Carbon Smart Design Guideline

Boffa Miskell’s Carbon Smart Design Guideline aligns with our design methodology and encompasses the entire lifecycle of a project. Specific strategies have been developed for designers to incorporate, ensuring sustainable and carbon-conscious choices throughout the project.

The natural and built environments in which our projects take shape are vital for carbon storage and maintaining ecological balance. This means our landscape architects have the power to significantly reduce carbon emissions and increase greenhouse gas sequestration through the thoughtful decisions they make during their design process. 

Developed over the last two years, Boffa Miskell’s Carbon Smart Design Guideline (2024) is crafted with insights from the Carbon Smart Design team and Boffa Miskell subject experts, providing clear and simple guidance to help our designers achieve better and sustainable outcomes in future projects.

The Carbon Smart Design Guideline aims to equip Boffa Miskell landscape architects with the essential tools to enhance the carbon footprint of designs; fostering positive environmental, cultural, social, and economic impacts through sustainable design projects.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS TO US

The climate change crisis stands as one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. It is clear that the landscapes we design have a pivotal role in addressing this global issue. Boffa Miskell’s role and our consultants’ expertise uniquely positions us to combat the impacts of climate change through sustainable practices. The natural and built environments in which our projects take shape are vital for carbon storage and maintaining ecological balance.

As landscape architects, we have the power to significantly reduce carbon emissions and increase greenhouse gas sequestration through our work and through the choices we make during the design process.

HOW WE RESPOND

To further Boffa Miskell’s commitment to sustainable design solutions, a team of landscape architects have developed a comprehensive set of guidelines grounded in international industry-leading sustainable design principles, rating systems, and carbon calculators. This resource, crafted with insights from the Carbon Smart Design team and Boffa Miskell subject matter experts, provides clear and simple guidance to help our designers achieve better and sustainable project outcomes.

WHAT IS A CARBON SMART DESIGN APPROACH?

A Carbon Smart Design approach not only focuses on reducing carbon emissions, but also emphasises broader sustainable design practices that extend beyond merely reducing the carbon footprint. It seeks to generate positive and meaningful co-benefits across social, cultural, environmental, and economic aspects; in collaboration with clients, stakeholders, and the local community. Importantly, the Carbon Smart Design Guideline is a living document and will be periodically reviewed and updated.

WHY IS THIS GUIDELINE UNIQUE?

Boffa Miskell’s Carbon Smart Design Guideline tailors international sustainable design principles to the New Zealand context and seamlessly aligns with Boffa Miskell’s typical project design process. The Guideline offers sustainable strategies from concept design level through to construction and operational level, and provides a combination of practical design strategy checklists and detailed carbon emission analysis for each strategy.

Working in synergy with the latest Green Star rating tools, the Carbon Smart Design Guideline provides an easy pathway to assist projects in achieving a Green Star rating where needed. The guideline provides a flexible framework that can be customised to meet the specific needs of any design project.

For more information contact Erin Diao, Gina Langridge, Gabe Ross or Yoko Tanaka.