Insights
Net Zero Carbon Building Standard: setting the tone for the future.
New industry standard will show how we have matured as a carbon-responsible industry.
This is a pivotal moment for the built environment. After contributing to the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (NZCBS) over the past two years, we hope that its imminent publication will create a major shift in addressing carbon emissions from buildings in the UK. This standard represents the most comprehensive effort of our industry, who we have worked alongside to create this standard, to understand and manage our carbon impact. We are also inspired by the dedication and commitment of our peers.
We know that 25% of UK emissions are directly attributable to the built environment – this is currently the biggest challenge of our profession. The industry needs clear guidance to understand what it can do to reduce this. In the last few years, we have witnessed an influx of net zero carbon and building decarbonisation studies. They show how our understanding of the challenge has grown and developed and how our approaches to addressing it have improved. And while all of these are beneficial and offer pathways to building owners, there are huge inconsistencies across the industry about what these should look like.
Implementing this standard will ideally lead to substantial changes in the way real estate is developed and managed.
It will enable real estate owners to adopt more stringent boundaries to confidently classify their estate as net zero carbon. The knock-on effect of this will encourage innovation, driving the development of new technologies and methods that reduce building emissions. And above all it should level the playing field, ensuring ambitious guidelines are adhered to by all.
The impact we hope to see is profound. A future-proofed real estate industry with greener buildings, lower carbon emissions, safer investments and better places to live and work for everyone.
This standard has the potential to go beyond the UK and set a global benchmark.
Getting any building to net zero carbon requires compromise and investment – we don’t expect this new standard to be easy to adopt. There will likely be challenges to its implementation, but the rewards of more resilient buildings and ultimately a greater environment for future generations should make it a no-brainer.
By rallying around a single, comprehensive standard, we can ensure that UK building carbon emissions are prioritised and consistently monitored. By doing this we will set a clear path for others to follow, creating a safer and more secure future for all.