Current projects

Embodied and whole life carbon

ROADMAP GOAL

Production and construction that achieves net zero embodied carbon 

Purpose

Develop an industry-led approach for reducing embodied and whole-life carbon in new homes aligned to emerging government policy.

Context

As the homes we build become more energy efficient, increase their use of heat pumps, and as the grid decarbonises, the embodied carbon in the materials we use becomes more important.


As government considers its policy approach to embodied and whole-life carbon in new homes, the sector needs to better understand and consistently measure its whole-life carbon footprint.


Ultimately, a consistent approach to measurement and an industry-wide baseline will help inform a long-term roadmap, underpinned with supporting targets, for industry to reduce its embodied carbon footprint.

Priority for 2025:


The Hub continues to engage with all key partners to help coordinate delivery of the implementation plan.


The priorities are:

  • Encourage voluntary measurement and disclosure of upfront and whole life carbon assessments from developers – at both an individual home design level and whole development project site level.
  • Share benchmarks for current practice and identify the pathway to setting industry supported targets for voluntary uptake prior to potential introduction of regulation.
  • Continued research into options to reduce whole life carbon, including the operational vs. embodied carbon balance for improved fabric and services options likely to be required to meet Future Homes Standard.
  • Engage with manufacturers and the supply chain to ensure that EPDs and relevant default assumptions are increasingly available to support mainstream disclosure.

Phase 2 - Development of a simple tool and method


Supported by WSP, the Hub  launched the Whole Life Carbon Conventions for New Homes for industry feedback in May 2024, and alongside this, the first version of the Future Homes Carbon Assessment Tool for homebuilders.


In December 2024, an updated version (v2) of the Future Homes Carbon Assessment Tool was released, adding the functionality for users to add their on bespoke buildups and materials/products.


Read the Whole Life Carbon Conventions for New Homes and download the Whole Life Carbon Tool v2 here.

Why is this important?

  • The Whole Life Carbon Conventions for New Homes will drive consistency of WLC assessment outputs by agreeing the assumptions and conventions relevant for new homes sector.
  • The Future Homes Carbon Assessment Tool will provide a simple to use, accessible, free of charge tool for homebuilders to calculate WLC and consider options for improving, particularly at early design stages.
  • Together, these move us towards mainstream measurement and disclosure – building awareness and engaging the mass market.


How did we get there?

  • Supported by Elliot Wood and FCB Studios, the Hub consulted with SME homebuilders, medium and large homebuilders and manufacturers and supply chain partners to agree the scope and priorities for the tool and method.  The briefing note is available to read here.
  • Working groups were convened to identify the background data sources and assumptions needed to feed into the tool and method – see list of participants.


Phase 1 – Implementation Plan


Supported by Verco, a first phase of work took place in 2022 to agree an industry led implementation plan for embodied and whole life carbon. 


This included:

  • Establishing an initial baseline for whole life carbon in new homes based on existing assessments carried out.
  • Evaluating the potential to reduce embodied and whole life carbon based on comparative assessment of options for a typical house. 
  • Proposing the framework of measurement suitable for new build housing developments and associated site-level infrastructure. 

The implementation plan is available to read here.

Timeline

Participants

The Whole Life Carbon Steering Group, chaired by Brian Johnson of Miller Homes, meets every three months to share progress and take input.



Working groups comprised of developers, manufacturers and whole life carbon experts have been convened to identify the background data sources and tables needed to feed into the tool and method and identify the assumptions and conventions for new homes. 


Thanks to all those who volunteer their time in the working groups:

Homebuilders

Barratt Developments

Bellway Homes

Berkeley Homes

C G Fry and Son

Cala Group

Churchill Retirement

Crest Nicholson

Croudace

Hayfield Homes

Keepmoat

Latimer (Clarion)

Lendlease

Miller Homes

Places for People

Redrow

Story Homes

Taylor Wimpey

Thakeham

VerdeGO

Wider industry and suppliers

AES

Arup

BLP Technical Services (UK)

BRE

Building Alliance

Cerclos

ConstructionLCA Ltd

Construction Carbon

Duchy of Cornwall

Elmhurst

FCB Studios

GCP Architects

H+H

Homes England

Ibstock

Insulation Manufacturers Association

IstructE

Jewson / STARK

Lifecycle Sustainability

Mineral Products Association

NHBC

P+HS

RICS

Ridge

Sanctuary

Solar Energy UK

Timber Development UK

Travis Perkins

UKGBC

University of Lincoln

Verco

WSP

For participants in Phase 1, please see the implementation plan from Phase 1.

How do I get involved?

Please email us if you would like to get involved in our WLC Oversight and working groups.