CPD with Kingspan: Reaching Net Zero

In short, the concept of Net Zero involves us taking precautions to not add any more to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Since the industrial revolution, we have streamlined the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and Methane, which in turn have increased the global temperature. Not only do we mass produce these greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, farming and adding to landfills, our mass exploitation and destruction of natural habitats, such as forests and peatlands, means that the carbon sinks that evolved to regulate CO2 cannot keep up. The result was the 2015 Paris climate agreement where 197 countries (including the UK) pledged to try and prevent the global temperature from raising 1.5 degrees centigrade by 2100. The IPCC (the UN's climate body) found that in order for this to be accomplished, CO2 emissions need to reduced by nearly 50% before 2030, and achieve net zero before 2050. They state, however, that emissions are still at an all-time high.

Reducing all emissions to true zero is impossible - so in order to effectively achieve 'net' zero, is to actively take it out of the atmosphere. If reducing the use of carbon-productive processes is a preventative measure, then taking it out of the atmosphere is most certainly a remedial measure. Such measures including restoring natural carbon sinks through planting trees and restoring peatlands, in addition to the development of man-made carbon capture technology. The latter option is currently expensive and only neutralises a small portion of emissions produced - while not so effective right now, they could be important in the future. It must be noted, however, that these remedial measures are just supplementary, and are not a replacement for the reduction of fossil fuel use.

Net Zero Carbon in the construction industry can refer to carbon dioxide created during the construction process, the operation of the building, and the demolition of the building. The construction industry and the built environment produces 40% of global carbon emissions, over 30% of global final energy use and consumes nearly half of the world’s natural resources. Net Zero for individuals through construction means improving home insulation and energy efficiency, switching to electric vehicles (which likely means the installation of a charging point at places of residence and work), and replacing gas central heating with electric systems such as heat pumps.

UK's Climate Change targets to reduce emissions per sector by 2035 (in comparison to 1990 levels)
Power: 80-85%
Transport: 47-59%
Industry: 63-76%
Fuel supply & hydrogen: 53-60%
Natural resources: 39-51%
Heat & buildings: 47-62%

Kingspan's route to Net Zero Operational Carbon by 2050 (& delivering buildings that are fit for the future):
• Low energy use
▹ Fabric first approach
▹Space heating demand of <15kWh/m2/yr
▹Total energy use intensity of <35 kWh/m2/year (GIA) for residential
• Low carbon energy supply
▹Energy generation decarbonised
▹Low carbon heat installed
▹On-site renewables maximised
▹Energy demand response and storage installed
• Measurement & verification
▹Annual energy use and renewable generation reported and independently verified annually
• Reduce construction impacts
▹Embodied impact assessed, reduced and verified post-construction
• Zero carbon balance
▹Carbon balance calculation carried out annually to demonstrate a zero carbon balance

Kingspan targets within the scope of the UN's sustainable development goals:
• Energy
▹Maintain net zero energy target
▹Increase direct use of renewable energy to 60% by 2030
▹Increase on-site generation of renewable energy to 20% by 2030
▹Install solar PV systems on all owned facilities by 2030
• Carbon
▹Net zero carbon manufacturing by 2030
▹50% reduction in product co2 intensity from primary supply partners by 2030
▹Zero emission ready company cars by 2025
• Circularity
▹1 billion PET bottles upcycled into manufacturing processes by 2025
▹All QuadcoreTM insulation to utilise upcycled PET by 2025
▹Zero company waste to landfill by 2030
• Water
▹5 active ocean clean-up projects by 2025
▹100 million litres of rainwater harvested by 2030

Presentation Learning outcomes:
• UK 2050 emissions target means significant change for construction
• Properties must have excellent fabric performance and utilise low carbon technologies
• Close attention needed to detailing, airtightness, and ventilation to close performance gap
• Key industry bodies are pushing for in-use monitoring
• Energy retrofits more challenging and costly - should be completed using Retrofit Framework supported with a building passport
• Further government schemes well be needed to drive retrofits

References:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58874518
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
https://www.wbcsd.org/actions/built-environment/
https://ukgbc.org/resources/net-zero-carbon-buildings-framework/