The Future Homes Hub's latest publication shows that the "timber/masonry" discussion is merely an irrelevance.
Builders are exploring a range of designs that can meet the expected Future Homes Standard and want to understand the impact of the embodied carbon as well as operational carbon of their homes - the whole life carbon.
By comparing different, but common house types and designs, the new report calculates their embodied carbon, showing the importance of bespoke calculations and the over-simplification of focussing just on the material choice of the structural walls.
Since the publication of the FHS consultation in December 2023, developers have been working to identify likely specifications that will enable their house types to achieve the anticipated Part L (operational carbon) requirements cost effectively and to be delivered at scale. A Hub working group of developers and whole life carbon experts identified three examples of fabric and services specifications being considered.
Building upon the foundation laid by the Hub’s "Ready for Zero" report in February 2023, which focused on operational carbon, this new study takes some of the same dwelling archetypes (end-terrace, mid-terrace, and detached houses) and addresses the previously out of scope question of embodied carbon.
It draws on the experience of a Hub working group of developers and whole life carbon experts to identify three examples of fabric and services specifications being considered and analyses the embodied and whole life carbon of each option.
Embodied carbon modelling was carried out using the One Click LCA software, a widely used commercial software tool among housing developers for carrying out Whole Life Carbon Assessments, and Operational carbon modelled using SAP 10.2, the current version for Building Regulations Part L 2021 compliance.
Adam Graveley, Head of Technical and Innovation for the Hub said: "Understanding whole life carbon is a crucial next step if we are to meet our net zero carbon ambitions as a sector.
“At this natural time of change, as homebuilders and designers update their house types to meet the Future Homes Standard, there is an opportunity to also consider the up front and life cycle impact of embodied carbon.
“This report supports those developers who are asking the next question: How do we build homes that both meet the Part L regulations and reduce the embodied carbon impact to support the transition to net zero?
“We encourage developers to utilise the insights from this report and engage with our Whole Life Carbon Assessment Tool to further refine their designs."
Key findings from the report:
- Future Homes Standard Implications: Fabric specification options being considered by homebuilders to meet the operational carbon performance of the FHS have broadly similar upfront and whole life embodied carbon impacts.
- No "Silver Bullet" Solution: Reducing embodied carbon requires a multifaceted approach. Whilst there are design / construction-system opportunities to reduce embodied carbon, the report concludes that decarbonisation of construction products will need to play a significant role.
- Tool Validation: The Hub’s Future Homes Carbon Assessment Tool, which estimates whole life carbon impacts based on a simplified elemental approach, demonstrated good alignment with a commercial tool, One Click LCA for fabric aspects, offering an entry point for smaller developers or those without the resource to do detailed modelling. The Hub’s tool is an excellent entry point for smaller developers, and for those who are starting their journey into whole life carbon assessments.
The full report is available for download here.
To further discuss the findings and implications of this report, the Hub are hosting a webinar on Friday 28th March at 1pm, as part of their Lunch & Learn webinar series.
This session will provide an opportunity for industry professionals to engage with homebuilders and gain deeper insights into the report's key findings and practical applications. Register for the webinar at: Future Homes Hub Webinars
