The project is really just a gut out with almost no new construction other than a couple of stud walls to create better toilet accommodation. The bulk of any mitigation in environmental change and greenhouse gas release is likely to be achieved by the day to day running of the establishment and there is plenty of advice out there to achieve that. 

Presumably there are opportunities there - e.g. introducing thermal insulation to reduce on-going heating bills. Presumably the diner had an associated kitchen and food storage (refrigeration) needs - maybe even some opportunity to recover heat to use for space heating or just carefully chose the location of things so they're not fighting each other (refrigeration against space heating) - the sort of things that need thinking about early on, rather than after the build is finished.

Although in this case you'll probably have to look at their particular policies (ENV1, GB1, TRE1 etc) to find the sort of words they're looking for.

    - Andy.

well leaving the heating on sounds like it could be something that counts as a climate change influencing measure, just one that is acting in what I hope most people agree is the wrong direction.  Gah!

One does wonder if the level of bureaucracy is appropriate - building control are presumably already looking at the plans with respect to energy efficiency, so why are the planning office duplicating the effort? Looking at that I do wonder what one expects to do to have a climate friendly satellite dish - paint it white perhaps to increase the planets ability to reflect heat back into space?

One could have some semi-fad thing like rainwater flushing loos or extra thick straw walls, but the biggest will be designing for efficient use and the things that building regs cover already.

I presume the place already has solar panels and battery as that makes a profit anyway after a few years and does not need to be mandated.

Mike

One does wonder if the level of bureaucracy is appropriate - building control are presumably already looking at the plans with respect to energy efficiency

Sometimes planning conditions go further than building regs (especially since building regs spectacularly failed to keep up in 2016). For instance, building regs might let you build a house that meets say CSH level 3 or 4 say, often councils demand something higher (CSH Level 5 or 6 say) and as building regs are fixed at a national level, planning is the way they have to implement local policies.

   - Andy.

From the strictly electrical point of view, here are some suggestions for energy saving/climate change reduction.

Lighting to be selected for efficiency, LED lamps that achieve 200 lumens per watt are now available.

Lights in toilets and storage areas to be controlled by presence detectors, with a reasonable on time of say 15 minutes.

Switching of lighting in public areas to be designed such that lights in areas with ample daylight can be turned off without affecting lighting in other areas.

For large and long hour loads, consider upsizing cables to reduce resistance losses.

Sustainability is much more than energy efficiency .... and actually much more than climate change, now encompassing ethical procurement as well as considering environmental harm and humanitarian cost during all processes from raw materials, through manufacture, transport/delivery, installation (erection) at site including waste, and maintenance/decommissioning.

I see that LED lamps have been included in some recommendations ... it may require more of a delve into supply chain etc., and the electrical [power] industry is somewhat behind other construction sectors in terms of our standards approach to that. It's a little more than simple "WEEE", energy efficiency and materials, but a balance of all of that in addition to the ethical procurement side. The supply chain should be geared up to help provide some of these statement, but I think we are behind other construction sector materials supply chains in this.