LETI

After over two years of cross-industry collaboration, the Pilot Version of the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard has launched, providing an industry-wide pathway to a net zero carbon built environment. This Standard builds on the work LETI pioneered in the Climate Emergency Design Guide, CIBSE LETI Net Zero FAQs, and guidance from other organisations such as the RIBA 2030 challenge and the UKGBC Whole life carbon roadmap expanding the analysis to cover a majority of sectors for both new build and retrofit.
 
The UK NZCBS will be the first Standard to ensure that a net zero carbon definition takes in to account the impacts of energy and material use. Following a bottom-up and top-down approach to carbon modelling, the Standard sets out clear limits for energy and embodied carbon emissions that enable the UK to meet it’s 1.5oC carbon reduction pathway. These limits represent the most robust limits available, and set a global precedent.
 
To address the huge scale of the proposed standard, it has required a truly cross industry initiative, bringing together over 350 experts, each supplying their knowledge of specific sectors and aspects of carbon emissions. 
 
As a founding member, LETI has been instrumental in guiding the development Standard, with Clara Bagenal George representing LETI on the technical steering group, (she chaired the technical steering group for the first year and a half) and Chris Twinn representing LETI within the governance board. Additionally, many LETI contributors have been involved in the development of the standard, providing their knowledge and support throughout the various task and sector groups (far too many to name!).
 
LETI supports the new standard, recognising the robust methodology and processes behind its creation. The documentation, limits and targets have been fully reviewed by LETI, providing key feedback prior to the pilot launch. Within the standard, there are specific limits and targets that differ to those within current LETI guidance, having evolved as the knowledge has grown, and we are considering how we align during this initial pilot phase. At present, despite the different limits, the overall approach and methods to net zero carbon within LETI guidance remains valid, particularly for those projects and groups on the journey to net zero carbon. We recognise that this is an important development in the UK journey to a Net Zero Carbon built environment, and encourage you all to trial the UKNZCBS on your projects.
 
LETI will continue to be involved, providing key evidence and advocating for improvements as necessary, helping to refine the standard as it develops. This is an ongoing process and we will keep you all informed as it progresses.
 
The Standard is a truly cross-industry development, building on initiatives such as LETI, to create consensus through an open and transparent collective process. We will continue to contribute, helping to inform and educate the wider built environment community so that the whole industry can decarbonise together.