Black Mountain Partners adopts the systems thinking strategies of the Circular Economy and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) in the initial selection of our Developments and subsequently in their design, delivery and ongoing operation, right through to re-purposing or demolition later in the building’s life.
The Circular Economy aims to disrupt the traditional behaviour of the prevailing ‘Linear Economy’ of Take, Make, Use and Dispose by encouraging a circular ecosystem in which resources are preserved, regenerated and recycled – minimising waste and consumption.
The 6 primary principles of the Circular Economy are embodied in the ReSOLVE framework
In our Developments we will seek to (REGENERATE):
- Salvage and re-use as much as possible of a site’s existing (pre development) physical assets
- Design to minimise waste during the demolition and construction period
- Design to minimise natural resources extraction by using natural and renewable products and materials
- Minimise to the extent possible the impacts of transportation of materials by sourcing locally wherever feasible
- In our Developments we will seek to (SHARE):
- Design our buildings with in-built flexibility to accommodate future changes in end user requirements without major interventions
- Encourage the sharing of spaces within our buildings for multiple users.
- Consider how our buildings can facilitate the use of shared infrastructure assets (car sharing, e-bikes, bike share schemes, etc.)
- Encourage higher occupational densities within our buildings so that more people per square foot can use our spaces. Also consider how our buildings can be utilised over a 24 hour cycle
- Share our experience through collaborative and active engagement in industry forums such as the UK Green Building Council and International Well Building Institute (IWBI)
- In our Developments we will seek to (OPTIMISE):
- Design our Structures and Systems with a view to incorporating materials from renewable sources to the extent possible
- Design our Structures and Systems to consume energy as efficiently as possible
- Incorporate modular component solutions to the extent possible
- Design our Structures and Systems so that materials are maintained at their optimum efficiency throughout their life cycle
- Define the design life cycles of the materials used within our buildings and where appropriate opt for extended lifespans
- Consider the leasing of building elements such as lighting or façade systems, incentivising suppliers to promote maximum efficiency of these elements
- In our Developments we will seek to (LOOP):
- Design our Structures and Systems with a view to enabling their easy dismantling and disassembly at the end of their useful life and their straightforward replacement (‘Building in Layers’ – Stuart Brand)
- Incorporate materials and products in our buildings that facilitate the recovery and reuse / recycling of valuable components at the end of their useful life
- Facilitate our building users to recycle as much waste as possible throughout their life
- During construction, consider how reverse logistics can cut the numbers of journeys by encouraging coordination between suppliers
- Facilitate the re-use of redundant products from existing buildings through reuse sharing platforms such as Globechain
- In our Developments we will seek to (VIRTUALISE):
- Design our buildings so as to facilitate virtual conferencing
- Encourage our consultants to open source innovative design solutions
- Design our systems to facilitate end user interface with the Building Management System to allow employees to check the energy performance of the building
- Ensure our consultants use BIM Level 2 in their design process to eliminate on site clashes and track materials and products through their life cycle
- Facilitate remote monitoring and maintenance of the systems in our buildings to reduce maintenance visits
- In our Developments we will seek to (EXCHANGE):
- Design our Structure and Systems with a view to maximising energy efficiency
- Design our Systems to maximise to the extent possible the use of renewable energy
- To the extent possible, self generate electricity through solar / wind / biomass sources that can feed back into the energy grid at times of peak generation and / or low user demand
- Re-use rainwater where possible
Selection of Opportunities. Sustainability considerations will be central to our decision making process when screening potential new Development opportunities
Development Brief. Each Development Brief will have a dedicated Sustainability section which will consider each of the ReSOLVE framework headings and give clear direction on how each of these areas is to be addressed by the Consultant team
Selection of Consultant Team. The process for the selection of the Consultant team for each Development will include a review of the Consultant’s sustainability credentials, with only those Architects and Engineers that demonstrate a firm commitment to our Sustainable Development vision being considered for appointment.
Selection of Contractor(s). Likewise selection criteria for contractors will place significant emphasis on the candidate’s sustainability track record. Incentives for excellent sustainability performance will be considered in construction contracts
Selection of Asset Manager. Asset Managers will be selected and remunerated based on ongoing performance against Sustainability targets.