EDITOR ' S QUESTION
DR GARETH DAVIES
CARBON REDUCTION SCIENTIST , TUNLEY ENVIRONMENTAL
NATHAN WOOD
CARBON REDUCTION SCIENTIST , PHD ( PENDING ) AT TUNLEY ENVIRONMENTAL
In recent years , the momentum behind carbon-neutral construction has noticeably increased . Governments , industry and consumers all recognise the need for a more sustainable approach to construction . This consensus is being supported by a growing body of guidance documents and standards designed to support the transition to Net Zero . For example , the Promoting Net Zero Carbon and Sustainability in Construction document published by the UK government in 2022 .
For construction projects , guidelines and standards such as PAS 2080 , BREEAM , and LEED are becoming increasingly essential . PAS 2080 provides a framework for mitigating carbon emissions at every stage of an infrastructure project . It achieves this by setting targets and quantifying the emissions generated at each stage , thereby facilitating reductions against the quantified baseline . This is a well-regarded standard , the High Speed 2 ( HS2 ) railway in England is being built to the PAS 2080 standard .
In the specific context of buildings , BREEAM focuses on sustainability and environmental performance . Encouraging developers to go beyond minimum statutory requirements to create buildings that offer environmental , economic and social sustainability , and are subsequently scored using these metrics . LEED has the same lynchpin to its guidance , promoting
water and energy efficiency , better indoor environmental quality , and resource stewardship . These initiatives frequently leverage high-efficiency HVAC systems , including variable refrigerant flow ( VRF ) systems and the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting , often controlled through smart systems to minimise electricity consumption .
Technologies such as ground-source heat pumps , which harness the Earth ’ s consistent temperature to facilitate efficient heating and cooling , are also gaining traction , particularly in the context of heating and cooling domestic housing . Moreover , the careful selection of sustainable building materials plays a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of a building . A major part of the movement towards carbon neutrality in construction is the use of sustainable materials . With a major focus on low-carbon concrete and recycled steel . As these materials often make up the majority of a buildings carbon footprint , targeting these materials is critical to reducing the carbon footprint of a building . Indeed , globally 8 % of CO 2 emissions are a result of concrete use .
To conclude , conducting a Life Cycle Assessment ( LCA ) to monitor the carbon footprint throughout the construction stages of a project is fundamental for achieving carbon-neutral construction . This provides an analysis of a building ’ s environmental footprint and facilitates the integration of initiatives designed to minimise the carbon footprint to the greatest extent possible . �
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