Arup constructs new green building service

Global design and architectural consultancy Arup has today launched a major new service designed to help firms develop "carbon neutral" buildings.

Unveiled at the Think 08 green building conference in London, the company said that new service would form part of its standard consultancy package and would provide clients with a strategy to show how a building project can meet demanding environmental criteria, while delivering genuine sustainability.

"Right from the beginning of a project, we want to set out a strategy for the design as it is much harder to incorporate key sustainability concepts later," said Alistair Guthrie, leader of Arup Buildings Sustainable Network.

As part of the new service, clients will receive two reports: a strategy document that will form the basis for a discussion with the client about the case for investment in green measures and a Sustainability Design Plan (SDP) detailing how the project could meet a range of environmental goals, including ensuring the building is carbon neutral, self sufficient in the use and recycling of water, able to cope with future climate change and built using sustainable materials.

"The strategy shows how all of the [environmental] objectives might be met and enables us to help our clients to imagine what is possible," added Guthrie.