Partridge to chair development of UK’s first net zero carbon buildings standard

The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard initiative has appointed Related Argent chairman David Partridge as chair of its recently convened governance board.  The initiative is a cross-industry partnership, formed earlier this year to  develop the UK’s first standard for identifying and verifying buildings as net zero carbon. The standard will set out a single, agreed set of performance targets for different asset types and will enable buildings claiming net zero carbon to demonstrate that they meet science-based decarbonisation trajectories.  Partridge, who brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the role, will chair the initiative’s governance board, overseeing the development, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the standard.  “It is a huge honour and responsibility to take on this role at such a critical point in time,” said Partridge. “If the real estate industry and built environment is to seriously address its impact on climate change, a universally adopted net zero carbon buildings standard is absolutely essential.” He added: “This initiative is already backed by all of the leading professional institutions in the sector and my initial main task is to extend its reach to all of the bodies that represent developers, owners, investors, financiers and managers of real estate, as well as the contractors and their supply chain, who build it. “Together we will then have a single industry-backed NZCB standard which can be utilised across the sector and used to approach government, enabling them to measure, verify and account for the built environment’s achievement of net zero targets. The impact this would have on ensuring that the UK achieves its 2035 and 2050 commitments will be game-changing.” Basil Demeroutis, managing partner at FORE Partnership and a UK Green Building Council trustee, said the development of the standard was “absolutely vital if we are to unlock the future delivery of sustainable towns and cities and mitigate climate change”. Better Buildings Partnership chief executive Sarah Ratcliffe added: “The development of a net zero carbon buildings standard is going to require radical collaboration across the whole of the built environment sector. “David’s vast industry experience and commitment to sustainability will prove hugely valuable in coalescing the industry around a single standard for net zero carbon buildings, drawing upon the knowledge and experience of a significant number of organisations and individuals that are already mobilising to deliver this.” The standard will cover both new and existing buildings and will set out performance targets and limits addressing operational energy and embodied carbon emissions to align with the UK’s 2050 net zero target and what’s necessary to deliver a built environment that decarbonises in line with a 1.5°C pathway. It will also cover the procurement of renewable energy and the treatment of residual emissions, including carbon offsetting.    To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@eg.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @EGPropertyNews Image © Louise Haywood-Schiefer