Introduction This document aims to tool up the UK & Ireland’s higher education professionals, to consider how to influence their universities on the drive toward zero carbon. It focuses on considerations for driving down universities’ carbon emissions through the built environment. It is presented in four sections: Following the introduction and context, the first main section draws together the lessons from the University of London’s Zero Carbon Challenge event. It details the zero carbon interventions that were recommended for five building types, including refurbishments and new builds. It is laid out so it can be incorporated into an invitation to tender to ensure zero carbon approaches are included when universities go to market with capital projects. Section two applies the lessons from the Zero Carbon Challenge event to the University of London, publishing the first iteration of the University’s zero carbon strategy. The strategy has not yet been formally approved, however the University hopes to improve it and adopt it in the coming months. Section three is the yellow pages for zero carbon services. It lists the details and contact information of all the architects, consultants and companies that attended the Zero Carbon Challenge event. Section four lies outside of this document. It is an excel calculator which determines the net present value of carbon reduction interventions. It is intended to help institutions build the business case for achieving zero carbon. While this document has been created for the University of London’s estate, it is intended to be useful for all building owners, developers, architects and designers and we hope will be utilised, added to and improved. The document is publicly available, we only ask that you acknowledge its use and keep us informed of any changes and improvements you make to it. Please contact us at: sustainability@london.ac.uk
Context The Global Challenge In December 2015, the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set out an ambition for the countries of the world to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Despite this, countries have been slow to set science based targets that would meet the ambition of the COP21 Paris Agreement.
Figure 1: Countries Policies Rated Against the COP21 Paris Agreement (climateactiontracker.org)
The Zero Carbon Estates Handbook
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