Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of all that rhp does.  As a signatory to the Architects Declare pledge, we aim to quantify the impact of the whole lifespan of a building's design, including considering the carbon within construction materials and addressing the performance gap.

We support the Usable Building Trust's 'Soft Landings' approach to encourage client participation in the commissioning and handover of building projects. 

Our team comprises BREEAM AP qualified architects, Passivhaus designers and specialist retrofit coordinators to assist in delivering highly sustainable projects.

Members of the Practice have participated in the recent RIBA Ethics & Sustainability report; RIBA Sustainable Futures group and the AECB (Association of Environment Conscious Buildings).

rhp has held ISO14001 accreditation since 2011.

Net Zero Strategy

rhp recognises the importance of decarbonising as soon as possible to ensure the business is doing as much as it can to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.  We are working with a specialist consultant to finalise our Net Zero Strategy following the Science Based Targets Initiative ISBTi) for Near-Term and Net-Zero targets.

Our strategy is appropriately realistic in terms of what the Practice can achieve, whilst facilitating commercial growth and continued success, aligning with - and exceeding - SBTi requirements to achieve net zero on or before 2050 in accordance with a global 1.5 deg warming scenario.

Near Term Target - 42% reduction Scope 1 and Scope 2 (gas and electricity) emissions by 2030 from a 2018-2019 base year.

Net Zero Target  - at least 90% reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2025 from a 2018-2019 base year. 

Achieving the near-term target is predicated on the procurement of energy from 100% renewable sources and the occupancy of spaces where gas boilers have either been removed or upgraded.

Achieving net-zero is contingent on initiatives and policies more impactful to core business operations, the level of commitment to which will guide the feasibility of a chosen target year.

Client Feedback

We're delighted with the end result, both as a Passivhaus scheme which is all-electric, uses a timber-based primary structure and employs heat pumps to tread lightly on the UK grid, and also as a lovely building that we hope the students and wider College will enjoy for decades to come." 

Gwilym Still
Passivhaus Director
Max Fordham LLP

Site Credits


Website Design: Lisa Garner and Stephanie Mingay

Website Development: Studio 24

Photographers: Mike Henton, Chris Chudleigh, Tim Rawle, Julia Claxton, Jim Stephenson, Andrew Hatfield, Tom holt, Alex Sedgwick, Dominic Cole, Bob Mazzer, Nebulo Strata, Quentin Stafford-Fraser, Tim Soar, Nick Guttridge, David Hogg, Claudia Bradlaw, Matthew Smith, Richard Chivers