Environmental Policy
Buildings and construction accounts for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions whilst also having a significant impact on our natural habitats. This means we as architects have a massive responsibility and opportunity to make a real difference towards meeting our climate targets.
Roderick James Architects acknowledge that urgent and fundamental change is needed to mitigate the extent to which global warming causes irreversible change to the earth and all who live on it. As one of the signatories of Architects Declare and the RIBA 2030 challenge, we are committed to addressing the climate breakdown by taking action to reduce our carbon emissions both in the workplace and in the design and construction of our buildings.
RJA Zero is our commitment to work towards becoming a net zero carbon business by 2030.
For more than 40 years, Roderick James Architects has specialised in designing and detailing sustainable timber frame buildings throughout the UK, and further abroad.
With sustainability in our DNA (our founding director, Roderick James, was one of the first directors of the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth, Wales), the practice philosophy has been based on a Fabric First approach for many years – to insulate better for less money and therefore within reach of more clients, and to utilise off-site fabrication (MMC) wherever possible (to reduce site time, improve quality and maximise energy efficiency).
It is now becoming possible to insulate to the same standards and for a similar cost by using more sustainably sourced, natural building materials and so this is our preference where possible. The trade-off is in accepting thicker walls and roofs. The development of more widely available natural breathing SIPS is a relatively recent one. We have been waiting for over 10 years for more companies to offer this.
We are aiming to reduce the use of petrochemical and concrete based building products by finding safer, cleaner, more natural alternatives that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and therefore reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings…. and, of course, continuing to promote the use of timber as a sustainable, natural building material.
Previous RJA buildings constructed using alternative SIP systems followed the Fabric First approach and continue to benefit from high levels of insulation and reduced energy demand over the lifetime of the building.
Looking to the future, within our own RJA Zero commitment, we are busy developing our ‘standard’ practice working details and build systems to favour the use of natural, low carbon and sustainable materials wherever possible.
We will also apply our principle of Eco-pragmatism, by working with our clients to find a balance between affordability, longevity, sustainability and practicality, always ensuring that we are maximising the potential for a building to have a positive impact on people’s lives, the surrounding landscape and the wider environment.
We have developed a guidance document to show our clients how the decisions they make throughout the design and build process can have wide ranging and positive impacts on them, the environment and our planet.
Our designs:
We recognise that our designs will have much greater environmental impact than our own operations therefore we are committed to exercising our professional skills in such a way as to minimise environmental impact in so far as this is possible within the instructions received from our clients.
We are committed:
to inform, enthuse and encourage our clients and design teams about best practice measures to provide buildings with low and zero carbon energy systems, and low embodied carbon, healthy, natural materials wherever possible.
to use Passivhaus Principles in the design of our buildings, ensuring energy efficiency and high-quality indoor air quality. We have our own Passivhaus Certified designer who can advise clients directly on a project basis and contribute to the design process through collaboration with all our architects.
to raise the awareness of clients about the construction industry’s responsibility and opportunity for sustainability and environmental protection and help the members of the design team to develop a shared vision of our environmental aspirations.
to assess sites for their ecological value and microclimate as part of the overall context, and ensure buildings make best use of and respond to the natural features of the site including sun, prevailing wind, landscape and natural environment.
to harness the potential for local power generation from renewable energy sources locally or on site.
to ensure that biodiversity is protected or enhanced.
to minimise the use of construction materials and specify materials and components with the optimum balance between environmental impact, cost, and performance in use.
to ensure that building services are inherently efficient and controllable, and that metering encourages monitoring and management of resource use.
communicating our environmental commitment by including these considerations in every design stage and discussing with clients, consultants, and contractors
By joining Architects Declare and signing up to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, we voluntarily commit to pushing ahead of government guidelines and targets, to ensure we play our part in keeping the possibility of meeting our climate targets within reach.
With RJA Zero, we will ensure that all our building designs start from a position of making Net Zero a priority. Our build systems will use natural, low carbon, breathable materials wherever possible, and our designs will incorporate Passivhaus Principles to ensure the lowest possible operational energy requirements.
Our workplace:
We are committed to providing a quality service in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace for our employees, visitors and minimises our potential impact on the environment; we strive to ensure that every aspect of our business incorporates the principles of environmental sustainability. We operate in compliance with and exceeding all relevant environmental legislation and use environmental best practices in all we do.
We are:
prioritising environmental concerns and impacts into all our decision making and activities.
promoting environmental awareness among our employees and encouraging them to actively find ways of reducing or reversing our negative impact on the planet, such as by working electronically wherever it is safe and secure to do so while ensuring that all key information is fully and securely backed up;
reducing waste through re-use and recycling and by purchasing recycled, recyclable, or refurbished equipment, products, and materials, where these alternatives are available, economical and suitable.
ensuring responsible disposal of remaining unavoidable waste.
promoting efficient use of space heating/lighting, equipment, materials, and resources including water, electricity, raw materials, and other resources, particularly those that are non-renewable.
purchasing and using only environmentally responsible products and suppliers.
including energy efficiency as part of the selection criteria when purchasing new equipment.
where required by legislation or where significant health, safety or environmental hazards exist, develop and maintain appropriate emergency response programmes.
using public transport in preference to travel by car wherever it is possible and effective to do so.
by partnering with Planet Mark, we have committed to driving continuous positive change through our day to day activities and choices. Through the certification process, we measure, collate and reduce year on year towards our Net Zero target of 2030.
striving to continue to improve our environmental performance and minimise the social impact and damage of activities by periodically reviewing our environmental policy in light of our current and planned future activities
working with Trees for Life, and through them are now also helping to fund the rewilding and planting of native woodlands in Scotland, through donations we make for every build project we complete.