UK house builders are facing increasing pressure to showcase their sustainability and strategies for reducing embodied carbon

The construction sector faces transformative changes, driven by regulatory updates and environmental concerns, and the concept of embodied carbon is becoming a pivotal element in sustainable development. For house builders in the UK, understanding and mitigating the embodied carbon within their projects is not just a growing regulatory requirement — it’s a critical avenue to achieve market leadership in sustainability and economic stability and provide relevant information on a company's scope 3 emissions. 

This guide explains why embodied carbon should now be a critical consideration for sustainability leaders within house builder organisations — in light of recent industry developments like the Future Homes 2025 standard and the Labour government’s commitment to construct 1.5 million new homes over the next three years. It outlines clear, strategic actions that house builders should adopt to stay competitive and lead the way to net zero and economic stability.

Understanding embodied carbon in construction

Embodied carbon refers to the carbon dioxide emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the entire life-cycle of a building or infrastructure. Unlike operational carbon, which can be reduced over time with renewables like PV panels, embodied carbon is locked in from the moment of construction. This makes early material choices critical.

Key regulatory changes affecting house builders

The UK construction sector is undergoing significant changes, with new regulations and policies evolving which are aimed at a more sustainable future. Developers and builders face increasing competition as the adoption of sustainable initiatives increases across the sector, making carbon impact a critical business consideration.

Future Homes Standard 2025: This ambitious standard sets high-performance targets for new homes, with a strong focus on operational energy efficiency. While this primarily addresses energy use during a building's lifetime, it also signals a growing emphasis on the construction phase and its embodied carbon impact.

Labour government's housing development pledge: The government's commitment to extensive housing development underscores the need for sustainable housing practices. It's no longer enough to focus solely on energy efficiency in use; low-carbon solutions need to be integrated from the beginning of the design process.

Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard: This cross-industry standard will provide a unified methodology for achieving net-zero carbon in all major building types. As it gains traction, house builders will face increasing pressure to understand and actively reduce embodied carbon in their projects. 

These changes mean sustainable building practices are no longer a 'nice-to-have' for house builders. They are becoming essential for staying compliant, attracting investors and buyers, and future-proofing the business.

Why focus on embodied carbon now?

1. Regulatory compliance: Evolving regulations like the Greater London Authority’s London Plan — are likely to mandate stricter controls on embodied carbon, impacting new housing developments in the near future. Early adoption of embodied carbon assessments is a good strategy to have in place ahead of regulations becoming mandatory.
2. Market advantage: There is an increasing demand for green buildings and sustainable development initiatives, driven by consumer preference and investor requirements for carbon transparency.
3. Environmental responsibility: Reducing embodied carbon is vital for mitigating climate change, given the construction industry’s substantial contribution to global carbon emissions. House builders have a significant role to play in reducing the impact of construction on the environment.
4. Transparency: Tracking embodied carbon within projects and the material used is essential for comprehensive Scope 3 emissions reporting.

Strategies for reducing embodied carbon

Integrating these strategies into projects as early as possible will help housing developers understand embodied carbon within their projects, minimise environmental impact, and bridge the gap between sustainability initiatives and economic performance.

Life-cycle assessments

Building life-cycle assessments (LCAs) are a method of assessing the potential environmental impacts of a building or development throughout its life-cycle. It provides developers with a wealth of benefits.

• Ensure regulatory compliance: Integrate building LCAs to help meet regulatory and certification requirements (e.g., BREEAM, LEED) by quantifying environmental impacts.
• Carbon reduction: LCAs highlight carbon hotspots within plans and present opportunities to reduce embodied carbon throughout the building’s lifecycle. 
• Cost efficiency: LCAs can integrate life-cycle cost analysis, meaning that the financial cost of carbon is factored into budgets and plans in the same way that materials and services are.
• Gather the data for Scope 3 emissions: LCA’s provide the required data on the embodied carbon of building projects to declare a company's scope 3 emissions. 

Aligning to methodologies, regulations, and certifications

The accepted standard for building LCAs in the UK and globally is EN 15978, which defines the life cycle stages A1-D. Most LCA methodologies, including those for green building certifications, derive from this standard. Despite some differences, most LCAs follow a similar process. In the UK, RICS WLCA V2 is the most up-to-date guidance for LCAs, unless conducting a BREEAM assessment. Key UK methodologies and regulations include:

• RICS WLCA V1: A standardised method for assessing carbon emissions across a building's life cycle, from material extraction to demolition, supporting sustainability goals.
• RICS WLCA V2: Builds on V1 with updated standards and stronger emphasis on reducing both embodied and operational carbon, aligned with net-zero goals.
• GLA LCA Requirements: Follows RICS V1 but adds stricter reporting and focuses on material efficiency and design optimization for London developments.
• BREEAM LCA: Relevant to Mat 01 and Mat 02 credits, BREEAM encourages LCAs to reduce embodied carbon and enhance a project’s sustainability rating.
• Building Regulations Part Z: A proposed UK regulation requiring embodied carbon assessments for new buildings and renovations to meet net-zero targets.

Material selection

• Low-carbon materials: Opt for materials with lower carbon footprints such as recycled steel, low-carbon cement, or timber from sustainably managed forests.
• Strategic supplier partnerships: Reduce material emissions through low-carbon alternatives being sourced.
• Product life-cycle assessment: Utilise tools that evaluate the environmental impact of materials over their entire lifecycle.

Design optimisation

• Early-design phase carbon analysis: Reduce emissions by up to 50% by optimising early. Use building type and size data, adjust material and structural elements, and compare designs to find the most carbon-efficient option.
• Modular construction: This method not only reduces waste but also decreases the carbon footprint associated with traditional construction techniques.
• Efficient use of materials: Design for material optimisation, which can significantly cut down waste and reduce embodied carbon.
• Passive design to reduce energy demand: Optimising natural light, heat, and ventilation in home design reduces the need for mechanical systems, lowering energy demand and embodied carbon by minimising building services

Construction processes

• Use low-emission or renewable energy-powered construction equipment. Optimise on-site energy use with efficient lighting, heating, and machinery. Explore renewable energy options for powering your construction sites.

Innovation and technology

• Stay informed about emerging technologies like carbon capture and storage. Utilise digital tools like BIM and LCA software to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and evaluate embodied carbon.

How does One Click LCA help to make housing developers deliver on their sustainability goals?

House builders face complex challenges in meeting sustainability targets. One Click LCA simplifies the process of decarbonising building projects. Our tools enable developers to optimise embodied carbon at every stage, access Scope 3 emissions data, and easily streamline collaboration across teams.

Used by:

Designers / Architects: One Click LCA makes it easy to comply with RIBA standards, increasing planning approvals and customer satisfaction while maintaining the desired aesthetic. It integrates seamlessly with the tools already used by Architects, including Revit, ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhino, and Grasshopper. 

Sustainability teams: Easy-to-use, compliant LCA software that makes it simple to visually showcase embodied carbon to stakeholders across the organisation. Reduce logistical and resource barriers by simplifying the LCA process, and easily tapping into the world’s largest construction product database.

Procurement: Be confident that the materials you choose for your project are the most sustainable, compliant, and cost-efficient for your projects. Mitigate late-stage cost impacts by enabling embodied carbon impact assessment from day 1.

Planners: Comply with complex regulations and policies in an ever-evolving industry. Mitigate risk and be confident that your developments meet the most stringent requirements and speed up your planning approvals. 

Ensuring a stable, sustainable future for housebuilders

By proactively addressing embodied carbon, house builders and developers can not only comply with regulations, but also position themselves as a leader in sustainable housing construction. Embracing innovative design, materials, and construction processes to minimise environmental impact is going to become essential in the sector, to build a resilient future for the business and a healthier environment for all.

Find out more:

• Design & construction life-cycle assessments
• Case study: Driving innovation in sustainable building design
• Article: Construction & manufacturing responsible for over 50% of global emissions