The free-to-access voluntary standard has been designed to, for the first time, set a single, agreed methodology for defining what ‘net zero carbon’ means for buildings in the UK. The standard can be downloaded here. It provides a set of consistent rules to create a level playing field around the meaning of net zero carbon. A pilot was launched in September 2024, and this new version retains all of the key elements of that draft, with some technical adjustments. Changes are detailed here.
New annexes include a new section aimed at the office sector. Using a tenant-only or landlord-only route, users can now confirm that their part of a building aligns with the standard, when it is not possible to verify the entire building.
The standard covers both embodied carbon, emitted directly or indirectly as construction takes place, and operational carbon, generated when the building is in use. A second annex, ‘Practical completion on track’, allows users to verify at the practical completion stage that the building will align with the standard.
Katie Clemence-Jackson, CEO of UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, said “The Standard will provide much-needed clarity and consistency to net zero carbon claims, combating greenwashing, and providing a robust definition for the industry to rally towards.
“Version 1 incorporates the feedback from our pilot testing programme, plus new annexes that further support its implementation, all of which will make it easier and clearer to target and implement the standard.
“The publication of Version 1 is an important milestone for the Standard, and paves the way for the UK built environment to understand, measure and reduce its carbon emissions in line with the UK’s climate targets. With verification soon to become available, it’s only a matter of time before the first officially Net Zero Carbon Aligned Buildings are verified, and we can’t wait.”
Celebrating the launch, Will Arnold, one of the authors of the standard, who lead work on the embodied carbon section and developed the ‘practical completion’ section, explained that completing the final version had involved pilot testing on more than 200 projects, and reviewing and incorporating more than 3000 public comments. The work was supported by organisations including Better Buildings Partnership, BRE, CIBSE, The Institution of Structural Engineers, LETI, RIBA, RICS and UK Green Building Council (UKGBC).
In Q2 2026, verification will become available. This will allow users to appoint a verifier, who will be able to robustly confirm that their building is aligned with the standard. The standard is working with Bureau Veritas on a finalised annex that will covet the verification process, and explain how this can be communicated.
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