Climate Emergency Design Guide
The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) is a network of built environment professionals working together to put the UK on the path to zero carbon. In January 2020, LETI published Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change targets in response to the growing climate emergency.
The guide outlines requirements for new buildings to ensure climate change targets are met. It sets out a journey towards a net zero carbon future and is aimed at developers, landowners, designers, policy makers and the supply chain.
- Operational energy.
- Embodied carbon.
- The future of heat.
- Demand response.
- Data disclosure.
It includes requirements for four key building types:
- Small-scale residential.
- Medium/large scale residential.
- Commercial offices.
- Schools.
The guide will evolve over time, reflecting changes in carbon budgets, technologies and the capability of industry. Design teams will be able to register their projects as LETI pioneer projects and share their knowledge with other design teams.
Peter Clegg, Senior Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios said: “Following the recent declarations of climate and biodiversity crises, a new sense of urgency has emerged within the environmental movement in architecture. It is characterised by an awareness of embodied as well as operational energy. It is focused on cradle to cradle lifecycle assessment of our buildings, and it is driven by the passion and enthusiasm of a new generation of architects and engineers who are determined to make change happen. The London Energy Transformation Initiative sits at the heart of this movement and their guide provides an inspirational ‘call to action’ for everyone in the built environment.”
Hywel Davies, Technical Director at CIBSE said: “Delivering zero carbon buildings is a huge challenge. LETI has taken a major step to help the industry to work out how this is to be done for new buildings.”
You can download the guide at: https://www.leti.london/cedg
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Architects Declare.
- A zero-carbon UK by 2050?
- BREEAM.
- Carbon footprint.
- Carbon negative.
- Carbon neutral.
- CIBSE Case Study: Walgreens net zero energy drugstore.
- Climate Change Act.
- Climate emergency.
- LETI publishes Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide.
- Low or zero carbon technologies.
- Nearly zero-energy building.
- Net zero carbon 2050.
- Net zero carbon building.
- Passivhaus.
- PHribbon tool calculates embodied carbon of designs.
- Stagnation point.
- What we need for the journey to net-zero carbon emissions.
- Zero Bills Home.
- Zero carbon homes.
- Zero carbon non domestic buildings.
Featured articles and news
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan
Previous consultation criticism, current key elements and general support with some persisting reservations.
Building Safety Regulator reforms
New roles, new staff and a new fast track service pave the way for a single construction regulator.
Architectural Technologist CPDs and Communications
CIAT CPD… and how you can do it!
Cooling centres and cool spaces
Managing extreme heat in cities by directing the public to places for heat stress relief and water sources.
Winter gardens: A brief history and warm variations
Extending the season with glass in different forms and terms.
Restoring Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens
Transforming one of the least sustainable constructions imaginable.
Construction Skills Mission Board launch sector drive
Newly formed government and industry collaboration set strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 construction workers a year.
New Architects Code comes into effect in September 2025
ARB Architects Code of Conduct and Practice available with ongoing consultation regarding guidance.
Welsh Skills Body (Medr) launches ambitious plan
The new skills body brings together funding and regulation of tertiary education and research for the devolved nation.
Paul Gandy FCIOB announced as next CIOB President
Former Tilbury Douglas CEO takes helm.
UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy. In brief with reactions
With the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
Ebenezer Howard: inventor of the garden city. Book review.
The Grenfell Tower fire, eight years on
A time to pause and reflect as Dubai tower block fire reported just before anniversary.
Airtightness Topic Guide BSRIA TG 27/2025
Explaining the basics of airtightness, what it is, why it's important, when it's required and how it's carried out.
Construction contract awards hit lowest point of 2025
Plummeting for second consecutive month, intensifying concerns for housing and infrastructure goals.
Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025
Examining the state of mental health in construction, shedding light on levels of stress, anxiety and depression.