Sustainability Stories
A collection of short stories highlighting great work at the intersection of sustainability and facades. Our members’ stories curated by the CWCT. Members may submit a story by completing the form below and sending it to sustainability@cwct.co.uk
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Accelerating low carbon curtain walling: impactful solutions for now
Details of practical actions that can be implemented to help reduce the upfront embodied carbon of curtain walls. #buildless, #buildclever, #buildefficient, #buildclever
Use of low carbon glass
Designed by Lombardini22, Milan’s Nervesa 21 showcases circular renovation targeting LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications using over 90% recyclable materials. Its sustainable design incorporates 6,510 m² of AGC’s Low-Carbon Glass, saving 81 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Glass Forever: A Circular Economy Approach to Sustainability
Saint-Gobain Glass partnered with KpH through its Glass Forever Programme to pioneer efficient pre- and post-consumer glass cullet recycling across London deconstruction sites. This collaborative model seamlessly segregates recyclable glass from contaminants to transform site waste into high-performance glazing solutions.
LOW CARBON GLASS PRODUCTION - HYDROGEN
In a groundbreaking three-week trial, Pilkington UK successfully manufactured architectural glass using hydrogen power at its St Helens furnace without compromising product quality. As part of the region's HyNet initiative, this switch from natural gas provides a proven blueprint to dramatically decarbonize industrial glass production.
LOW CARBON GLASS PRODUCTION - BIOFUEL
Pilkington UK successfully powered its St Helens furnace with 100% waste-derived biofuel during a four-day trial, producing 165,000 sq ft of low-carbon glass. Led by Glass Futures, the project proved that biofuel reduces furnace CO2 emissions by 80% without compromising product quality.
Collaboration is the (carbon) key
Through close collaboration between façade and building services teams, a central London high-rise optimized its design to balance embodied and operational carbon. The resulting strategy—combining rationalized geometry, double glazing with opaque elements, and low-carbon materials—cut façade surface area by 12% and unlocked massive CO2 savings.
CLIMATE CHANGE READY
The LSE Centre Building achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating by using passive and active façade technologies—including modular brise-soleil shading and automated vents—to naturally ventilate over 70% of its spaces. This design eliminated air handling equipment on the top ten floors, dramatically reducing operational carbon while optimizing daylight and occupant comfort.
PREFABRICATED TIMBER FACADE
Schindler’s HMEF 2020 timber-aluminium unitised curtain wall system slashes global warming potential from ~250 to 100 kgCO2e per element by reducing aluminium content up to 70%. Verified by a product-specific EPD, this fire-compliant, prefabricated solution speeds on-site installation and enhances life-cycle ratings for major developments across Europe.
CARBON NEUTRAL OPERATIONS
Yuanda UK partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to become an ISO 14064 certified Carbon Neutral Business by targeting waste, equipment, and travel emissions. Through measures like reusable stillages, electric installation cranes, hybrid working, and virtual international collaboration, the company dramatically reduced operational carbon while expanding EPD assessments globally.
Enhancing Biodiversity
Vertical Meadow has developed a seed-based living wall cladding system using native UK wildflowers to boost urban biodiversity without costly pre-growing. Designed as a rainscreen compatible with standard façade rails, the system simplifies installation, reduces maintenance, and addresses fire compliance through EN 13823 combustibility testing.
Designing out carbon
By conducting dynamic embodied carbon assessments at each stage, the 5 Broadgate team optimized the façade to slash emissions while balancing primary structural requirements. Key decisions, including switching opaque curtain wall panels from aluminum to steel, fostered a carbon-conscious culture that successfully saved over 3,300 tonnes of CO2e.
Monitoring emissions in fabrication
Dane Architectural achieved ISO 14064-1 accreditation through Achilles’ Carbon Reduction Scheme to measure and track operational carbon savings from solar panel installations, LED lighting, and electric vehicle adoption. The system has enabled targeted emission reduction strategies—delivering a 10% average annual emissions drop—while laying the groundwork to track project-specific lifecycle data and supply chain impacts.
Challenge the Brief
By challenging the assumption that a 30-year-old envelope had reached the end of its life, the 1 Finsbury Avenue refurbishment team successfully retained the building's Grade II listed façade through targeted, light-touch interventions. Backed by rigorous fabric testing and site investigation, this approach preserved the original design while avoiding massive embodied carbon emissions from recladding.
Reusing Components
By leveraging original 1990s records and dry-fixed connections, the 1 Triton Square team dismantled, refurbished, and reinstated over 3,500 m² of double-skin façade panels. Supported by a local pop-up factory in Essex, this circular approach eliminated whole-material manufacturing emissions and minimized transport impact.