Description
The UK must urgently adopt low-energy design principles and strategic carbon reduction methods to meet legally binding net-zero targets for housing, while addressing affordability, energy use, and the limitations of current building stock.
Key Points:
- High Carbon Footprint from Buildings: The UK’s residential sector is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions due to poor insulation and inefficient energy systems.
- Strategies for Net-Zero: Decarbonisation involves addressing both operational and embodied carbon through passive design, off-site construction, and renewable energy integration.
- Retrofitting & Regulation: Updates to building regulations, innovative retrofit approaches, and region-specific planning policies play a key role in achieving net-zero, especially in existing or occupied housing.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the environmental and legal drivers behind the UK’s push for low-energy, net-zero housing and the significance of the Climate Change Act and 2050 targets.
- Learn practical strategies for new builds and retrofits, including passive house standards, energy use intensity metrics, heat pumps, and airtight design.
- Evaluate the role of emerging regulations, whole-life carbon planning, and community-focused innovations in guiding sustainable and affordable housing developments.
