climate action

We at MAP Architecture are committed to addressing the climate and ecological emergency. The systems that organise the construction industry contribute significantly to planetary breakdown and social injustice. Architects play a key role in developing architectural practice that is regenerative and just. Since the beginning of MAP Architecture in 2012, our team has always prioritized sustainable and thoughtful design. As a practice we are trying to consciously respond to the climate emergency, which also involves reducing our office carbon emissions. In 2020, we began recording our carbon footprint to identify our main carbon contributors and evaluate how those can be minimized. We offset these emissions each year to a selection of causes chosen, by the team, available from Carbon Footprint Ltd.

MAP are one of the signatories of Architect’s Declare which asks architects to make progress towards its 12 action points. In response we have developed a strategy across four themes: ‘Learning’, ‘Advocacy’, ‘Projects’, and ‘Office Life’.

Learning: To up-skill ourselves so we have the knowledge to provide sustainable architectural services and pass on that knowledge to others.

Advocacy: To expand our efforts outside of our own circles, hold ourselves to account, and advocate for wider change.

Projects: To design and construct architecture that benefits the planet.

Office Life: To have our own house in order and encourage a culture of collaboration.

We are holding quarterly ‘Climate Sessions’ to review progress with the whole team alongside more informal ‘Climate Chats’, conducted in small groups to discuss MAP’s current status and our aims. We regularly update the MAP’s Carbon Footprint Assessment and Climate Action Plan to track and record our progress.

Net Zero Calculations

Our calculator tries to integrate all our emission sources, attempting to go beyond more standardised calculators. This varied information includes energy use, water use, travel and waste, measured in accordance with UK Government GHG Conversion Factors for Company Reporting, as well as food and drink consumption, one-off items bought, trips completed, and the office refurbishment calculated independently on a case by case basis.

Since 2020 when we began recording our results, the practice has gone through many changes, including the growth of our team to 11 members as well as dealing with the global COVID-19 pandemic, which hugely affected working patterns all around the world. Based on the collected information, we can see the impact of those events on our carbon emissions, which significantly reduced during 2021, and increased in 2022 following the come back to physical working. Although our overall footprint in 2022 had risen since 2020 and 2021, the average kgCO2e per person had decreased by 779.18 kgCO2e from the year 2020, and only increased by 594.09 kgCO2e from the year 2021. Last year’s results are testament to our commitment in reducing carbon emissions, as our overall footprint reduced by 12 162.3 kgCO2e whilst maintaining the team size. Despite two office moves which were key impacts on our energy use this year, we continue to follow the path of lowering our emissions and aim to go above and beyond to ensure we go even lower for 2024!