Following
the introduction of the whole life cycle carbon (WLC) assessment in the new
London Plan, UK-based energy and sustainability expert Sustain Quality is
urging construction firms to closely consider the growing importance of life
cycle assessment (LCA) across the wider construction industry.
The
new London Plan, the spatial development strategy for the capital, was rolled
out across Greater London and the 32 London boroughs on 2nd March 2021. One of
the most notable aspects within the strategy was the introduction of WLC
assessments as a requirement for meeting building regulations. This has sparked
a renewed focus on LCA in construction.
LCA
is considered to be a best practice approach for assessing energy requirements
and the environmental impact of a new structure across all stages of the
building’s life. It aims to help architects and developers to better optimise
design and construction for improved efficiency and sustainability.
LCA
typically takes into account aspects including the potential for global
warming, ozone depletion, acidification, and eutrophication, as well as
tropospheric ozone formation, and depletion of non-renewable sources.
The
new London Plan has been launched to directly aid the Government’s mission to
achieve its net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050. According to the
Climate Change Committee, in order to have a chance of meeting this goal, UK
emissions must fall 63% by 2035 from 2019 figures.
Thiago
Vieira Haberli MIEMA CEnv, Sustain Quality Managing Director said, “Not only do
all developments pose carbon emissions and energy and sustainability
challenges, but they do so across every stage of the life cycle, from product
and construction stages to use and demolition. LCA considers the risks at every
stage of a building’s life, and our mission at Sustain Quality is to develop
strategic solutions to these challenges that help to transform the existing
construction industry into a more sustainable, more responsible sector.
It
is becoming increasingly clear that construction must be a firm focal point as
the UK edges closer towards its sustainability goal. According to the UK Green
Building Council, the built environment is currently responsible for 40% of the
country’s total carbon footprint, with building energy usage contributing
around 50% to that figure. While the majority comes from existing structures,
it is estimated that new construction has added 48 MTCO2e.
The
experts at Sustain Quality believe that sustainability must be incorporated
into the initial stages of the design processes, especially as early
stakeholders such as designers and investors have the potential to play such a
significant role in shaping the construction and usage of a building. It’s a
cycle.
This
is a running theme throughout the LCA story, with decisions made at the
resource stage affecting end of life impact, and decisions made at the
construction stage helping to optimise energy efficiency during the usage
stage. Construction is very much a never ending cycle of interconnected
elements which all need to be considered holistically to drive change.
Sustainability
consultancy is anticipated to become a strategic necessity in the new normal as
London firms strive to meet the update regulations, and as regional and
international organisations take measures to prepare for the expected expansion
of LCA requirements across further cities in the future.
To
find out more about Sustain Quality, visit www.sustainquality.co.uk or www.sustainquality.pt
