UNSW Sydney has released a free online guide to assist the construction industry achieve net zero in the built environment by 2040
Race to Net Zero Carbon: A Climate Emergency Guide for New and Existing Buildings in Australia is a 40-page guide that details critical information about materials and construction best practices.
“Our guide draws on Australian climate data but has global applicability,” Professor Deo Prasad says, who is lead researcher of the guide.
“This guide provides a deeper level of knowledge on how this sector can rapidly move towards net zero carbon buildings in the short-term. Using science-based evidence and analytics, the guide maps a clear roadmap to achieving net zero by 2040 in the building industry. It goes beyond the aspirational and into the achievable,” he says.
The world’s built environment is responsible for 37 per cent of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia, it is responsible for one-fifth of emissions.
Carbon emissions within the built environment occur across all stages of a building’s life cycle.
“Historically, most professionals have only focussed on reducing the operational carbon footprints of buildings,” Prasad says.
“Operational carbon refers to what is required for the building to run once it is built, like energy use in heating or cooling.”
Operationally carbon-friendly buildings are fully powered from on-site and off-site renewables, which offset the buildings carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, embodied carbon footprints, which are accrued before a building is even constructed, have usually been overlooked by the industry.
“There are significant amounts of emissions embedded in the materials and construction of the building itself and these need to be addressed and offset in order for our built environment to be truly net zero,” Prasad says.
“Our guide goes deeper than just operational offsetting. It illustrates a ‘whole of life’ approach to buildings – considering where building material comes from, how they are transported to the construction site, and so on.”
The best way to minimise the embodied carbon footprint is by retrofitting and reducing materials in use. If that’s not possible, then employing low-carbon materials such as green steel and concrete alternatives during the construction process is best, which is what the guide provides a roadmap for.
The guide also details post-life opportunities for buildings destined to be demolished – creating opportunities to expand the circular economy.
“Buildings don’t have a cradle to grave life cycle,” Prasad says.
“It’s more like cradle to cradle. Materials from demolished buildings can go on to have a future life through recycling and reuse.”
“For example, it’s possible to avoid demolishing old or undesirable buildings as their concrete structures can stay put and the building can be refurbished.
“Timber, aluminium and glass can be reused or recycled somehow into new products.”
The challenge in the building industry right now is to get past one-off cases and move into a mainstream situation where net zero construction is the norm. Prasad hopes the guide will also help Australia position itself as a leader in net zero construction.
“While the global community is aiming for net zero by 2050, the building sector has much greater potential and opportunity to reach net zero operational emissions by 2030 and a 60 per cent reduction in embodied carbon by 2030,” he says.
“These are the goals our guide aims to achieve.
“While our guide details advanced knowledge and research, practical design approaches, and benchmarks and targets for industry to be informed, there is another vital lever required to make net zero possible.
“Governments should mandate net zero construction codes, which will push for best performance to achieve net zero. They should lead by example and ensure all public buildings are net zero carbon and provide subsidies and rebates to incentivise change.”
To download the guide, click here