Debunking Whole Life Zero Carbon to create truly sustainable, beautiful homes
What is Whole Life Zero Carbon?
What is Whole Life Zero Carbon? Studio Bark’s Simple Explainer
In the climate emergency it is now more important than ever to design and build truly environmental architecture. Greenwash within the profession is everywhere - but so is complex jargon and well-meaning misunderstandings.
That’s why we’ve put together this simple explainer - to cut through the noise and help build the way to a net zero future.
How is carbon measured?
There are different units for measuring carbon, and so CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) is used as a standardised unit across the whole build process, from raw materials to inhabiting the building. In the profession, ‘carbon’ can be used as a shorthand to describe the technical term of CO2e.
What do we mean by carbon in buildings?
The carbon in buildings is defined as either operational or embodied carbon.
Operational carbon
Operational carbon is used in the day to day running of a building. For example, heating and lighting, cooking, and appliance use.
Embodied carbon
Embodied carbon is used to produce materials and components, transport them to site, and construct the building; both in the initial construction and during maintenance, replacement, and demolition.
Whole life zero carbon in practice
So, how do you actually measure the total carbon impact of a house? Let’s look at an example.
A new house is built in a field.
There is the carbon impact (measured in CO2e) of building the house (embodied), and also in the energy used to power and heat the home after it’s completion (operational).
After 20 years, the house might need a new kitchen, which also adds to the embodied carbon impact over the lifecycle of the house. (Note: The ‘lifecycle’ of a house is commonly measured as a 60 year period).
The carbon impact will be the sum of embodied and operational carbon, accounting for any carbon offsets (see below). This is a broad brush approach that while not perfect, allows us to compare the carbon impact of projects across the industry.
Offsetting
Carbon Offsetting
Given that all buildings will have a carbon impact (ie. moving carbon from the earth into the atmosphere), then carbon offsetting can be considered to re-address the balance. Carbon offsetting can be achieved in many different ways, but for ease we will break it down into two types (off-site and on-site), the latter of which is favourable, but not always possible.
On-Site Offsetting
On many rural sites there is space for tree planting. By planting a number of trees and new hedgerows when a house is built, these trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to offset the building's emissions.
In addition to planting, installing solar panels will generate energy for the house rather than taking it from the national grid, the offsets of which can also be measured in CO2e.
Both tree planting and solar panels contribute to the ‘carbon payback’ of the impact of the building and use of the house. These can also be described as on-site offsetting.
Off-Site Offsetting
Off-site offsetting generally exists as ‘approved’ schemes where you can purchase carbon offsets. For example, these could be in the form of afforestation projects or RECs (Renewable Energy Credits).
In simple terms you invest into off-site projects that will offset your building’s carbon impact.
At Studio Bark we prefer on-site offsetting where possible, as it doesn’t offload the carbon problem elsewhere, and can be more closely monitored.
Net Zero
And what about ‘Net Zero Carbon’?
Net Zero Carbon means that the embodied and operational carbon of a building have been reduced to as close to zero as possible. Any remaining emissions are balanced by an equivalent amount of carbon being offset through measures such as renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvements, and carbon offsetting. This ensures that the building has a minimal net impact on the environment in terms of carbon emissions.
When people talk about Net Zero Carbon, this means reducing the total carbon (CO2e) impact to zero over a building’s life cycle.
Think of it like a set of weighing scales. When the carbon we consume is outweighed by the carbon we ‘drawdown’ and/or offset (through planting and energy generation), this is known as ‘Whole Life Net Zero’.
Finding a sustainable architect
At Studio Bark, we are targeting all of our new builds to be Whole Life Zero Carbon by 2025.
We love to work with like-minded people to create beautiful architecture; and if you bring the enthusiasm for a truly sustainable home, we can help you achieve this.
Get in touch with us on info@studiobark.co.uk or call the studio on (+44) 0207 993 4332.
Greenwashing
What is Greenwash?
Greenwash is when a person or organisation uses misleading information or language to give the impression they are reducing their carbon impact, when in fact their claims are exaggerated or unproven.
The intent may not always be deceitful, however it is very important to counter greenwashing to reduce the noise and confusion around carbon, and to improve the standard of measurement and reporting to achieve real industry-wide Net Zero progress.
What is not Greenwash?
Creating a true whole life net zero proposal through responsible means is a careful and rigorous process. Demonstrating this true balance can look complex - whereas greenwashing may contain buzzwords, inaccuracies and oversimplification to create a neat sustainability story.
Net Zero should apply to the entire building life cycle, both embodied and operational carbon. A building may falsely be described as Net Zero if only the operational carbon has been monitored. This approach could be seen as wilfully skewing the overall narrative of a project in order to make it fit a Net Zero narrative.
Helping you understand greenwash
At Studio Bark we believe our role as architects and activists is to ensure we use terminology accurately, and that people understand the terminology we use. Rigorous environmental principles should encapsulate every element of design, from materials, biodiversity, form, energy, and landscape.
To help you see through greenwashing and make sure your project is truly sustainable, we’ve put together our top tips for spotting greenwashing:
TOP TIPS FOR SPOTTING GREENWASHING:
- Check the materials. Projects that use large amounts of glass, steel or newly produced brick tend to have a higher embodied carbon impact.
- Is there offsetting? Operational and Embodied carbon need to be balanced with on-site tree planting and energy generation to tip the scales in favour of taking in more carbon than a home produces.
- Ask questions. It can be hard to know what is greenwash and what is real - don’t be afraid to ask more questions if you don’t understand certain phrases or buzzwords.
Studio Bark has a wealth of experience navigating complex planning obstacles and processes. We know it is very important to communicate carbon impacts clearly to decision makers to avoid confusion and ensure the success of each project. Using and communicating these principles gets us up in the morning, and we pride ourselves on our expertise, being recognised as BD’s Sustainability Architect of the Year in 2018.
We love to work with like-minded people to create beautiful architecture; and if you bring the enthusiasm for a truly sustainable home, we can help you achieve this. Get in touch with us on info@studiobark.co.uk or call the studio on (+44) 0207 993 4332.
Projects
Breach House
Breach House is a Paragraph 84 exceptional environmental home in Leicestershire. The family home was inspired by the prevalence of rivers, brooks, and drainage channels in the immediate surroundings.
The proposal is informed by detailed analysis of setting and landscape, bringing significant enhancement to an ecologically-degraded agricultural site. These measures achieve an exceptional biodiversity net gain of 60%+ while providing on-site carbon drawdown and natural flood water management.
See ProjectNest House
Nest House is a single storey accessible home, designed to cater to the client’s long term physical needs, while accomplishing a low carbon footprint. It was constructed using Studio Bark’s modular and dismantlable U-Build system, having a light footprint on the land and maximising views of the surrounding countryside.
The fully accessible home is free of concrete and steel and instead uses reclaimed timber foundations, and timber roof and floor beams designed by U-Build and Structure Workshop. These design decisions, alongside many others, have created a ‘circular‘ home which is fully demountable at the end of its useful life.
See Project
Cliff Farm
Cliff Farm is a rural home designed to house three generations under one roof. The concept was developed to meet the needs of the family in the short and long term, while local natural materials have been chosen to help bed the home into its natural surroundings. Cliff Farm was granted planning permission under Paragraph 84 of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).
Our studies suggest that the carbon 'break-even point' at Cliff Farm is around 6 years, after which the accruing benefit of carbon capture by planted trees will bring a net beneficial impact for the remaining lifespan of Cliff House. As such Cliff House contributes beneficially to Forest of Dean District Councils aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
See ProjectThatch House
Thatch House is a family home inspired by the traditional thatch houses of Dorset. As guardians of the beautiful site in rural Dorset, the client aspired to create a home using only local materials where possible.
The home is rooted in low energy design that surpasses all the current RIBA benchmarks by a significant margin. Extensive analysis was undertaken of both embodied and operational carbon to ensure that the home limits its carbon impact over its life cycle. The study concluded that the home would achieve Whole Life Zero Carbon within approximately 47 years.
See Project
Glossary
Whole Life Zero Carbon: Glossary
Operational Carbon
The carbon used in the day to day running of a house, from heating and lighting, to cooking and using appliances
Embodied Carbon
The carbon used to produce materials and components, transport them to site and construct the building, both initially and in any maintenance
Solar House
A house that uses solar power as part of its design and energy strategy
Climate Emergency Declaration
An action taken by governments and scientists to acknowledge humanity is in a climate crisis
Energy Modelling
The process of using computer systems to analyse the energy systems of a proposal
Carbon Drawdown
The process of capturing carbon from the atmosphere and locking it away, in this instance through tree planting
Whole Life Zero Carbon
When the carbon emissions resulting from the materials, construction and the use of a building over its entire lifecycle are less than the carbon drawndown
