The Association of Noise Consultants' approach to sustainability and acoustics

The Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) recognises that how we design sustainable environments and how we can sustainably conduct our work and run our businesses – is one of the most important and urgent challenges for any modern acoustic consultancy.

By Peter Rogers FIOA, and Heulwen Peters, Chair of the ANC Sustainability Committee

Above: (Lexicon image courtesy of Peter Rogers, Sustainable Acoustics Ltd)

The ANC’s Sustainability Committee, formed by a team of consultants volunteering their time and expertise, aims to raise the profile of sustainability within the ANC and beyond.
We are pleased to showcase our series of guides and highlight the documents which will be issued this year. Special thanks must be given to the committee for the hard work, time and effort which they have put in (and continue to put in) to create these resources. You can find the ANC Sustainability Series here: https://www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk/resources/sustainability/

The ANC welcomes and encourages your thoughts and feedback – please email us at info@theanc.co.uk. The documents will be reviewed again between six and 12 months after issue in response to any comments received on them and in line with any new sustainability guidance which the ANC feels need to be incorporated into the documents.

Introduction
The ANC’s dedicated Sustainability Committee aims to address the growing intersection between acoustic consulting and environmental responsibility and to guide member companies. This initiative aligns with both the UN’s sustainable development goals¹ and insights that emerge from the UN Frontiers Report 2022, which identifies noise as one of three key global challenges². The ANC’s sustainability framework operates on two critical fronts:
• firstly, it focuses on internal practices, helping member companies develop more sustainable operational methods; and
• secondly, it addresses external client services, ensuring that acoustic consultants provide environmentally and sustainability-conscious design and construction advice, forming part of the solution and delivery of sustainability through the work that they do and the legacy they create, in a quickly changing world. 

With the threat of climate crisis demanding immediate and sustained action by companies with purpose and organisations across all disciplines the ANC has ‘grasped the nettle’ to accelerate the positive change needed. It has done this by splitting down the challenge of determining clear and appropriate guidance by considering specific steps on topics that can be taken as part of the bigger journey of humanity to a sustainable future, by which is meant a future that next generations will not be disadvantaged by.

This approach responds to the UK Government’s policy on sustainability to baseline emissions and reduce to net zero by 2050. Whilst this is an energy-centric metric the ANC’s vision also emphasises the importance of wider effective action by the acoustics industry in pursuit and promotion of both long-term human health and quality of life; while signposting for member companies how they can begin (or supercharge) their journey to delivering sustainable acoustic practices as part of their net zero journey.

The ANC recognises sustainability as not an optional addition but a fundamental, integrated part of the DNA of modern acoustic consulting, with acousticians playing a vital role in creating a sustainable future. The specific guidance on how to do this by specialist disciplines within acoustics is an evolving picture but by integrating environmental and social considerations into acoustic consulting practices, the ANC has adopted a framework and developed a suite of guidance documents that help to ensure that acoustic solutions contribute positively to broader sustainability goals, while maintaining high standards of acoustic design for clients.

The lexicon provides a lens through which a client’s problem can be considered, beginning with regard for the planet being central in minds as a ‘silent’ client; adding elements of sustainable principles as embedded concepts into the application of the fundamentals of acoustics through to the rim of the lexicon in the particular field of application.

The authors of the ANC Sustainability series, and ANC, recognise that each and every user of the documents will have differing experiences, knowledge and views. The language and terminology used within the documents has been peer reviewed by leaders in each topic area, who provide a robust but balanced view in an inclusive set of documents which include differing views from small to large companies. Two documents have been issued so far with more on the way. None of the language within the documents is intended to offend anyone and we don’t seek to represent one view above any other, but a consistent direction of travel and signposting.

The areas that have been identified as the first wave for guidance are summarised below with those in draft also listed:
• sustainability & acoustic consultancy – internal document (in flight);
• quality education (published);
• biodiversity and inclusion (published);
• energy and acoustics (in flight);
• sustainable materials and acoustics (in flight);
• acoustics and sustainable transport (in flight); and
• inclusivity in acoustic design: neurodivergence and aural diversity (in flight).

A short summary of each section by the authors is included below:

Internal facing document on sustainability and acoustic consultancy, by Peter Rogers, Pam Lowery, David Hible (in flight)
This document focuses on how acoustic consultancies can become sustainable businesses fit for the future, so that the work they do can be achieved as part of a regenerative system. It proposes guidance for how consultancy business can get their house in order, as the ‘business-as-usual’ model is no longer adequate to justify credible involvement in the delivery of sustainability in practice.

The guide emphasises practical ways for companies to play their part by aligning their business models (big or small) with net zero and away from solely a profit-based business, to one based on prosperity that also provides social value and equality, planetary regeneration and biodiversity net gain. By achieving multiple wins the benefits are far broader than those based on the exploitation of resources for profit. This can benefit businesses by resulting in happier, healthier staff, better staff retention, improvement in place and biodiversity at a local level, and a contribution to the national and global solution through the application of science and engineering through acoustics. It sets out how to establish a baseline of the emissions of the business in order to tackle direct and indirect emissions. It also explains the terminology and how to prepare and act on a net zero roadmap, as well as the broader aspects of sustainability that are covered by the UN sustainable development goals and accreditation schemes such as B Corp. This is intended to avoid ‘greenwash’ and provide a defensible and robust pathway for ANC companies fit for delivering acoustic services for a regenerative future.

Quality education, by Mat Tuora, Heulwen Peters and Emma Greenland (reviewed)
The ANCs quality education guide focuses on approaches to education design which, in the view of the group, best serve sustainable design objectives and meet acoustic objectives. UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 asks us to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’. The guide recognises a need to provide a holistic approach to education design which is accessible and inclusive, whilst meeting usual acoustic design objectives and satisfying clients’ desires and needs.

The guide signposts and builds on recognised and developing guidance for education design. It aims to support acousticians with an understanding of common acoustic considerations needed to fulfil optimised education design sustainability objectives, such as consideration of learning differences, aural diversity and the wide range of users who need to and want to access education facilities.

Biodiversity in acoustics, by Reena Mahtani, Mat Tuora and Jo Hughes (reviewed)
The biodiversity in acoustics document discusses the impact that acousticians can have when considering strategies on the requirement to protect and restore natural habitats to enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Natural soundscaping and habitat creation are discussed alongside strategies for noise mitigation, in addition to incorporating ecological features like earth bunds and planted façades in the design to provide habitats for local wildlife. It also acknowledges that additional input from other disciplines is necessary for this approach to be successful as part of a cross-collaboration effort.

Energy and acoustics, by Peter Rogers and Barry Joblin (in flight)
This guide aims to explore how acoustics can be central to the delivery of the renewable energy transition, with regard for supportive infrastructure including wind turbines, solar farms, air source heat pumps and other aspects which make energy generation in the UK, its provenance and security a government priority. It is important to recognise that acousticians also have an important part to play in the sustainability of energy production systems when sited close to communities, and how, through good acoustic design, their impact on residents and businesses can be limited.

Sustainable materials and acoustics, by Clement Luciani, Mat Tuora, Vince Taylor and Momo Hoshijima (in flight)
This guide aims to raise awareness of the options available to inform, promote and specify more sustainable alternatives to conventional construction materials and products. The guide introduces the core aspects of sustainability being considered by the industry for building materials and how they are assessed and compared, highlighting the complexity of the task and the lack of standardised methodologies.

Three overarching strategies are presented and discussed to reduce the environmental impact of building materials:
• avoiding unnecessary extraction and production (circularity);
• shifting to regenerative bio-based materials; and
• decarbonisation of conventional materials.

The role acousticians can play within each of these strategies is discussed and suggestions for next steps made.

Acoustics and sustainable transport, by John Fisk (in flight)
Our guide on acoustics and sustainable transport starts with discussion of the noise impacts of the three most popular transport modes (road, rail and aircraft) and how these affect health and wellbeing. It then points to current practice methods for assessing the impacts and briefly presents ways to control these noise impacts. Noise control methods will generally also have adverse and beneficial impacts on aspects other than acoustics (e.g. economic, cost, energy efficiency, visuals and ecology etc.) This is discussed along with some examples and how the overall sustainability of a control method might be weighed up given these competing interests. The guide finishes with a look at how transport modes might change in a more sustainable future and how this might affect the noise environment around them and planning decisions made.

Inclusivity in acoustic design: neurodivergence and aural diversity, by Reena Mahtani, Mat Tuora (in flight), Joshua Yardy (review comments)
The inclusivity in acoustic design guide is focused on acoustic design for individuals and provides a short introduction to the concept of aural diversity and its application in practice. The intention of the guide is to promote that everyone’s auditory experience is unique and emphasises the importance of considering these differences in the design of spaces to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all.

It is widely known that robust acoustic design can mitigate the sensory sensitivities experienced by some individuals and enhance the functionality of spaces. The guide includes a review of the guidance already available on the topic and summarises some basic considerations that should be considered during the design of spaces. The importance of balancing the acoustic design in conjunction with other disciplines, such as lighting, to create truly inclusive and supportive environments is also mentioned to achieve a truly inclusive design.

Conclusions
A start has been made with this suite of guidance to help ANC companies rise to the challenge of our age. They signpost a consistent way forward and suggest ways that positive action by acousticians can be taken to deliver sustainability through the work they do, and to get their house in order as companies fit for the future.

References
1. UN Sustainability Development Goals, https://sdgs.un.org/goals (accessed 3/2/25)
2. UN Frontier Report 2022 – Noise, Blazes & Mismatches, https://www.unep.org/resources/frontiers-2022-noise-blazes-and-mismatches (accessed 3/2/25)