In September this year, the UK launched a pilot version of the first Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard. The pilot testing scheme is expected to begin in early 2025 with a view to Version 1 of the Standard being published in late 2025. This follows the UN environment programme’s report ‘Building Materials And The Climate: Constructing A New Future’ which revealed that the construction and buildings sector is responsible for 37% of global greenhouse emissions, rendering their the largest polluting industry worldwide. This Standard marks a positive step towards decarbonising the built environment in the UK.
Championed by leading organisations including RIBA, the RICS and UKGBC, the Standard’s objective is to drive positive change to reach the UK’s climate goals. Until this point, there has been no single, agreed methodology for defining what ‘net zero carbon’ means for buildings in the UK, with this Standard creating a level playing field around such claims. Not yet legislative, it is free-to-access for anyone who wants to definitively demonstrate that their building is net zero carbon-aligned and covers a range of topics such as upfront carbon, operational energy use, avoidance of fossil fuel use on site, renewables and refrigerants. The pilot also contains the technical details on how a building should meet the Standard and how it should be reported.
The announcement of the Standard is certainly a step in the right direction to reducing construction’s carbon footprint. The industry has a duty to prioritise sustainability throughout all its operations, especially in light of the statistics published by the UN environment programme last year. Whilst the targets that have been laid out by the Standard are ambitious, they are achievable. However, whilst creating the Standard demonstrates progress, implementing it is another story entirely.
There is currently no legal requirement for organisations to adopt the Standard; architects and the real estate sector are simply encouraged to use the pilot version. Adopting the Standard is a matter of choice that will vary between organisations and as long as no legislation is in place, the uptake of the Standard is relying on good will alone.
A wider understanding outside of building companies alone will somewhat make-or-break the Standard’s success. A lack of understanding on clients’ side could mean they don’t see enough of a need to adopt certain measures, especially if these come at an additional cost. It falls to construction companies to emphasise the importance of implementing sustainability measures or this could become a significant barrier to the Standard’s success.
If adhering to the Standard became a legal requirement, as seems highly likely in the future, this would accelerate any impact to decarbonise the built environment. However, changing the law wouldn’t be without its challenges.
Many sustainable building methods remain more expensive than their carbon-intensive counterparts, making achieving net zero not a quick task for many construction companies. If the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard became law, organisations throughout the industry would face having to readdress their budgets to accommodate the rise in manufacturing and maintenance costs across their operations. Whilst there is some resistance expected, the certainty of ongoing demand for buildings and infrastructure means most companies would find a solution and adapt to the new Standard, but with a higher financial risk for smaller construction companies.
Many organisations are already using alternative construction methods to avoid the costs of traditional sustainable construction, whilst increasing their sustainability. Every year, thousands of buildings are demolished in the UK, generating millions of tonnes of waste. MMC, such as offsite construction, offers a sustainable solution by fulfilling a circular economy. The flexibility and recyclability of a building means that a module has limitless uses during its lifespan, meaning an office space can quickly and easily be converted into a hospital discharge lounge with minimal embodied carbon, for example. Offsite manufacturing also utilises lean manufacturing principles, minimising the waste generated in the development of a project to reduce the upfront carbon emissions.
The construction industry still has a long way to go in reducing its carbon footprint, but the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard is a positive step towards the industry’s sustainability goals. However, until legislation is implemented, significant change is likely to be limited. Even so, the construction industry is evolving, and certain areas, such as modular, are already leading the way to create a greener built environment.
Annelee Roscoe is head of HR operations at offsite manufacturer Premier Modular.
