The Standard is innovative, providing a clear path to meet the built environment industry’s net zero carbon commitments, based on a carbon budget trajectory to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
It is an important industry-first initiative that brings a single, agreed technical methodology to help the sector develop and deliver net-zero buildings, setting out carbon and energy limits aligned with the UK’s legal requirements to meet net zero by 2050.
Will Arnold, IStructE’s Head of Climate Action, says: “For the first time, the construction industry has a collaboratively developed definition of how a building must perform if it is to claim to be aligned with Net Zero. It is the only Standard like this in the world, and its ambition raises the bar as to what we expect from sustainable urban development in the UK.”
Patrick Hayes, IStructE’s Technical Director, adds: “I pay tribute to all of the Institution’s members who have volunteered extensive time and expertise to the development of the Standard. This truly is a Standard produced
by the industry,
for the industry. We look forward to stewarding and developing the Standard into the future in response to industry action.”
Collective adoption of the Standard is imperative if the UK’s built environment is to bring its carbon emissions within limits aligned with a 1.5 degree trajectory. Using the Standard brings transparency, consistency and accountability to the industry’s approach to decarbonisation.
IStructE encourages early implementation to test the pilot on projects being developed and operated today, and points to its guidance such as
Design for Zero and
Circular Economy and Reuse as providing the tools to help meet the Standard’s carbon limits.
Background and further IStructE resources:
Further details are here:
https://www.nzcbuildings.co.uk/ and the pilot Standard can be downloaded here:
https://www.nzcbuildings.co.uk/pilotversion
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For further information please contact:
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Newsroom on +44 (0)7930 53 45 43.
Notes to Editors
About the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE): https://www.istructe.org/
The Institution of Structural Engineers dates to 1908 and is now the world’s largest membership organisation dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering.
It has over 29,000 members working in 138 countries around the world. Professional membership is one of the leading global benchmarks of competence and technical excellence. Members undergo rigorous technical assessment and commit to continual learning and development.
The Institution drives higher standards and shares knowledge because its members’ work is vital to public safety and meeting the challenges of the future. The Institution provides a voice for its members, promoting their contribution to society as innovative, creative problem solvers and the guardians of public safety.