Technical Summary Archives | UKGBC https://ukgbc.org/our-work-types/technical-summary/ The voice of our sustainable built environment Wed, 03 May 2023 10:23:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://ukgbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-UKGBC-favicon-1.png Technical Summary Archives | UKGBC https://ukgbc.org/our-work-types/technical-summary/ 32 32 Biodiversity Net Gain Factsheets https://ukgbc.org/resources/biodiversity-net-gain-factsheets/ Wed, 03 May 2023 08:47:07 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=46766 A series of resources to explain the key concepts of Biodiversity Net Gain to help the built environment comply and exceed Biodiversity Net Gain regulations.

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]]> To make Biodiversity Net Gain as accessible as possible to organisations across the UK’s built environment, UKGBC has published a series of user-friendly factsheets that explain the key concepts.  

This is the first in a wider series of resources designed to help organisations meet – and where possible, go beyond – Biodiversity Net Gain, developed with support and advice from Defra and Natural England. The factsheets are designed to demystify key themes and strategies; and signpost to key resources and support that will support the delivery of BNG.  

Download the Factsheets here

The four Factsheets offer an insight into the key concepts of Biodiversity Net Gain.

Local Nature Recovery Factsheet

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On-site Off-site Proximity Principle Factsheet

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The Mitigation Hierarchy Factsheet

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Using and Contributing to Existing Targets Factsheet

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Resilience & Nature Partners

Our nature work is supported by our Resilience & Nature Partners.

Biodiversity and Environmental Net Gain Project Partners

Our work on Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Gain is generously supported by the following organisations.

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]]> Financing the Built Asset Adaptation Gap: Short Report https://ukgbc.org/resources/financing-the-built-asset-adaptation-gap-short-report/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 17:56:50 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=34766 This report outlines the role of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in adapting built assets to climatic risks and the recommended next steps for the industry

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]]> On the 21st July 2021, UKGBC hosted an event on behalf of the IGNITION project with support from the Environment Agency and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The event brought a range of key financial and built environment stakeholders together to discuss the role of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in adapting built assets to climatic risks. This short report summarises those discussions and sets out the recommended next steps for the industry. 

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At present, the UK’s built assets are inadequately prepared for mounting climatic risks, presenting an ‘adaptation gap’ that must be overcome if communities, businesses, and investments are to be protected in the long term. Ensuring climate resilience requires greater investment in alternative approaches to the design, delivery, and management of our built environment. Prioritising NBS as a means of adaptation can provide positive financial returns on investment, in addition to a broad range of environmental and social co-benefits. However, developing and utilising innovative financial models and mechanisms that can support nature-based investment both at scale and in perpetuity remains challenging.

The overarching ambition of the IGNITION project is to develop feasible and scalable finance models that can effectively translate the benefits of NBS into an attractive investment opportunity for a range of financial stakeholders. The event considered the work and progress of the IGNITION project, discussing its successes and innovations, as well as the persistent complexities that surround financing NBS in practice. The following key issues emerged from the discussions and are developed further within the report: 

  1. The imperative and complexity of quantifying the benefits and value(s) of NBS
  2. The need to utilise increasingly innovative financial models and approaches
  3. The difficulty in ensuring investor confidence (both short and long-term)
  4. Ambiguities associated with the NBS supply chain
  5. The role of regulations and regulators in enabling industry innovation

To find out more about IGNITION and its range of evidence and publications, please visit their website.

IGNITION Partners 

IGNITION Funders 

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]]> Unlocking the barriers to low carbon heat: an industry view https://ukgbc.org/resources/unlocking-the-barriers-to-low-carbon-heat-an-industry-view/ Wed, 23 Sep 2020 11:09:26 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=34739 Following an industry-wide workshop, UKGBC has published recommendations for driving enhanced uptake of low carbon heating solutions.

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]]> UKGBC recently met with the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Minister for Business, Energy & Clean Growth, who asked us about the construction and property sectors’ views as to the barriers to low carbon heat investment, along with possible solutions.

Following that meeting, UKGBC convened an industry-wide workshop to explore these issues in more detail – and this paper presents the findings of that workshop and makes recommendations for driving enhanced uptake of low carbon heating solutions.  The paper has been shared with Minister Kwarteng and relevant officials in BEIS.  It represents UKGBC’s contribution to the long-awaited Heat & Buildings Strategy.

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Unlocking The Barriers To Low Carbon Heat: An Industry View

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]]> Net zero carbon: energy performance targets for offices https://ukgbc.org/resources/net-zero-carbon-energy-performance-targets-for-offices/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 22:11:20 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=34716 UKGBC has published new energy performance targets for commercial offices that are aiming to achieve net zero carbon in operation.

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Following direct engagement with industry and analysis of the projected zero carbon energy capacity of the UK, UKGBC is recommending that the offices sector should reduce energy demand by an average of 60% by 2050 to help the UK achieve net zero.

The targets were developed as an addition to UKGBC’s landmark 2019 report ‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition’, which sets out guidance for buildings seeking to achieve net zero for construction and operational energy. They have been developed in collaboration with Verco, Better Buildings Partnership and BPF, with support from Arup, Carbon Intelligence, JLL UK and TfL.

The new energy targets represent more stretching requirements for commercial offices claiming net zero in operation and set out a trajectory of tightening energy performance requirements over the next fifteen years. Offices seeking zero carbon for operational energy should first meet the energy performance targets, then meet demand as far as possible through renewable energy and finally offset any remaining carbon. This data should then be independently verified and publicly disclosed on an annual basis to demonstrate how the net zero balance has been achieved.

If you have any questions on these targets or would like to provide feedback, please email ANZ@ukgbc.org.

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Summary Report: Energy Performance Targets For Offices

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Technical Report: Energy Performance Targets For Offices

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]]> Circular Economy Research Survey https://ukgbc.org/resources/circular-economy-research-survey/ Fri, 29 Jun 2018 10:45:25 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=34692 As part of our research into the sustainability commitments of Gold Leaf members, we produced a Circular Economy Research Survey surrounding how our members acted around the Circular Economy.

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]]> Our Circular Economy Research Survey document has been compiled by UKGBC using research into the sustainability commitments of Gold Leaf members during 2017 which can be found in the Leading the Way 2018 report. As part of the research, UKGBC interviewed 52 Gold Leaf member organisations and asked them what their organisation was doing around Circular Economy, what the opportunities, barriers and solutions were and finally what more UKGBC could do in this space. This information formed the basis of the UKGBCs Circular Economy programme.

The introductory section in the Circular Economy Research Survey document sets out the importance of circular economy to sustainable businesses and provides some leadership examples both in and out of sector and a section for each built environment sub-sector – clients, advisors, contractors and product manufacturers. For each of these, we set out how each sub-sector within the built environment industry could go about applying circular economy thinking within their businesses and how Gold Leaf members are currently approaching circular economy illustrated with some examples.

Whilst each organisation has a role to play in adapting their business model, this is undoubtedly a topic that requires systemic change with commitment and buy-in from all different players in the sector, partnerships and collaborations across industry sectors, and strong government intervention, both national and international.

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See The Survey Findings

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]]> Regeneration and Retrofit https://ukgbc.org/resources/regeneration-and-retrofit/ Tue, 12 Sep 2017 14:35:49 +0000 https://ukgbc.org/?post_type=resource&p=34655 A task group examining how home retrofit can be used as a catalyst for regenerating low income areas.

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]]> The Government has indicated the importance of transforming low income housing estates through the Estates Regeneration Strategy published in 2016, and this formed an important part of the agenda for improving life chances and ensuring “no one is left behind”. Regeneration often focuses on large scale redevelopment projects, demolishing old estates and rebuilding as high quality communities. But while reconstruction will often be the preferred solution for a particular estate, regenerating the UK’s cities will mean transforming areas where it is impractical or unviable to demolish and rebuild.

These estates will need a different approach to ensure that those who cannot move into a new property can get high quality improvements to their current home. UKGBC’s Regeneration and Retrofit Task Group set out to investigate the regenerative impacts of whole home retrofit and building the business case for retrofit-led regeneration projects in terms of social, economic and environmental benefits. The term retrofit is often used interchangeably with the installation of energy efficiency measures in a property, but to truly transform an estate, regeneration projects will need to take a whole home approach – at scale – which provides tangible outcomes for residents in terms of reduced running costs, improved health and wellbeing, and better safety and security.

The task group examined the ways in which these high quality retrofit-led regeneration projects could be delivered. The group developed proposals for the use of social enterprises to engage residents and offer local employment and apprenticeships in construction, and for overcoming funding barriers through local authority revolving funds which can provide a compelling offer for all households in an area. The intention was to find local authorities and industry partners who could trial such approaches on existing projects.

This work was a direct consequence of a process of co-creation at the UKGBC City Summit in Birmingham in February 2016, where we brought together local authority representatives, the private sector, third sector and academia in a series of structured “breakthrough innovation” workshops. For more information on the Summit, and our wider work on sustainable cities go here.

The following UKGBC member organisations took part in the Task Group:

  • AkzoNobel/Dulux Trade
  • Arup
  • BRE
  • E.ON
  • Haringey Council
  • Clarion Housing Group
  • Linkcity
  • PRP
  • Rockwool
  • Melius Homes
  • SmartKlub

For more information about the regeneration task group, contact Richard.Twinn@ukgbc.org.

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Download Executive Summary

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Download The Full Report

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