1-Year Reflection on the NHS Net Zero Carbon Coordinator Role
As we mark one year since the introduction of the NHS Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Coordinator role, we take a moment to reflect on the milestones achieved, the challenges encountered, and the exciting future that lies ahead. Our Associate, Amy Clutterbuck, has embraced this pivotal role, championing sustainability within healthcare estates and leading the charge toward decarbonisation.
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First introduced in October 2023, the NHS Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Coordinator is a fresh role. Tasked with ensuring compliance with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard which is a comprehensive framework aimed at reducing carbon emissions in NHS healthcare facilities. The role encompasses two primary compliance requirements: operational carbon and embodied carbon. Each project demands meticulous attention to detail, as benchmarks vary based on building size and functionality.
Operational carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions produced by a building’s energy consumption while it is in use. In contrast, embodied carbon accounts for the emissions associated with the materials and construction processes involved in building development, it’s repair and maintenance in use and the break down and disposal of those materials at the end of the building’s life. To measure and report on these aspects, the NHS provides specific tools that guide coordinators in assessing and optimising energy use and material sustainability.
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1. Utilising NHS Tools for Compliance: The NHS Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Coordinator can use NHS-provided tools to assess energy performance and embodied carbon benchmarks for buildings, ensuring designs comply with strict operational and embodied carbon standards.
This process starts with categorising building spaces, allowing specific energy, system, and embodied carbon targets to be set. Spaces that are excluded from the overall building energy target (such as ultra-high-tech areas) will have their own specific targets, such as Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) and Specific Fan Power (SFP). Additionally, there are targets for factors like Air Permeability and U-values.
2. Collaboration Across Teams: The nature of the role requires collaboration with various teams, including engineers and designers. It’s crucial to integrate insights across different teams, to ensure that projects not only comply with the Net Zero requirements but also promote innovative sustainable design throughout the RIBA stages.
3. Monitoring Trends and Regulations: As the healthcare sector evolves, so too do the regulations and guidelines surrounding sustainability. It’s important to keep a finger on the pulse of emerging trends and changes in legislation. At CPW it’s critical, when it comes to ensuring that we can provide the best guidance possible for our clients.
The Journey So Far
Speaking about the nature of her role, Amy explains:
“It's a thorough process, and it is beneficial for NHS Trusts to have someone advising them in this role on a project, because there’s a lot to it — and if you’ve never really investigated embodied carbon for example, then you might not fully appreciate the various measures that can be taken to reduce it.
“One of the things we look at is categorising space types within healthcare facilities to better understand energy consumption and embodied carbon impacts. By analysing each space — from high-tech areas like MRI rooms to standard meeting rooms — we’re able to ensure that every aspect of the building is optimised for energy efficiency and carbon reduction.”
Reflecting on her first year, Amy has already witnessed a steady progression and evolution in an ever-changing landscape — naturally shaping her role as an NHS Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Coordinator. She notes how critical her work is in providing the right guidance to NHS healthcare estates, especially with mounting pressures to meet decarbonisation targets.
The initial phase involved extensive learning — grasping the complexities of the NHS Net Zero Building Standard and the tools required to implement it effectively.
“Working within the field of sustainability, especially within healthcare estates, keeps me on my toes. Every day brings a new challenge, but that’s what makes the work so rewarding — there’s always something new to learn, and it’s incredibly motivating to see the positive impact we’re making.”
Over the past year, Amy has spearheaded multiple key projects, including the Longton Integrated Care Hub and Leek Moorlands Hospital for the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. These projects highlight our continued commitment to working closely with NHS healthcare organisations to achieve decarbonisation goals.
Collaborating closely with the project teams and using advanced energy modelling techniques, Amy was able to provide valuable insights that helped shape early-stage project designs and operational strategies, helping to contribute to more sustainable healthcare environments.
“Leek Moorlands Hospital was particularly interesting as it was a refurbishment project. Retrofit projects can often be more challenging in comparison to new builds, when it comes to carbon emission reduction. The project team explored modern construction methods, like modular building approaches. Modular construction — like prefabricated bathroom pods for example — can reduce embodied carbon, but we also had to consider operational requirements and emissions."
The team worked closely with structural engineers to explore additional solutions like Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS), a low-embodied carbon alternative to traditional concrete.
"We shifted from virgin concrete to a mix with up to 60% GGBS, reducing the embodied carbon significantly. We also explored façade options and conducted energy modelling comparisons between double and triple glazing to balance embodied carbon and operational savings."
Rewards and Challenges
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Implementing sustainability measures within healthcare estates often can encounter hurdles, particularly around funding and ever-changing regulations. Navigating these challenges requires strategic thinking and cross-team collaboration. One of the biggest rewards for Amy has been the opportunity to continuously learn and grow.
“Despite funding issues and evolving regulations, one of the most fulfilling aspects of this role is how every day brings new challenges. It keeps me adaptable, constantly expanding my knowledge of sustainability practices, and then feeding that knowledge back to our team."
Working in a dynamic space where knowledge, practices, and technologies are advancing rapidly, Amy notes that constant regulatory updates, such as those to the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, are inevitable.
“It’s crucial to have NHS NZC Coordinators on board to enable teams to stay up to date with the latest standards. Ensuring early, close-knit collaboration between all project stakeholders — contractors, architects, engineers — is key to achieving the best results in low-carbon designs and emissions reductions.”
Amy also highlights the internal collaborative nature of the work: "At CPW, there’s a lot of team effort involved, across our M&E engineers and the sustainability team, with support from our UK and India offices. We blend expertise to get the best results."
For healthcare, early engagement is crucial, especially with new requirements being so stringent. For projects to meet the embodied carbon benchmarks, early collaboration allows for necessary adjustments to be made effectively. It’s not only about meeting benchmarks but also about gathering all necessary evidence early enough to secure critical approvals, like the BREEAM Excellent certification for example, ahead of full business case approval.
Emerging Trends
Leading into 2024, new trends are reshaping the path to decarbonisation, not just within healthcare but across the public sector. These changes are naturally expected to help shape and evolve the NHS NZC Coordinator role over the coming years which is why adaptability and resilience are so important.
An emerging key focus is the Circular Economy, which emphasises resource management, waste reduction, and more sustainable construction practices. This is directly tied to Whole Life Carbon assessments, which are increasingly becoming the norm for public sector buildings.
With growing pressure to meet 2050 decarbonisation targets, initiatives like Salix PSDS funding are helping to accelerate the NHS's Net Zero ambitions, prompting healthcare providers to adopt greener practices. The Greater London Authority (GLA), for instance, has set specific Whole Life Carbon requirements, mandating that embodied carbon is reduced through options like different façade and frame materials. These standards push us to innovate and design with sustainability at the forefront.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the healthcare sector is at a pivotal moment, influenced by ongoing political shifts and funding mechanisms. Amy notes a cautious approach among NHS Trusts as they navigate uncertainties, yet there is growing interest in decarbonisation. "More trusts are recognising the importance of sustainability, and I believe demand for NHS Net Zero services will only increase," she says. “Our offerings will likely expand, and more team members are keen to get involved.”
Reflecting on future challenges, there’s a growing focus on refurbishment projects within aging NHS estates, where balancing operational and embodied carbon will be vital.
“The challenge with refurbishment projects is that while the embodied carbon impacts will be lower, operational performance may suffer. Finding the right balance between these elements is where the real work lies.”
As we celebrate Amy's first year as the NHS NZC Coordinator, we acknowledge the vital role she plays in advancing sustainability within healthcare estates. The journey has just begun, but with a dedicated team, innovative projects, and a commitment to compliance, CPW is well-positioned in helping to lead the lead the way in decarbonisation efforts across the NHS.
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