What does good actually look like?
If we want to deliver low-carbon buildings for London then we need to know what we're working towards, but there is no national consensus on targets for development…
Planning authorities have different ideas on what good looks like, and the industry is now leading efforts itself to set a benchmark for best practice with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard launching in 2024.
Will the standard provide clarity and conformity? And will having tangible numbers to aim for help or hinder innovation by putting a limit on projects’ ambitions?
These questions sparked debate, with answers varying around the table.
We need to work collaboratively with the design team to achieve the required amount of Kg/m2 that the building will achieve. Kier is using a Life Cycle Assessment Tool, to understand product data and can be adopted on any building project.
Firm targets are needed to give direction and focus minds, evidenced by Kier Construction’s work on government frameworks to review project designs and develop a solution to cut embodied carbon in buildings. The project, called Route to 600, established how embodied carbon could be reduced by 25% by taking a ‘build less’ approach, using materials more leanly to trim the weight of structures.
Ultimately, if industry must hit embodied carbon targets, then agreement on shared methodologies is vital to ensure figures are being compared like for like.
Yes, absolutely.
No, not really.
We’ve had embodied carbon peer reviews by separate, independent bodies and the variation is enormous. There is the same information but with completely different approaches and assumptions. The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard will help, but it’s hugely subjective when you get two different sustainability consultants using one click to model the same scheme. They can come out about 25% apart.
There are no finite rules which causes confusion, uncertainty and fear. Throw the carbon agenda into the mix and planners want a round table as they don’t understand the requirements of carbon reduction.
Planning policies and targets on embodied carbon are yet to be updated since their initial introduction. Updated guidance documents are now coming out, but these are still to be accounted for within policy. This creates a challenge as industry cannot realistically meet the targets. We need to demonstrate that progress is being made and to make the case back to the planning authority that alignment with targets is going to be achieved in the longer term.
Siu-Pei Choi of Kier Construction said that in order to achieve carbon targets, it was vital for those working on construction projects to have carbon top of mind in everything they do.
Every single person involved in the development process, ranging from planners to quantity surveyors, need to have a reductional mindset. Having a team that has the aspiration of ‘we have to do the best we can’ is key. Targets start the conversation, and this strong mindset helps to achieve them. They’re important and shouldn’t just be a marketing tool.
Sarah Halpin, Ramboll also highlighted the importance of adding clarity to a building target.
“It's our collective responsibility to add clarity to a building target. You must know what you are calculating. Ramboll has produced a carbon assessment database called CO2mpare which provides an interactive benchmarking tool that can be used to understand the typical carbon for building projects.”
Targets are important, but it’s just as important to take all the necessary steps to drive out carbon during the entire process. The end product – or end number – should be a reflection of best steps along the way.
