If we are to make a meaningful difference to the impact that the construction industry has on the climate, and move towards net zero carbon, we must consider both the carbon cost of constructing the building in the first place (or retrofitting it) as well as operating it (heating, lighting and powering it in use). LETI (Low Energy Transformation Initiative) defines the upfront embodied carbon as:

“‘The carbon emissions associated with the extraction and processing of materials, the energy and water consumption used by the factory in producing products, transporting materials to site, and constructing the building.’”

— L.E.T.I.

The RIBA has developed voluntary performance targets for operational energy use, water use and embodied carbon. These performance targets form the basis of the 2030 Climate Challenge which the RIBA has developed in consultation with other professional UK construction bodies. The performance targets align with the future legislative horizon and set out a challenging but achievable trajectory to realise the significant reductions necessary by 2030 in order to have a realistic prospect of achieving net zero carbon for the whole UK building stock by 2050.

At WDP, we have begun estimating the embodied carbon of our projects as well as the predicted operational energy use. It makes us ask more questions about the decisions we are making and the short and long term impacts that they will have on a project’s net carbon creation.