Course content

Struggling to get your head around low carbon design?

This seminar helps you understand low carbon design and its practical applications, improves current guidance so it is more sufficient and clear, and upskills your knowledge on how best to design more sustainable construction projects.

You’ll be provided with a clear, actionable understanding of low carbon design principles and strategies. You’ll also learn from real-world case studies, gain insights into evidence-based sustainability strategies, and discover how you can achieve up to a 50% reduction in carbon through clever design. 

Part 1: Sustainability of the construction sector
Presented by Associate Professor Helena Gervasio, University of Coimbra Portugal

• Main factors affecting sustainability: understand the key drivers and barriers impacting sustainability within the construction sector.
• Assessment of sustainability: dive into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standards and regulations that are shaping sustainable practices.
• Contribution to sustainability: explore the sector’s role in promoting a circular economy, addressing challenges, and seizing opportunities for sustainable growth.

Part 2: Circular low-carbon design strategies
Presented by Dr. Kaveh (Kawa) Andisheh, HERA Structural Systems GM

• Existing hierarchies and proposed unified hierarchy: learn about current and emerging frameworks for circular low-carbon design.
• Sustainable building design: get an overview of sustainable building design, including key objectives and methodologies.
• Circular low-carbon solutions: discover practical solutions for low-rise buildings using steel, steel-concrete composite, and steel-timber hybrid construction.
• Case study: gain insight from a real-world example demonstrating how clever design can achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions, with potential for further reductions.

Delivery format and location

This webinar will be delivered online at a pre-scheduled date yet to be advised.

Kaiārahi | Facilitators

Helena Gervasio
University of Coimbra Portugal
Associate Professor

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Helena is a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, with a Master’s and PhD in Civil Engineering. With over 15 years dedicated to researching sustainability in construction, her work focuses on life cycle analysis, resource efficiency, climate change strategies, and decarbonising the built environment. She chairs the Portuguese Technical Committee CT171 and contributes to CEN and ECCS initiatives on sustainable construction. As an Expert Advisor for the European Commission, Helena drives innovation in steel applications for new markets. A prolific researcher with 150 publications, she is passionate about advancing global sustainable construction practices.

Kaveh Andisheh
HERA
GM Structural Systems

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Kaveh is the GM of Structural Systems at HERA, leading strategy, research, consulting, and training to align with industry needs now and into the future. He drives sustainability initiatives like the HERA-BRANZ Low-Carbon Building Design program and has authored over 60 publications on sustainability and the circular economy. A multi-committee member for Standards Australia and New Zealand, Kaveh plays a key role in structural standards development. With a PhD in Structural Earthquake Engineering from the University of Canterbury and over 23 years of experience, he is a chartered professional engineer (CPEng, IntPE) and a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.