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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.