We spoke with the Young Engineers Awards judges to gain their perspective on our awards topic, embodied carbon, and some general entry tips for perfect submission
Should embodied carbon be a mandatory requirement of all new buildings and refurbs moving forward?
For me, this comes down to accurate and comparable reporting! If we don’t have ways to compare apples to apples then it becomes an inaccurate exercise. However – we are making strides in the right direction, with CIBSE’s TM65 Embodied Carbon in building services: A Calculation methodology being one of the many. These nudges in the right direction lead to a great outcome for our industry – buildings that not only operate efficiently but also have a low-carbon heart and bones. - Niro Siriwardena, past Young Engineers Awards finalist and CIBSE ANZ YEN Chair
By late 2023 embodied carbon measurement will be mandatory in NSW for homes, large buildings, and infrastructure. There needs to be a nationally streamlined national framework for embodied carbon which is required through regulation. - Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
Yes, this will allow us to assess how buildings can be designed to be part of a circular economy. - Stefano Ciciani, Senior Building Services Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Why is embodied carbon so important to the building industry?
Sustainability does not only regard building operations and energy consumption. Embodied Carbon allows us to evaluate another important aspect of the life cycle of a building, the manufacturing and construction process. This enables us to assess the overall sustainability of buildings and helps to deliver robust and integrated energy strategies.
- Stefano Ciciani, Senior Building Services Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
- Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
Why do you think is it so important to have a significant focus on Embodied Carbon in universities?
This is about the planetary crisis we must fight. The built environment plays a major role in curbing carbon emissions and a must-have topic we all have to understand and find ways to contribute to. - A/Prof Christhina Candido, Melbourne School of Design
Currently, embodied carbon made up approximately 15 percent of Australia’s built environment emissions in 2019. As the grid decarbonises, this will change and embodied carbon will be the elephant in the room. Without intervention, this share will balloon to 85 percent in 2050 at a time when Australia must achieve net zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. Universities have a specific opportunity to train the next generation, and their graduates will be leading this transition, so their focus is critical. Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
Learning the importance of embodied carbon in buildings will enable young engineers to have a more holistic approach to designing sustainable buildings. - Stefano Ciciani, Senior Building Services Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Just like many other items studied and researched at universities – it’s a reality that we as a society need to face. Without the research bodies improving our understanding of the impacts of embodied carbon, we would be struggling to reduce the impact that embodied carbon will have on our environment going forward. - Niro Siriwardena, past Young Engineers Awards finalist and CIBSE ANZ YEN Chair
What is your advice to entrants to stand out?
Show passion, knowledge, and be confident. Some solutions can also come from past and lost knowledge not only from innovation. - Stefano Ciciani, Senior Building Services Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Tell your story, the video submission is a great way to introduce you as well as the application question. You could film in your workplace, or at one of your projects. Remember this award also strongly values industry contributions, so how can you get involved? - Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
Be enthusiastic about what you’re presenting! If you’re not excited about what you’re talking about, how are the judges going to be? - Niro Siriwardena, past Young Engineers Awards finalist and CIBSE ANZ YEN Chair
Spend time on the content you would like to present in terms of structure. Make sure you can articulate the motivation and the innovation of the chosen topic from your perspective. - A/Prof Christhina Candido, Melbourne School of Design
What is the most common mistake you see with entries?
In terms of content, we are after authentic and innovative approaches relative to the opportunity. In terms of presentation, speaking too fast and adding too many details can detract from the overall quality of work produced.- A/Prof Christhina Candido, Melbourne School of Design
The most common mistake is someone who has started the night before and used their iPhone to film their video in their bedroom with them reading out their application. This award process is different from written and video submissions, so submissions can’t be done the night before. - Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
What do you look for from entrants as a judge?
The main three things I look for in entrants is knowledge of the subject matter at hand, genuine interest in what you are presenting, and a well-thought out answer on their topic in the context of building services and embodied carbon.- Niro Siriwardena, past Young Engineers Awards finalist and CIBSE ANZ YEN Chair
- Davina Rooney, CEO, GBCA
Authentic and engaging presentations that make the most of the novelty of the topic chosen by the entrant. - A/Prof Christhina Candido, Melbourne School of Design
I am looking for a response that puts the subject in a wider context; a holistic approach by applying system thinking. - Stefano Ciciani, Senior Building Services Advisor, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
