Carbon neutral buildings
The Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018 defines carbon neutral as: ‘Carbon neutral means that, through a transparent process of calculating building operational emissions, reducing those emissions and offsetting residual emissions, net carbon emissions equal zero. This includes carbon emissions from both regulated and unregulated energy consuming plan and systems. Also see the definition of zero net regulated carbon (CO) emissions.’
NB ‘The impact of sustainability on value’ published by JLL in March 2020 defines ‘carbon neutral’ as: ‘…offsetting emissions with payments either to avoid a reduction in emissions or remove carbon from the atmosphere.’
The London Plan, Published by the Mayor of London in March 2016, defines carbon neutrality as: ‘Contributing net zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere.’
Improving Consistency in Whole Life Carbon Assessment and Reporting, Carbon Definitions for the Built Environment, Buildings and Infrastructure, Version ‘A’, May 2021, published by WLCN, LETI and RIBA, defines carbon neutral as: ‘All carbon emissions are balanced with offsets based on carbon removals or avoided emissions.’
See also: Carbon neutral.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Achieving zero carbon.
- BPIE report urges EU to incorporate the carbon footprint of construction into policy.
- BRE articles.
- BREEAM.
- Building Back Better: Net zero carbon and BREEAM.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Carbon.
- Carbon emissions.
- Carbon negative.
- Carbon neutral.
- Carbon neutral contract.
- Carbon Neutral Islands.
- Climate Change Act.
- European decarbonisation and heating technologies beyond 2021.
- Half of public sector bodies not planning for net zero carbon.
- Home quality mark.
- Low or zero carbon technologies.
- Making Mission Possible: report on achieving a zero-carbon economy by 2030.
- Nearly zero-energy building.
- Net zero by 2050.
- Net zero carbon 2050.
- Net zero carbon building.
- Qualifying Explanatory Statement QES.
- Shaping Zero seeks carbon champions.
- What we need for the journey to net-zero carbon emissions.
- Wood and carbon.
- Zero Bills Home.
- Zero carbon homes.
- Zero carbon non domestic buildings.
Featured articles and news
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.
A carbon case for indigenous slate
UK slate can offer clear embodied carbon advantages.
Costs and insolvencies mount for SMEs, despite growth
Construction sector under insolvency and wage bill pressure in part linked to National Insurance, says report.
The place for vitrified clay pipes in modern infrastructure
Why vitrified clay pipes are reclaiming their role in built projects.
Research by construction PR consultancy LMC published.
Roles and responsibilities of domestic clients
ACA Safety in Construction guide for domestic clients.
Fire door compliance in UK commercial buildings
Architect and manufacturer gives their low down.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.


















