Practical “how-to” guide released for those adopting UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard embodied carbon aspects

Developed by expert authors from Arup and WSP, the practical “how-to” guide helps building projects align with the Standard – either to achieve full verification, or simply to follow the best procedures for assessment and reporting. 

It focuses on the embodied carbon aspects of the Standard, condensing its information into an easy-to-read format, providing diagrams, useful explanations, tips and tricks, and highlighting important considerations.

The Standard’s aims are to:

• Bring clear, consistent definitions and trajectories for ‘Net Zero Carbon Aligned’ buildings in the UK;
• Avoid greenwashing, by setting clear performance requirements for verification as a ‘Net Zero Carbon Aligned’ building;
• Align building-level actions with national and global carbon budgets;
• Support the industry in tracking and reducing both embodied and operational emissions over time;
• Close the performance gap by measuring as-built and in-use performance of buildings.

The publication UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard: guidance on embodied carbon covers the Pilot rev2 version of the Standard, and should be treated as a Pilot Guide. IStructE intends to release an updated version in Q1 2026, based on Version 1 of the Standard when it is released.

IStructE welcomes feedback on this Pilot Guide which can be sent to ClimateEmergency@istructe.org so it can be considered by the authors ahead of updating and launching Version 1.