Building Back Better: Net zero carbon and BREEAM

1 Introduction
2 Defining net zero carbon
- 2.1 Six propositions
- 2.2 Three action areas
3 Future thinking
4 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
5 External resources

[edit] Introduction

In its work to provide resources for the construction sector, BREEAM has created the online briefing hub, ‘Building Back Better with BREEAM: Supporting the green recovery’. The hub gathers a collection of briefing papers that reflect BREEAM’s position on important issues.

In the area of net zero carbon, BREEAM already provides robust measurement resources and helps organisations minimise carbon emissions at the asset level. Nonetheless, BREEAM is keen to support organisations’ net zero carbon activity further, particularly in how the final steps can be streamlined and supported. As a result, the organisation has prepared an interactive website, Net Zero Carbon and BREEAM.

[edit] Defining net zero carbon

Net zero carbon is loosely defined as the creation of energy and resource efficient buildings powered from onsite or offsite renewable sources with any residual emissions offset by carbon removals. While the proliferation of net zero carbon initiatives is encouraging, there is a need for greater consistency in terminology, scope and measurement.

By working within existing net zero carbon definitions and initiatives, BREEAM plans to play a pivotal role. Consequently, the following strategy has been developed based on the results of a survey conducted during the summer of 2020. Participants were asked to provide their views on net zero carbon in order to help BREEAM understand how to support progress towards it.

The responses lead to the development of these six propositions for BREEAM and net zero carbon.

[edit] Six propositions

Proposition 1 – The purpose of BREEAM Assessments.
Proposition 2 – Embodied carbon and BREEAM assessments
Proposition 3 – Net zero carbon pathways and BREEAM assessments
Proposition 4.1 – Carbon offsetting and BREEAM assessments
Proposition 4.2 – Carbon offsetting and net zero carbon
Proposition 5.1 – Renewable energy and BREEAM assessments
Proposition 5.2 – Renewable energy and net zero carbon
Proposition 6 – A new net zero carbon solution from BREEAM

[edit] Three action areas

The six propositions for BREEAM and net zero carbon work alongside three key areas of action:

Action area 1: Whole life carbon.
Action area 2: Net zero carbon trajectory mapping.
Action area 3: Net zero carbon verification.

A prerequisite to the following actions, BREEAM intends to work with Green Building Councils and local and central government to achieve greater consensus on how to achieve net zero carbon. To initiate the delivery of the strategy, BREEAM will be taking several additional steps, including:

Working with - and supporting - the industry in achieving greater consensus on how to achieve net zero carbon.
Developing and testing proposals for a new ‘zero whole life carbon’ methodology; prioritising the new construction schemes.
Mapping alignment between BREEAM schemes and carbon reduction pathways, starting with the Carbon Risk Real Estate Monitor (CRREM).
Developing and testing proposals for a new net zero carbon verification service, operationally as well as technically.

[edit] Future thinking

To avoid potential for confusion between BREEAM assessments, which focus on asset core performance, and a net zero carbon results solution from BREEAM, communication of the results from both will be distinct and separate. As BREEAM is taking an agnostic approach (until a single definition has consensus), communication of the results will make it clear that a net zero carbon status is based on the selected initiative (and not a BREEAM definition of net zero carbon).