The global building and construction sector faces a critical challenge: it is one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, second only to surface transport. The energy required to heat, power, and operate our commercial buildings and homes contributes significantly to the climate crisis. Globally, real estate accounts for 40% of emissions, with building and construction work alone accounting for 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. Achieving net zero targets and limiting global warming requires a radical transformation of how our built environment is planned, designed, and maintained.
Rethinking Materials and Embodied Carbon
A major component of the industry’s environmental impact is embodied carbon, the emissions from the construction and refurbishment of buildings, which accounts for approximately 20% of the UK’s built environment emissions. The global use of carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel is a major culprit.
Architects and designers are increasingly turning to sustainable alternatives:
Timber: Using wood can reduce a building's carbon emissions by up to 60% compared to traditional materials. Timber actively absorbs CO2 while growing and stores that carbon even after it is harvested. Making 90% of new buildings from wood could cut global CO2 emissions by 4%.
Innovative Materials: Materials like hempcrete (made from the woody stem of the hemp plant mixed with lime) are being explored as "better-than-zero-carbon" options, as they lock away more carbon than is required to produce them.
Designing for Efficiency and Regeneration
The remaining emissions primarily come from operating leaky, poorly insulated buildings. The path to a better planet involves upgrading both new and existing structures:
New Construction: Regulations, such as the UK’s Future Homes Standard, are requiring new homes to be more energy efficient. This is achieved through designing homes to maximize natural light, integrating renewable energy systems like solar panels and heat pumps, and creating airtight constructions with advanced ventilation.
Retrofit and Circularity: Upgrading the nation's existing housing stock—or retrofitting—is one of the biggest opportunities to reduce emissions. Architects are also focusing on a circular economy to maximize resource use. This involves maximizing the reuse and recycling of materials—for example, reusing structural steel can save 97% of the embodied carbon associated with new steel.
Regenerative Design: The most ambitious vision is to create climate-positive or regenerative buildings. This means buildings should not just minimize harm, but instead function as carbon stores, generate more energy than they use, and restore nature. Tactics include integrating vertical gardens and converting neglected rooftops into lush green spaces that reduce stress and improve air quality.
By embracing radical transformation in design, materials, and operation, the built environment can move beyond simply achieving net zero to positively contributing to the planet.
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