Building for a Greener Tomorrow: BREEAM & Net Zero Carbon

The race against climate change is officially underway. With the construction industry contributing to 38% of global greenhouse gas emissions, we must act fast to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To avoid exceeding this threshold, the 2010 global net carbon emissions must be halved by the time we reach 2030, and subsequently measure zero by 2050. 

By providing a robust framework that helps to minimise CO2 emissions throughout a building’s entire lifecycle, BREEAM plays a pivotal part in enabling the built environment to achieve net zero carbon. In today’s blog, we explore the relationship between BREEAM and net zero carbon, and offer practical solutions to help your building attain net zero status. 

How do buildings contribute to climate change?

Buildings are a key contributor to climate change, thanks to the extortionate amounts of energy they consume. The fossil fuels that buildings rely on for heating, cooling and lighting produce substantial greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide. The construction process itself also generates harmful amounts of carbon dioxide. Manufacturing and transporting building materials is extremely energy intensive, and the machinery used in construction operations relies heavily on fossil fuels. By releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we are causing global temperatures to rise, which poses a significant threat to human health.

What is a net zero building?

“The term net zero is important because – for CO2 at least – this is the state at which global warming stops” – Net Zero Climate

‘Net zero’ means one thing being balanced out by another. Achieving net zero in this context means that the harmful greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal out of the atmosphere. Therefore, a net zero building would produce as much energy as it consumes on an annual basis. 

How BREEAM can help your building achieve net zero carbon

Assessing Whole Life Carbon

To achieve net zero carbon, developers must consider the carbon dioxide generated throughout their building’s entire lifecycle (also known as whole life carbon) - from materials and construction through to operational and end-of-life decommissioning. Embodied carbon, i.e. carbon emitted during the construction of a building, can be difficult to measure – but it is a vital consideration for net zero carbon buildings. 

However, BREEAM’s assessment methodology does take embodied carbon into account, and rewards buildings that achieve lower whole life carbon. Projects can gain valuable BREEAM Mat 01 credits by conducting a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), which measures a building's embodied and operational carbon emissions by taking factors such as energy use, material sourcing, and waste generation into account.  

Reduced Embodied Carbon Emissions

As stated above, BREEAM rewards buildings that generate lower embodied carbon emissions, with around 50% of overall credits being focused on reducing carbon emissions throughout a building’s lifecycle. By utilising sustainable materials such as low-carbon concrete and solid wood, and retrofitting buildings instead of demolishing them, you can greatly reduce your building’s embodied carbon emissions. Projects that demonstrate significant carbon emission reductions are more likely to achieve a higher BREEAM rating and attain their net zero targets.

Lower Operational Carbon Emissions 

Operational carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions generated during a building’s use. One of the main ways to lower your building’s operational carbon is to reduce its energy consumption. BREEAM provides a clear framework to measure the energy rating of your building, and encourages the use of energy-efficient design, efficient heating and cooling systems, and renewable energy generation measures. By minimising your building’s operational energy use, you are helping to contribute towards a greener future in construction, in which net zero buildings are the standard.

The future of BREEAM and net zero carbon

Version 7 of BREEAM is set to be published later in 2025. According to BREEAM, “version 7 … is focused on updating energy and carbon, by balancing aspiration and implementation, and supporting the introduction of new opportunities wherever clients are on their net zero carbon and sustainability journey.”

BREEAM v7 will place an even greater emphasis on carbon reporting and management, providing a more detailed understanding of a building’s carbon footprint over its entire lifecycle. Operational and embodied carbon reduction will become a critical concern for new developments, and we can expect to see updated energy credits that will better reflect the government’s net zero goals. There will be stricter requirements for measuring and reducing emissions to align with established frameworks such as CIBSE TM54 and NABERS UK.

Guiding your project toward a more sustainable future 

Here at Encon Associates, we are passionate about mitigating the effects of global warming in the built environment. We truly believe that obtaining BREEAM certification is much more than just a tick-box exercise; it’s a way to highlight your dedication to combatting climate change and ensure a more sustainable future for all. 

If you need any help with attaining BREEAM or net zero carbon for your building project,  please get in touch with one of our experienced BREEAM Assessors today. Together, we can help you construct net zero carbon buildings that are fit for the future.