Net Zero Carbon & Decarbonisation
Specialist Zero Carbon Design
Helping our clients to achieve their net zero carbon goals is at the heart of our company philosophy. We are on a mission to build Zero Carbon buildings that can sustain better lives for many generations. We pride ourselves on our sustainable, innovative building and design solutions, which are tailored to each client’s individual needs, no matter the scale or complexity of the project - new build or refurbishment.
Our sustainable engineering team is able to tackle every aspect of the design, including building physics, SMART technology, energy sources and whole life cycle assessments. Our professional services include a range of whole life cycle assessments and circular economy reports in line with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and local authority requirements.
What we provide:
Circular Economy Reports
Carbon Neutrality Innovation Plans
Carbon Offsetting Advice
Carbon footprinting exercises
Assessments for BREEAM, HMQ, SKA, WELL, Fitwel
Water neutrality reports
TM65 calculations
Net Zero Carbon Assessments
Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) – IMPACT
Whole Life Cycle Carbon (WLCC) Assessments
Embodied Carbon Analysis
Sustainability statements for planning
LZC and PDA Reports
Net Zero Carbon champion role
Decarbonisation Plans
Net Zero Carbon for new builds
Our team are experienced at guiding new build projects to achieve net zero carbon. Considering the full life cycle of a building is essential to tackle the full extent of carbon emissions within a construction project.
Assessing whole life carbon is becoming a necessary part of many developments, as Local Authorities and bodies such as the NHS are setting their own requirements for embodied carbon, and implementing benchmarks that must be met. At CPW we can support in reducing the whole life carbon of your building and aligning with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.
We can advise on reducing operational carbon through proficient envelope design and effective use of demand-driven, smart services. The team are also able to consider the embodied carbon, set appropriate benchmarks and compare alternative solutions.
With the knowledge that 80% of buildings in use today will still be in use by 2050, it’s not only new builds that need to be designed with net zero carbon in mind. Decarbonising existing estates is essential if we are to meet UK Net Zero Carbon targets by 2050.
We use long-term strategies and innovative technology to provide a practical path to decarbonisation, ensuring we future-proof our designs. We aim to reduce the energy demand of a building through fabric upgrades and efficiency improvements before making the remaining energy demand low or zero carbon.
Utilising specialist thermal imaging and heat flux monitoring tools, we can assess the thermal performance of buildings no matter their age. We compare established and leading-edge energy and heat technologies to ensure the right solution is found. Each project is modelled extensively to compare interventions and provide a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy, that integrates easily into existing maintenance plans and budgets.
Our team also have a wealth of experience supporting funding applications for decarbonisation, both in the public and private sectors.
Decarbonising your existing estate
Featured net zero carbon projects
GSK Zero Carbon Building
We were delighted to be appointed to construct Glaxo Smith Kline’s first ever pioneering zero carbon building - a project which went through £600,000 of Value Engineering to make sure the client was getting 100% added value.
Frequently asked questions
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Net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) released with the amount removed from the atmosphere. Meaning we take out as much as we put in. We would seek to do this by reducing energy consumption, implementing zero carbon energy solutions and using offsetting as a final resort to balance out all greenhouse gas emissions. Features such as heat pump technology, effective insulation, high-quality window glazing, and solar panels all contribute towards net zero targets. At CPW, we align with the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard which offers technical details on how to define a net zero carbon building.
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Embodied carbon refers to the carbon emissions produced when a building is in construction, being refurbished or at end-of-life deconstruction or demolition. This includes everything from the production and transport of materials to the energy efficiency of the construction techniques used. Operational carbon refers to the carbon emissions produced while the building is in use, such as through heating and cooling, ventilation, lighting and general energy usage. Together, we refer to these emissions as the whole life carbon of a building.
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A whole life carbon analysis allows clients to estimate the amount of carbon produced throughout the life cycle of a building, from cradle-to-cradle. This helps to measure and manage emissions. A whole life carbon analysis may be necessary to meet standards and certifications.