Building the Future: A Guide to Net Zero Construction

Making up nearly 40% of total carbon emissions worldwide, the construction industry is one of the largest contributors to CO₂ pollution.

From decarbonising vehicles – the cranes, lorries, and excavators that are instrumental to construction – to implementing sustainable building codes, from BREEAM to LEED, the construction industry must leverage a variety of approaches to achieve Net Zero.

At CFP Energy, we're committed to helping our clients in construction decarbonise. With over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector, we can help you access biofuels to power your fleet, or help you access green certificates and voluntary carbon credits to reduce your Scope 2 emissions and offset residual carbon from materials and operations.

Contact our team to see how we can help you start decarbonising your business today.

What is a Net Zero Carbon Building?

 A Net Zero Carbon Building is a building that balances the carbon it produces with the carbon it offsets or reduces over its life cycle. The carbon a building produces relates both to embodied carbon - the carbon expended during its construction – and to operational carbon, i.e., the energy used to provide lighting, heating and cooling.

Launched in 2024, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard sets out a clear and unified definition that builders and developers must follow. Aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, keeping the UK on track for Net Zero by 2050, the new standard will provide the framework for Net Zero compliance within construction.

A key component of reducing operational carbon is ensuring that off-site energy used to meet Net Zero construction targets comes from a credible, traceable renewable source, such as  Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

Principles for Achieving Net Zero Construction

To achieve Net Zero Construction, there are a number of core principles to follow.

1. Prioritising energy efficiency in design

From planning to execution, a Net Zero building should include key features such as energy-efficient windows (i.e. triple-glazed or gas-filled windows), or advanced HVAC systems, such as variable refrigerant flow, smart thermostats and heat pumps.

2. Selecting sustainable building materials

To ensure carbon is kept to a minimum, sustainable building materials are also essential. These include high thermal performance Insulation, such as mineral wool, recycled steel, to ensure minimum energy expenditure in material fabrication, and cross-laminated timber, which reduces embodied carbon by storing CO₂.

3. Integration of renewable energy sources

The harnessing of renewable energy is another way of achieving Net Zero. This includes photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity, or thermal systems, such as solar thermal collectors, to heat water. Alternatively, by outsourcing renewable energy, e.g., via renewable energy certificates (RECs), CO₂ emissions can be reduced further.

Net Zero Construction: Overcoming the Challenges

Prohibitive Initial Costs

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has found that the initial construction cost of Net Zero Energy Buildings is typically 5–10% higher than conventional buildings. Equipment, such as heat pumps, energy recovery ventilators (ERVs), and smart controls, is more costly than traditional systems. The initial outlay for these systems may take some years to recoup before starting to see financial savings.

Retrofitting Existing Buildings

Retrofitting buildings, particularly historic buildings, can be expensive where comprehensive upgrades, like facade restoration, are required. As a result, developers can often be hesitant to refit existing buildings to achieve Net Zero, especially when it comes to modern structures that can often be cheaper to demolish and rebuild.

Higher-performance building envelope

A high-performance building envelope – often featuring air-tight construction and advanced insulation – often suffer from longer lead times and higher upfront costs. In addition, specialist materials like high-R insulation, or advanced window systems may have limited suppliers, leading to potential supply disruptions and price volatility.

Net Zero Carbon Buildings: The Role of Standards and Verification 

To ensure low carbon design and operational energy efficiency, several standards exist to guide and regulate the construction and ongoing functionality of new buildings.

The most common Net Zero construction frameworks, at present, are BREEAM, LEED, and the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)

Developed in the UK in 1990, BREEAM has grown to become a global standard in sustainable construction, with 87 countries, covering Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, using the code as their designated Net Zero building standard.

Ranging from pass to outstanding, the criteria for BREEAM certification involves key factors like energy use, air quality, accessibility, waste, land use and ecology.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

Rated on a 4-stage banding, from ‘certified’ to ‘platinum’, LEED is a US-based building code that encourages and incentivises green practices in operation and design. The code, as distinct from BREEAM, focuses on performance-based outcomes rather than prescriptive measures. For instance, metrics like Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and water use reduction are tracked to ensure energy efficiency throughout a building’s life cycle.

UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS)

Implemented in 2024, the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard sets out to bring previous sustainability construction codes in line with the nation’s 1.5 degree-aligned carbon and energy budgets, making it compatible with the RICS Professional Standard – Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment, a standard that covers embodied carbon, operational carbon, and uniquely, user carbon.

Green Practice Building Standards Compared 

Net Zero Carbon Buildings: The Future of Sustainable Construction

The role of green practice building codes has become well established over the past few decades, and with countries across the world pledging their support for Net Zero climate targets, the importance of sustainable building codes doesn’t look set to cool any time soon.

At CFP Energy, we’re market leaders in procuring and advising on renewable energy throughout Europe and beyond. We can help you access biofuels to power your fleet or access green certificates and voluntary carbon credits to reduce your Scope 2 emissions. 

Contact one of our carbon specialists today to discuss your decarbonisation strategy.