NW Cambridge Sustainability Precinct Case Study

The £1 billion development in North West Cambridge (UK) has sustainability at its core, with sophisticated water management, the UK’s first large-scale stormwater recycling system, a district heating network, 1.5MW of roof-mounted solar PV and an extensive network of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. This ground-breaking community comprises 3,000 homes (all near Passivhaus efficiency) as well as research facilities, retail and commercial sites.

Sam Archer, Associated Director, Sustainability in AECOM’s Auckland office, led North West Cambridge’s sustainable design and will offer an overview of the project and then open up discussion across a number of areas including:

Zero Carbon (and other self-sufficiency ambitions)

  • Lessons learnt from UK drive to make all new homes zero carbon
  • What are the pros and cons of the zero carbon ambition?
  • Potential implications of New Zealand decarbonised grid on Zero Carbon

Sustainability Assessment Tools
(e.g. Greenstar, BREEAM, Homestar, Code for Sustainable Homes)

  • What are the pros and cons of these tools?
  • Rigorous, formal certification vs flexibility of sustainability frameworks?
  • Different orientations – attributes, process, outcomes?

Behaviour Change

  • The role of the individual in improving sustainable development outcomes
  • Can technology save us? Is providing sustainable infrastructure enough?
  • The interface between the individual and the built environment

When: Thursday 23 July, 12 midday – 1:30pm