Scale Commercial projects:

Priorities: Achieving net zero
Streamlined integration of LCA
2 2
Demand for more efficient tools & insights across industry
capabilities in life cycle analysis

Must align with NSW DPIE goals Integration of tools and database Meeting emissions reduction goals
3 3
and leverage ARUP’s expertise transparency: BIM and LCA by 2030 and beyond
Technologies

Analysis Strategy Impact Next Steps 9

 Q&A

Alethea Anik Katrina Pranav Rongxuan

Dutton Golam Hindiarto Chanda Chong
Appendix Directory

Slide Deck Appendix

1. Decarbonising Sydney’s Future - Exec Summary 1. Hierarchy of constructional legislation NSW

2. Collaboration between government and industry will unlock ne 2. Lifecycle Stages (A-D) & Upfront embodied carbon profile
w opportunities - 3. Pathways towards net zero for Greater Sydney
Stakeholder Analysis 4. Embodied Carbon Stages (WorldGBC) & Role of Designers/ Engi
3. Targeting embodied carbon within the built environment will cre neers
ate holistic decarbonisation solutions - 5. Typical BIM & LCA model input
Emission analysis 6. LAC Software
4. Updating planning policies and elevating standards, education, 7. Net Zero Embodied Carbon
and incentives are needed - 8. Adaptive Reuse
Emission analysis 9. Cases of Adaptive Reuse in Sydney
5. Adaptive Reuse of commercial buildings - Strategy #1
6. Advisory to NSW government to accelerate the democratisatio
n of BIM in NSW -
Strategy #2
7. By integrating Arup’s internal LCA database to BIM this will stre
amline projects and improve efficiency -
Strategy #3
8. Timeline
9. Future proofing NSW’s sustainability outcomes - Next steps

Appendix
Appendix: Hierarchy of constructional legislation NSW

https://www.lgnsw.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/PDF/Guide_to_Recycled_Materials_in_Roads_and_Pavements.pdf

Appendix
Appendix: Lifecycle Stages (A-D) & Upfront embodied carbon profile

https://www.lgnsw.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/PDF/Guide_to_Recycled_Materials_in_Roads_and_Pavements.pdf

Appendix
Appendix: Pathways towards net zero for Greater Sydney

https://gsc-public-1.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/exploring_net_zero_emissions_for_greater_sydney_-_kinesis_-_october_2017.pdf

Appendix
Appendix: Embodied Carbon Stages (WorldGBC) & Role of Designers/ Engineers

https://www.nabers.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-12/NABERS%20-%20Embo
died%20Emissions%20-%20Technical%20Report.pdf

Appendix
Appendix: Typical BIM & LCA model input

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132322004954

Appendix
Appendix: Software

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132322004954

Appendix
Appendix: Net Zero Embodied Carbon

Key strategies to apply in sequence to

maximise the embodied carbon reduction
potential

Sources: Race to net zero carbon - report by UNSW, low carbon institute
& low carbon living crc

Appendix
Appendix: Adaptive Reuse in Current Climate

Why now?
● In January 2023, the office vacancy rate across Australia was the highest it’s been since the mid-1990s
(13.3 per cent), continuing to rise (0.4 per cent) since July

● A recent city of Sydney law change in Local Environment Plans (LEP) have been amended for “Cluster
Sites” where developers can negotiate site-specific development control plans (DCP) – and crucially,
ask for flexibility on some of the usual planning controls that apply to new apartment buildings.

Appendix
Appendix: Cases of Adaptive Reuse in Sydney

1. Small scale industrial to residential:Egan Street, Newtown

2. Grand city house to apartments: Babworth House, Darling Point

3. Defence buildings to Sydney Harbour Federation Trust offices: Georges Heights

4. Warehouse to hotel complex: George Patterson House, Sydney

5. Inner city industrial site to offices: Bushells Building, The Rocks

6. Sub Station No.164 to Built Sydney Head office

7. Former NSW Police Headquarters on College Street

8. Former TNT offices in Redfern

“Across Sydney, there might be 10-20 buildings that are suitable for this type of adaptive reuse” - UNSW Professor Philip
Oldfield, head of school at built environment

Appendix