Pioneering Change: The Crucial Role of Built Environment Professionals in Decarbonisation by Lauren Cullivan BA (Hons) MSc MIEnvSc PIEMA AIAQM  

The importance of decarbonising the built environment has become more urgent than ever as societies grapple with the implications of climate change. The built environment is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions that, left unchecked, are expected to double by 2050¹. This puts the built environment professionals at the front line of the pursuit of a sustainable future. Architects, engineers, urban planners, sustainability experts and other construction professionals have the knowledge and skills to reimagine and revolutionise design and construction processes to decarbonise buildings. They therefore wield immense influence in leading the charge towards decarbonisation within the built environment.  

Effective and efficient low carbon design is arguably at the heart of decarbonisation in the built environment. Design teams can influence the industry by prioritising sustainability through designing for energy efficiency and implementing renewable energy systems and green technologies such as heat pumps and photovoltaics (PVs). A holistic approach to sustainability should also be taken which goes beyond only considering energy. Specifying materials with low embodied carbon and designing buildings that blend harmoniously with their surroundings which fosters ecological preservation should also be prioritised. These are all solutions that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of new developments. Furthermore, there should also be a focus on adaptive and resilient designs that can enhance a building’s ability to withstand the impacts of climate change, thus contributing to long term sustainability.   

Built environment professionals are also at the forefront of adopting and advocating innovative construction techniques that minimise environmental impacts. This can include the use of sustainable building materials, modular construction methods to reduce waste, incorporating advanced technologies such as 3D printing for precision and efficiency and using electric and hybrid equipment on site. In a podcast called Decarbonisation of Plant², Matt Seaman, HS2 Business Director, spoke about the successes of using low-carbon plant on the project. For example, the lighting used for civil engineering works have transitioned from diesel to battery-based hybrid models which saved 393 tonnes/CO₂e over the duration of the 2022/23 winter period.   

However, the integration of new technologies is a double-edged sword, as HS2 also demonstrates. Hybrid technology has not consistently performed on the project and finding low carbon replacement for petrol-and diesel-powered equipment on site has been a challenge. This difficulty highlights how the construction industry has been historically slow to adopt new technologies, with many contractors choosing to stick with tried-and-tested methods. Innovative technology will and does drive efficiency and sustainability and built environment professionals must therefore champion new low carbon practices and technology, which will help reshape industry norms and set new benchmarks for environmentally conscious construction. A good example of built environmental professionals championing better building practices is shown within the Channel 4 documentary ‘The Great Climate Fight’ in which designer Kevin McCloud implores Michael Gove to raise housing standards after the government’s recent U-turn on Net Zero and other climate policies. Success stories need to be shouted about to demonstrate the tangible benefits of using low-carbon equipment on sites which will raise awareness of environmental issues and the urgency of decarbonising the built environment. In turn, this will put pressure on those who have the power to implement new policies to do the right thing.  

Decarbonisation extends beyond the design and construction phases to encompass the entire life cycle of a building. Built environmental professionals can leverage Life Cycle Assessments to evaluate the environmental impact of different materials and construction methods for different design options. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) introduced Life Cycle Assessments within the Materials section of their updated New Construction Technical Manual in 2018. This was a step forward that was needed to replace the outdated Green Guide ratings. Unfortunately, in the 5 years since the updated manual was published, I am yet to assess a single Life Cycle Assessment report in one of my roles as a BREEAM Assessor. When I query this with design teams nine times out of 10 it’s because of cost. This highlights that the skills are there, but if the budget isn’t these tools that have the capacity to be so effective in decarbonising buildings will not be utilised.  

One of the primary challenges is the perceived higher cost associated with sustainable practices and, in most cases, research has found that short-term financial consideration will take precedence over long-term environmental benefits³. Built environmental professionals can address this challenge by showcasing the long-term economic benefits of sustainable construction. Low carbon buildings often lead to lower operational costs because of their energy efficiency, enhanced market value, increased tenant satisfaction and no retrofitting costs to adhere to any future carbon related building regulations. Energiesprong (energy leap) is an approach to retrofitting that demonstrates just how expensive retrofitting can be. It focuses on installing a new thermally efficient façade, PVs and heat pumps. The first Energiesprong retrofits were installed on 1960s terraced houses in Nottingham in 2017. This resulted in the energy bills of the tenants being cut by 60% a year and the property values increasing by 25% because of the major aesthetic and comfort improvements⁴. However, it cost £75,000 per retrofit. Similarly, a study lead by the University of Nottingham also found that an extensive retrofit of the current housing stock would cost £69,000⁵ per home to achieve carbon neutrality. These costs are unattainable for almost everyone in the UK against the backdrop of the rising cost of living crisis, even if they were heavily subsidised.  Arguably worse still, an article in pbc.today estimated that installing PVs and a heat pump from day one would add around £8,500 to the cost of building a new house, whereas it will cost around £33,000 in future to retrofit them.  And these estimates ignore the reduced running costs to the homeowner in the meantime⁶. This highlights the shortsightedness of the current approach to house building.  

This provides a compelling business case for investing in decarbonising new housing stocks and developments now.  

The absence of enforced carbon regulation also makes it difficult for project teams to prioritise low-carbon design and construction techniques where some clients are not willing to pay, or do not have low-carbon goals. Initiatives including the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, the proposed Part Z amendment and Future Homes Standard are, unfortunately, still in their infancy but will be fundamental for guiding the construction industry towards carbon-conscious choices and shifting mindsets to view a development’s carbon footprint on a par with its financial viability. This mindset shift will need built environment professionals to take a proactive role in education and skill development, both within their organisations, external continuous professional development and within their membership bodies. This will foster a culture of continuous development, staying up to date with emerging technologies and mentor the next generation of professionals to champion decarbonisation.  

The role of built environment professionals in leading decarbonisation efforts is essential. Their expertise in design, planning and construction means they can help decarbonise the built environment which will be a huge step forward in tackling climate change. The urgency of the climate crisis demands a collaborative and concerted effort and built environment professionals are uniquely positioned to be the catalysts for a greener and more sustainable future.   

Some builders and developers are already picking up the challenge. Are you? 

[1] Built environment | Climate Group (theclimategroup.org)

[2] First Site podcast | Construction News

[3] How construction progress towards net-zero amid challenges? (pbctoday.co.uk)

[4] reinventing_retrofit.pdf (green-alliance.org.uk)

[5] Average cost for net zero retrofit almost £70k – elemental (elementaldigital.co.uk)

[6] Tory green regulation delays have earned developers billions (pbctoday.co.uk)