Publications
26.04.22 Circular Economy 1-pager
LETI's one page summary from the Circular Economy Workstream provides a definition and explanation of what circularity in a built environment context comprises, a circular strategies hierarchy, primary actions for the built environment industry to prioritise, and suggests key circularity metrics for professionals to test. The summary also references the relationship between circularity and whole life carbon reductions which requires further attention.
07.04.22 LETI-CIBSE Net Zero FAQs
Previous LETI publications provide guidance on how to define good, when it comes to new buildings and retrofit of homes. But what does this mean in the context of ‘net zero carbon’? This guidance from LETI and CIBSE builds on the WLCN-LETI carbon definitions to try to make sure that the definitions are applied consistently and robustly in as many real-life situations are possible.
21.10.21 Climate Emergency Retrofit Guide
This guide shows how we can retrofit our homes to make them fit for the future and support the UK’s Net Zero targets. We define energy use targets for existing homes and provide practical guidance on how to achieve them. The guide is useful for architects, engineers, Local Authorities, social landlords, energy professionals, contractors and clients looking for guidance about best practice retrofit.
11.08.21 Client Guide for Net Zero Carbon Buildings
As our global community struggles to keep up with their growing climate commitments, the LETI Client Guide for Net Zero Carbon Buildings will help all construction clients navigate their way through a rapidly changing construction industry. It pulls together key details from numerous LETI documents and publications, which cover the ways in which briefing, designing, procuring, constructing, occupying, managing and valuing buildings must change.
→ Download the Client Guide for Net Zero Carbon Buildings here
27.05.21 Whole Life Carbon One Pager
We must urgently reduce carbon emissions. Whole Life Carbon analysis is the only approach that allows the emissions of a project to be considered holistically over its lifespan. This 1-page summary illustrates the concept of Whole Life Carbon with graphics that explain the measurement scopes, key terminology, an example building cycle and guidance on reducing emissions.
27.05.21 Embodied Carbon One Pager
Embodied Carbon is an increasingly large component of Whole Life Carbon. Following the release of the Embodied Carbon Primer, this 1-page summary introduces the concept of the Embodied Carbon cycle as well as a clear definition. It is shown together with key methods of reducing emissions that can be embedded into a project strategy and taken through to consideration of building elements. The one pager also communicates the importance of Circular Economy principles.
27.05.21 Embodied Carbon Target Alignment
A key issue the industry faces when setting and using Embodied Carbon targets is the lack of consistent measurement, leading to mis-aligned benchmarks, project targets and claims. This document has been produced to standardise performance and reporting scopes to meet IPCC recommendations for urgent emissions reductions. The paper sets out a rating system that can be used to track the urgent performance improvements needed from now until 2030. These targets align both RIBA and LETI embodied carbon targets
10.02.21 Hydrogen: a decarbonisation route for heat in buildings?
Hydrogen as a means to deliver energy is often touted as a viable solution to assist in meeting the UK’s net zero carbon target. This has a major influence on the need, or otherwise, to enhance new-build energy efficiency and the energy retrofit of our existing stock. Why enhance our buildings if the current use of natural gas can be simply switched to zero-carbon hydrogen? In this short discussion paper, LETI have sought to investigate this further, examining to what extent hydrogen is likely to be used.
27.01.20 Climate Emergency Design Guide
We are in a climate emergency and urgently need to reduce carbon emissions. This guide outlines the requirements of new buildings to ensure our climate change targets are met. A definitive journey is set out, beyond climate emergency declarations, into a net zero carbon future. It is specifically aimed towards developers/landowners, designers, policy makers and the supply chain. The guide aims to help to define ‘good’ and to set clear and achievable targets.
27.01.20 Embodied Carbon Primer
This Embodied Carbon Primer offers supplementary guidance to the Climate Emergency Design Guide for those interested in exploring embodied carbon in more detail. There is currently a lack of knowledge in the built environment industry surrounding embodied carbon reduction strategies and calculations. Therefore, the London Energy Transformation Initiative has produced this document to support project teams in designing buildings that deliver ambitious embodied carbon reductions.
16.12.19 Net Zero One Pager
Industry consensus has been established on the key features of Net Zero Operational Carbon buildings. This new 1-page summary was launched by the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) on 16.12.19 at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. It is the result of a very successful industry consultation with more than 330 responses and has been developed in collaboration with the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and the Better Building Partnership (BBP).
14.03.19 Consultation on a Definition for Net Zero Carbon
In order to meet our climate change targets all new buildings need to operate at net zero carbon by 2030 with all buildings operating at net zero carbon by 2050. In order for the above statement to be implemented, a robust definition of what net zero carbon means for buildings in the UK needs to be developed. LETI has received feedback from 140 built environment professionals from 78 organisations through an online survey and through a workshop. The findings are summarised in this document.
14.02.18 Draft London Plan Consultation Response
The third ‘Getting to Zero’ publication gets into the detail of LETI’s response to the London Plan consultation. The GLA invited LETI to host a consultation workshop for the London Plan focusing on zero carbon, energy monitoring, the heating hierarchy, demand management and embodied carbon. The report provides feedback on the wording of the polices, suggestions for Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) content and advice for the GLA to help support the policy implementation at borough level.
20.09.17 Proposals for Energy Policy
The second ‘Getting to Zero’ publication outlines the London Energy Transformation Initiative proposals for energy policy. This is a summary of the second phase of the London Energy Transformation Initiative and includes the 4 working group reports on Data Disclosure, New Performance Metrics For Better Outcomes, Decarbonising Energy & Heat and Delivery Mechanisms.
03.07.17 Developing Policy for a Net Zero Capital
The first ‘Getting to Zero’ publication is a summary report of the ‘Let fix London’s broken energy policy’ workshop that was facilitated and organised by Elementa Consulting. This report summarises the outcomes of the workshop and outlines next steps towards developing policy that can enable London to become a Zero Emissions Capital.
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