UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard update

[edit] Pilot Version of the Standard launching in September, 2024

The Pilot Version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (The Standard) is being released in September, 2024. The document will contain all the technical details on how a building should meet the Standard, what limits and targets it needs to meet, the technical evidence needed to demonstrate this, and how it should be reported.

Soon after the launch a Pilot Testing will be set up to gather industry feedback on the process of adopting the Standard on projects. Adopting the Pilot version is the perfect way for organisations / projects to prepare themselves for verification, once this becomes available.

Sign up to the mailing list to be the first to be notified when it launches here.

[edit] UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard

The UK's first cross- industry Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard that brings together Net-Zero Carbon requirements for all major building types, based on a 1.5°C trajectory. Leading organisations

BBP, BRE, the Carbon Trust, CIBSE, IStructE, LETI, RIBA, RICS, and UKGBC have joined forces to champion this initiative.

Whilst significant progress has been made in defining what ‘net zero’ means for buildings in the UK, a process of market analysis showed a clear demand for a single, agreed methodology. The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard will enable industry to robustly prove their built assets are net zero carbon and in line with our nation’s climate targets. The Standard will align as far as possible with existing Net Zero initiatives and Standards, see the FAQs page for more information.

[edit] What will it cover?

The Standard will set out metrics by which net zero carbon performance is evaluated, as well as performance targets, or limits, that need to be met. These are likely to include energy use, upfront embodied carbon, and lifecycle embodied carbon, with other metrics – such as space heating/cooling demand and peak load – also to be considered. It will also cover the approach to carbon accounting, procuring renewable energy, and the treatment of residual emissions, including carbon ‘offsetting’. However, the scope and output of the Standard may evolve throughout the development process.

It is expected that claims will be required to be validated based on in-use measured data and interim verification of an asset at design stage or once the asset is built but not yet operating may also be considered.

[edit] Who is it for?

The output will be for developers, contractors, asset owners and managers, occupiers, investors, financiers and funders, consultants, building industry professionals, building managers and product/material manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. It is for anyone who wants to either fund, procure, design, or specify a Net Zero Carbon Building and anyone wanting to demonstrate that their building is 'Net Zero'-aligned with an industry-agreed Standard.

[edit] Will it be science-based?

Performance targets will align with science-based trajectories needed to achieve net zero by 2050 and a 78% reduction by 2035 in the UK, i.e. what is known to be required to stand a reasonable chance of mitigating global warming to 1.5°C. It will also align with the energy demand reductions projected to be required to enable a net zero carbon energy supply sector.

[edit] What building types will it apply to?

The approach will be applicable to both existing and new buildings (e.g. Homes, Offices, Education, Industry, Retail, Hotels, Healthcare etc.). To start, the focus will be on the most common building typologies, especially those for which industry stakeholders have already robust performance data available to inform the setting of performance targets. The Standard will not apply to infrastructure.

This article appears as “More detail on the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard" dated September 2024.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Achieving net zero in social housing.
• Aligning net zero with the levelling-up agenda.
• A zero-carbon UK by 2050?
• Carbon Reduction Commitment.
• Construction skills crisis threatens UK net zero goals.
• CO2nstruct Zero programme grows to over 70 businesses.
• Government net zero review 2022.
• Green product.
• Heat pumps and heat waves: How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
• Infrastructure carbon reduction misses net-zero target.
• Low or zero carbon technologies.
• Making Mission Possible: report on achieving a zero-carbon economy by 2030.
• Nearly zero-energy building.
• Net Zero All Party Parliamentary Group NZ APPG.
• Net zero by 2050.
• Net zero (whole life) carbon.
• Net zero carbon building.
• Net zero carbon emissions.
• Net zero strategy: build back greener.
• Planning the infrastructure transition to net-zero.
• Residual carbon.
• Scotland publishes plans to reach net zero targets with Heat in Buildings Strategy.
• Skilled workforce unable to meet net zero ambitions.
• Smoothing the path to net zero.
• Thermal imaging of the building fabric in the net zero world.
• Transform to Net Zero.
• UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard coalition call for evidence.
• Views sought to develop UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
• UK’s first net zero carbon buildings standard.