With the UK targeting Net Zero Carbon by 2050, it is essential that we address the performance of our existing building stock, reducing operational carbon by making buildings more energy efficient. I
t is also widely recognised that refurbishing our existing buildings is better for the environment than demolishing them and rebuilding in terms of carbon cost. So, what kind of steps can be taken to both improve the thermal performance of our current stock, whilst keeping embodied carbon to a minimum? Lowering operational carbon Our strategy to reduce operational carbon must include improving inefficient building stock.
This often starts with better levels of insulation and air tightness, and with over 1.6 million existing non-domestic properties in the United Kingdom alone, this represents both a major challenge and a major opportunity. For many building owners a key driver towards making these improvements is the introduction of tighter Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for private rented property, tightening requirements for EPC ratings on existing non-domestic properties.
Currently, landlords cannot grant or renew tenancy on properties with an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of E or below without a granted exemption. It is planned that this will rise to a minimum of C by 2027, and ultimately B by 2030. Having an energy efficient building envelope will be an essential requirement for meeting these tougher standards.
What is embodied carbon? Embodied carbon is the total carbon dioxide generated to create an asset, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, processing and transport.
One way to understand the embodied carbon of the products being used on a project is to look at their EPD (Environmental Product Declaration), which provides information about the environmental performance and impact of a product over its lifetime, and is awarded after LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) are performed.
This helps to inform specifiers of the whole life carbon impact of the products they chose on a project, and consider the holistic benefits of higher performing products over the continuing lifetime of the building. Total solutions Insulated panel systems can provide a straightforward way to upgrade both the appearance and the thermal performance of many buildings, offering high levels of insulation and airtightness in a single unit that is easy to install, whether the building is being overclad or stripped back to its frame.
There are also now lower embodied carbon (LEC) panels available, which help to keep the whole life carbon cost of a project down. Investing in improving our existing stock to the highest standards now could not only help to cut operational carbon over the lifetime of the building, but also the whole life embodied carbon of the building itself, especially compared to the alternative of demolition and rebuild.
