As the UK edges closer to its net zero commitments, decarbonising the built environment has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges we face. Construction and building operations account for a significant share of national carbon emissions, and without decisive action, the sector will continue to undermine the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Technical and Financial Challenges
While the ambition is clear, the path to decarbonisation is complex. One of the primary technical challenges is the industry’s reliance on carbon-intensive materials—chief among them, concrete. Concrete alone accounts for around 1.5% of the UK’s total emissions, largely due to the production of cement, its key ingredient. Reducing this dependency without compromising structural integrity or cost-effectiveness is a difficult balancing act.
Financially, the challenge is equally stark. Low-carbon alternatives often carry a premium, and innovative materials or processes can present upfront costs that are difficult for developers to absorb, particularly in a market where margins are already tight. Furthermore, fragmented supply chains, outdated procurement practices, and slow-moving regulatory frameworks have all hampered progress.
Yet these hurdles cannot be excuses for inaction.
The Role of House Builders
Large, volume house builders, as well as independent and smaller developers, must shoulder responsibility. Sustainability cannot be left to flagship commercial developments or luxury housing alone. Every home built in the UK has an environmental footprint, and traditional house builders must play their part in minimising it.
Adopting new practices requires commitment and collaboration across the sector, from designers and architects to contractors and suppliers. Reusing materials—whether steelwork, timber, or concrete elements—can dramatically reduce embodied carbon, while careful material selection at the design stage can lock in long-term savings and environmental benefits.
Solutions: Rethinking Concrete
Concrete will remain a core building material, but its use must evolve. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has put forward several practical recommendations to help drive change:
A national carbon rating system for concrete, similar to the EPC system for homes, making carbon data transparent and comparable across projects.
Reducing the cement content in concrete mixes, especially by adopting materials like limestone and calcined clays, which can help reduce emissions as traditional supplementary materials such as fly ash and blast furnace slag become scarcer.
Design-led reductions in concrete use, ensuring that buildings and infrastructure are designed to use less material, or selecting lower-carbon alternatives wherever possible.
Greater collaboration across the supply chain, supported by modernised standards and specifications that enable the wider use of low-carbon options.
Design Stage Opportunities and Challenges
The design phase, particularly RIBA Stages 3 and 4, is critical for embedding sustainability into a project. It’s during these stages that project teams can identify energy-efficient materials, specify HVAC systems that minimise operational energy use, and incorporate passive design measures such as natural ventilation, solar shading and high-performance insulation.
Thoughtful design at this point can also allow for the use of demountable materials, making future reuse or adaptation easier and reducing waste. While renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics and heat pumps, can play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, they are not without challenges. Renewables often involve significant upfront costs, rely on suitable site conditions, and require ongoing maintenance. They should be seen as a complement to good design, not a substitute for it. Reducing demand through efficiency and smart material choices must come first.
A Sector-Wide Responsibility
Decarbonisation will not be achieved by a handful of high-profile projects or sustainability champions. It will require every player—big and small, private and public—to reassess their approach, invest in new skills, and embrace innovation.
The built environment shapes how we live, work, and connect. It’s time that it also helps shape a sustainable future.