A cross-industry initiative to create a Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard for the UK is due to be published in spring 2024, according to the project’s latest quarterly update.
With the aim of defining net zero and helping industry towards a zero carbon future, the standard is the first of its kind in the UK. It will offer a single agreed methodology for anyone making net zero claims whether for the procurement, design, construction or management of buildings, as well as for buildings’ associated supply chains.
Last year, the project carried out a Technical Consultation, with over 500 individuals and organisations sharing their thoughts and data. Using this insight, and other resources, a Beta Test version of the Standard will be issued early this year.
A standard methodology for evaluating zero carbon claims
The Standard will set out metrics by which net zero carbon performance is evaluated, and provide performance targets and limits. These will be aligned with delivering a net zero carbon UK by 2050 and a 78% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
It will incorporate targets and limits that have been derived from an analysis of the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget and from data gathered across different sectors within the built environment.
Launched in 2022, the development of the Standard involves major industry bodies, including BBP, the Carbon Trust, CIBSE, IStructE, LETI, RIBA, RICS, and UKGBC, as well as companies and other stakeholders from across the built environment sector.
The Standard is being created according to the following overall principles:
- Clear, consistent definitions and trajectories for Net Zero Carbon (NZC) buildings
- Collaboratively created by, and for, the built environment industry, and not owned by any one organisation or institute
- Driving market transformation through industry engagement, uptake and support
- Ensuring that the Standard is easy to understand and use, with achievable but stretching requirements
- Aligning asset-level requirements with the system-level changes needed for a NZC UK
- A Standard that is politically neutral
You can stay up to date with the Standard’s development, via the Standard’s website: nzcbuildings.co.uk.
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