IES signs up to support MEP 2040 Challenge

IES has officially signed up as a supporter of the MEP 2040 challenge. Initiated by the Carbon Leadership Forum, the challenge aims to eliminate embodied carbon in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) building systems by 2040. This is an area which is often overlooked in current embodied carbon calculations, and must become part of a holistic approach to fully decarbonise construction and building operations.

The MEP 2040 Challenge requires each signatory firm to commit to four key actions:

• Establish a company plan to reduce operational and embodied carbon across MEP systems on all projects, targeting zero by 2040. Measure and report progress against the plan annually.
• Request low-GWP refrigerant availability when designing systems to reduce or eliminate GHG emissions from refrigerants.
• Request Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in project specifications for MEP system components.
• Participate in quarterly MEP 2040 Forum and CLF Community discussion group to share lessons learned and contribute to the growth of knowledge.

The IESVE is a key tool to help firms meet these commitments. As the leading integrated suite for accurate whole building performance simulation, it can evaluate any range of passive or active Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) for rooms, HVAC systems, buildings and sites. Our unique partnership with One Click LCA, enables embodied carbon calculations to be streamlined as part of a whole-building performance approach. IES’s Navigator technology allows a seamless connection from the One Click LCA platform from IESVE making Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost analyses easier than ever. Loads calculations with the world-renowned APACHE engine allows for easy-to-use access to the most robust industry methods, which require (sub)-hourly calculations that account for the storage and thermal mass of construction materials. 



You can find out more about the MEP 2040 Challenge via https://www.mep2040.org/ where you can sign up for the challenge, explore useful tools, and learn from the online expert community.