We split our activities between how we design our buildings and how we run our business.
Our Low Carbon Buildings
As designers we recognise our greatest impact on meeting the climate challenge is through the way we design buildings in working with clients, consultants, and contractors. We have adopted a toolbox checklist as part of our QA system to ensure that consideration is given to relevant themes throughout the RIBA stages.
This is split into 6 sections:
- Fabric first
- Low carbon heating
- Renewables
- Embodied Energy
- Water
- Health & Wellbeing
We are proud to have been early signatories to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge. Details of our full Climate Challenge policy can be provided on request.
Napper Architects have an in-house Passivhaus designer, we are finding many more clients are interested in adopting this approach in creating a passive low energy building that is exceptionally comfortable to live and work in. More details on Passivhaus can be found here. Passivhaus can be adopted for all building types.
Examples of our low energy/ net zero buildings include:
- North Shields Transport Hub (Net Zero in operation)
- Woodland Home (Off grid residential home)
- Cornell Quarter for Teesside University (EPC A rated low energy student accommodation)
- Fire Service Headquarters (Passivhaus office HQ)
- Technical Adviser on 12 new schools (Net Zero in operation)
- Hybrid Innovation Centre (BREEAM Excellent accredited)
Napper – A Sustainable Business
Napper Architects has long promoted a sustainable, low-carbon approach to running an office. We encourage employees to commute using sustainable means of transport such as walking, cycling, and utilising public transport. We were one of the first advocates of electric car use and continue to use electric cars for company business and commuting when other sustainable means is not possible. We adopted a ban on diesel and petrol company cars in 2019.
Napper Architects have been monitoring our baseline Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions since 2014 and in 2024 we included Scope 3 emissions also. Scope 1 & 2 emissions have reduced by 45% in the 10 year period. We aim to further reduce our emissions to nil before the 2050 central government deadline. See below current target figures.
