Construction – Moving Towards Net-Zero Through Challenges
In the midst of a worldwide demand when it comes to environmental responsibility, there is growing evaluation on the construction industry’s substantial carbon footprint. A study carried out by Judy Too and Obuks Ejohwomu at the University of Manchester has gone on to reveal a major issue- buildings are not yet being designed to fit in sectoral carbon budgets, which is hampering progress when it comes to achieving net-zero emissions.
In today’s era, there happens to be a growing focus on issues related to environment and the also pressing need so as to address climate change. As a result, the construction sector has come under scanner because of its major contribution to carbon emissions.
The role of buildings when it comes to net-zero journey cannot be overstated, as they are liable for 39% of global carbon emissions as well as 25% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions across the UK.
There happens to be a growing awareness of climate change, which is being addressed by way of numerous initiatives, such as the Royal Institute of British Architects- RIBA has introduced the 2030 Climate Challenge, and the use of the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment- WLCA standard, which is also contributing when it comes to this effort.
The research concentrated on examining current building practices following climate emergency declarations. The findings put forth indicate that buildings are still not being designed or constructed in a manner that syncs with sectoral carbon budgets.
The carbon budget is a limit on the number of emissions that humanity can go on to release from this time until 2050. It is based on anticipation by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and is designed so as to prevent exceeding specific temperature increase limits.
The carbon budget distinguishes itself from an annual budget in the sense that it takes into consideration the cumulative impact of past, present, as well as future actions. Essentially, it goes on to represent a period of transition towards reaching the objective of net-zero carbon emissions.
Once the allocated budget gets exhausted, it is critical to maintain zero emissions so as to prevent any additional increases within the global temperatures.
Individual countries are allocated a portion of the worldwide carbon budget to develop their own national carbon emission reduction path, following a top-down approach. Ideally, these allocations should then be distributed to the sectoral level and, thereafter, to individual projects.
The construction industry has not yet implemented performance limits for the different stages of a building’s lifecycle
The UK building sector has not yet implemented predetermined performance limits as well as standardizations for the different stages of a building’s lifecycle, as required by the sector’s carbon limits.
In light of the timeline leading up to 2050, the research has prompted the necessity when it comes to policy reforms that mandate buildings to adhere to project-level carbon budgets. Executing this approach will effectively drive the sector towards significant progress so as to achieve the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Despite the challenges faced, there are promising efforts and plans in place that have the potential to revolutionize the sector, even though progress may be a tad slow.
As per the research, this holistic shift depends on three essential pillars: policy and regulations, building sector practices, as well as public engagement or education. Together, these pillars promote a performance-based culture in the sector.
The synergy between these three pillars is crucial in driving a cultural shift that compels developers to achieve particular environmental performance goals, particularly in areas such as energy, water, and waste reduction.
How can developers effectively work towards achieving environmental performance goals?
1. Policies and regulations
The UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, Future Homes Standard, and proposed Part Z amendment are important initiatives that happen to provide essential frameworks for guiding the industry towards making carbon-conscious decisions.
Although still in the nascent stages and not fully put in place, the research goes on to indicate that forward-thinking investors and also clients, known as early adopters, are already leading towards driving the demand for low-carbon options. These individuals are willing to pay a higher cost premium in order to achieve ambitious goals.
Developers are at present constructing solar-powered homes that incorporate enhanced insulation and intelligent control systems that aim to reduce the strain on the electricity grid, particularly during peak usage periods.
Moreover, there happens to be an increasing awareness of the impact of embodied carbon on the overall emissions throughout a building’s lifecycle, which is leading to more demand for materials that have low carbon footprints.
2. Practices in the Building Sector
The shift to a low-carbon industry requires a substantial shift in building design practices and assessment. Based on the findings, it is quite clear that short-term financial considerations are given higher priority as compared to long-term environmental benefits in the majority of cases.
While low-carbon options go on to lead to long-term cost savings by reducing energy consumption as well as operational expenses, it is crucial to note that the first of the investments required may be higher. As a result, developers are not sure to incur higher initial expenses because they do not have a total understanding of the potential RoI through the building’s lifespan.
The lack of awareness as well as regulatory mandates pose challenges for practitioners in prioritizing low-carbon choices and effectively integrating sustainable practices.
In order to expedite this transition, it is crucial for stakeholders to take into account a project’s carbon impact with the same level of importance as its financial viability. Merely prioritizing the financial bottom line is no longer something to remain content with.
Investors are increasingly taking into account the ESG credentials of assets, moving beyond just their financial as well as economic value. This shift in focus is anticipated to change the conversation between stakeholders. The research aims to establish a base for standardizing performance measurement all through the project lifecycle, thereby providing guidance for this transition.
The sector needs to adopt an integrated design process in order to drive this shift. This approach focuses on conducting an overall evaluation of building components and their systems, with a particular emphasis on their overall performance and the environmental impact.
By adopting this holistic approach, stakeholders are encouraged to evaluate the overall sustainability of a project instead of focusing on isolated elements or individual components. This allows them to identify opportunities in order to reduce carbon emissions and save costs that might otherwise go without any notice.
3. Public engagement and education
With the rise in public awareness of environmental issues and the urgent need for climate action, there is a surge in the demand for zero-carbon building developments from both clients and occupants.
The heightened awareness happens to be a powerful catalyst for driving change within the building sector. There is a growing demand from clients as well as occupants for buildings that happen to be sustainable, energy-efficient, and also environmentally friendly.
So as to meet this demand, the sector needs to adapt and offer answers that are both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
While the shift may appear to be happening slowly, if one continues to leverage as well as support these initiatives and strategies, the sector’s progress can be accelerated toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions aim by 2050.
The incentives and penalties used can effectively encourage changes in building design and evaluation practices while at the same time raising public awareness. This heightened awareness then enables end-users to advocate for changes within their sector actively.
This coordinated as well as harmonized effort will go on to establish a culture that is focused on performance, leading to the successful completion of buildings within the UK carbon budget.
