Net-Zero: A Framework

Carbon emission targets have mostly been just that: targets, with little in the way of demonstrable steps towards reaching them, followed by hazy, estimated measurements. For the most part, it’s been a case of “here’s where we need to get to. Make your own way there and we’ll kind of check in later”.

These targets, like the Paris Climate Agreement, represent an incredible step for humanity. They say that we, as humankind, recognise the problem and define where we will end this problem.

UKGBC is the latest organisation to say that we, as humankind, can recognise measurable solutions. In this instance, with a focus on buildings. The full details are remarkably impressive, which shows in the simplicity of its overview.

The Steps

Defining the Scope

In its current iteration, it begins by defining two scopes of focus: construction and operational carbon. That is, the carbon associated with active development and the carbon associated with annual use.

These scopes are effectively pathways throughout the framework’s remaining steps.

Reducing Construction Impact

This step requires a ‘Whole Life Carbon Assessment’ during construction projects, with three general aspects:

• It covers all associated carbon emissions from construction: its whole life, from start to finish. That means not only the direct carbon emissions from the construction itself, but also the carbon associated with the eventual removal of the construction.
• These measurements must then be offset at the expense of the developer.
• This assessment must be publicly disclosed.

These aspects play together in an important way, and seems to take a strong page out of the WEEE Directive’s playbook.

Future pollution as a result of current construction is placed at the feet of developers, and their approach to resolving it is visible to anyone and everyone. Measurable foresight and accountability.

Reducing Operational Energy Use

The next step is to consider energy usage.

During construction, this means including foresight into running energy demands. Think insulation etc.

For the operational scope, this is a much more active step. It focuses primarily on reducing energy demand with annual public disclosure of consumption.

Increasing Renewable Energy Supply

Reducing energy consumption is the first consideration in all sectors. For the demand that’s left over, renewables should be carrying as much of that weight as possible.

This framework draws an important distinction for renewables. On-site renewables should be prioritised, and off-site renewables should be demonstrably beneficial to the site itself.

It seems to support more decentralisation (lifting some of the burden from the electricity grid, and significantly improving the efficiency of energy transportation) as well as the more even spread of renewables throughout the country.

It would also discourage solutions that seem more balanced and beneficial than they actually are. For instance, offsetting carbon by installing renewables elsewhere may look fair on paper, but has meaningful implications in practice.

This will become clearer after the next step…

Offsetting Remaining Carbon

The final step, after all else is efficiently considered, is to effectively ‘mop up’ any carbon impact that couldn’t be resolved earlier in the chain.

These offsets should be recognised as properly effective and crucially – like all steps in the framework – should be publicly disclosed.

However, offsets are the very last step for good reason. The are temporary necessities, not an effective solution. In future iterations of the framework, these will be gradually phased out via maximum thresholds, more limited options for new developments, and additional requirements for existing developments, etc.

Overall, the framework shows significant promise as an effective tool for developers to reach Net-Zero. Since it imposes no extreme conditions, but rather offers a finely-honed path towards energy efficiency, it can roundly be seen as the UKGBC doing important and useful work, free of charge.