A new guide, Low Carbon Refurbishment of Buildings, has been published by The Carbon Trust to set out best practice on cutting carbon emissions from non-domestic buildings.

Non-domestic buildings account for about a fifth of UK emissions but the guide says low-carbon refurbishment does not require significant increases in complexity or adoption of
high-risk or unproven technologies.

Although most refurbishments offer opportunities, these are often missed and unnecessary increases in emissions can be the result.
“Building refurbishment offers significant opportunities to cut carbon, but without corporate commitment and a focus on carbon at every stage of the project, the potential benefits can leak away,” says Trust director of innovations Mark Willamson. “Given tightening legislation on energy performance and increasing energy prices, organisations need to put carbon reduction at the heart of their refurbishment plans.”

The guide recommends:-
n securing commitments in a vision statement from the senior team on low-carbon objectives;
n establishing existing carbon footprints and reduction targets;
n consulting occupiers and stakeholders at the outset;
n appointing carbon champions;
n integrating low-carbon design, don’t make it an add-on;
n using whole life costing;
n using high-quality commissioning.

It is structured around a road map for refurbishment, with key intervention points.

u www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications/publicationdetail.htm?productid=CTV038