Time to Start Thinking About Scope 3 Emissions

The construction sector is highly focused on making buildings more energy-efficient to cut carbon emissions. Absolutely essential – but is it the whole story?

According to the UK Green Building Council, the built environment is directly responsible for 25% of the CO2 the nation emits. ‘Directly responsible’ mostly means emissions resulting from heating and powering buildings and infrastructure.

If you add surface transport to the equation the percentage of CO2 emissions from the built environment rises to 42%. What this illustrates is that a net zero built environment is a complex system that involves more than creating energy-efficient buildings powered by renewables.

The Rising Significance of Scope 3 Emissions

As energy supplies are progressively decarbonised scope 3 emissions will become much more significant. Broadly speaking these are emissions associated with buildings but not directly generated by them. Emissions from repair and maintenance activities would, for example, come under this definition.

Full carbon accounting demands high quality buildings that need minimal maintenance and that are easy to repair, alter or update. The higher quality standards and future-proofing made possible by modern methods of construction will become increasingly significant factors, as will the capability to ‘design for maintenance’.

The entire supply chain and the end-to-end building lifecycle also come into scope when you define net zero to include scope 3 emissions. Procurement rules will need more sophisticated ways to evaluate these factors.

Buildings and Communities

It’s much broader than individual buildings. We also have to consider the bigger picture of ‘place’. If people have most of the amenities they need a short distance away, and can make the majority of journeys by walking or cycling on safe routes, the carbon cost of the development will be lower.

So it’s about what we build and where we build – not just how we build. Osborne is embracing this concept through our vision of creating energy efficient buildings that work for individuals and communities.

For more information about Osborne’s commitment to carbon reduction contact Caroline Compton-James ([email protected]) or visit our resource centre.