A new standard for life cycle carbon footprinting in construction?
Thomas Store from CESW FF writes:
Presently, the UK construction industry does not have accepted standard and consistent approach to on life cycle carbon footprinting. However, last week the Sustainable Building Alliance (SBA) released a framework to assess 6 core indicators for buildings impacts which includes a green house gas emissions indicator.
This framework is EU based and has Building Research Establishment (BRE) and UK backing. The SBA state that the ‘common carbon metric’ will be unveiled to decision makers at United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December. Although no timescales are given they state that the method to measure these indicators will be piloted by the leading green building rating tools, and made available to all those who are dedicated to promoting the understanding and development of a green, low-carbon and sustainable built environment.
This is an important development in that it will hopefully standardise the way we assess the life cycle impacts of construction development. As stringent increases in Part L of the building regulations due over the next 6 years, this is a crucial step in being able to evaluate whether or not we are genuinely reducing the net carbon impact of buildings over their life time.
Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) and Future Foundations (FF), with funding from South West Regional Development Agency, are developing a two and half year project on life cycle carbon footprinting in construction.
Activities include:
• The development and promotion of methods and tools to aid better decision making in reducing whole life carbon emissions in construction developments
• The development of a network of whole life carbon evaluation expertise in the SW and establish appropriate partnerships
• The development of relevant case studies
• The dissemination of findings from the project
• The development of a network of whole life carbon evaluation expertise in the SW and establish appropriate partnerships
• The development of relevant case studies
• The dissemination of findings from the project
Over the next few months CESW and FF will continue to assess the development of the emerging life cycle carbon footprinting methodologies with a view to adopting one to build consensus across key stakeholders across the region. If you would like to remain informed on key developments in this area or you have a potential case study please contact Thomas Store on thomas.store@cesw.org.uk
