Written for the Construction Information Service, this excerpt from the NBS Sustainable Specification Guides explores sustainable design and specification as viewed through the lens of UN Sustainability Goals 03, 08 and 11.

This article explores the meaning of net zero and the human impact on greenhouse gas emissions. We also explore how England’s Approved Documents L, F and O can be used together to achieve maximum results when specifying a building’s energy efficiency, ventilation and thermal comfort. The information here may also be helpful when working with related documents from other jurisdictions (Ireland, North Ireland, Scotland and Wales).

Approximately 30% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from buildings, with homes responsible for consuming, on average, 35% of all energy. Of the existing 29 million homes in the UK, 19 million have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating lower than C, and the UK Green Building Council estimates that nearly 29 million homes need to be retrofitted before 2050.