Net Zero Carbon Buildings
BREEAM provides a framework for asset owners and investors to design and deliver buildings which align with net zero carbon ambitions.
Start your sustainability journeyTo avoid severe impacts of climate change, the international scientific consensus is that we must limit global warming to 1.5°C. Net zero carbon is part of this internationally agreed target for mitigating climate change and limiting global warming. It refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere. To achieve net zero, carbon emissions will need to be reduced as far as possible.
Buildings and the construction sector account for over a third of global emissions.
Achieving net zero in the built environment is therefore essential to mitigate the effects of climate change.
To reduce overall emissions, we need to:
- improve operational energy performance, decrease the carbon footprint of building materials, and minimise the energy used in the construction of buildings
- support decarbonisation of the grid and end onsite combustion of fossil fuels
- construct buildings that will be adaptive and resilient to climate change
BREEAM certification focuses on reducing carbon emissions while improving a building’s energy efficiency throughout its lifecycle, from construction to operation and end-of-life. About 50% of its credits are aimed at these goals. BREEAM Version 7 is the latest update to the BREEAM family of standards. Launched in 2025, it focuses on whole life carbon and energy of new, existing and refurbished buildings.
Whole life carbon: is the combined total of embodied and operational emissions over the whole life cycle of a building. It is key to minimise this before accounting for any “net” removals of carbon.
Minimisation of carbon emissions: Key strategies include accurate measurement of energy use and emissions, surpassing energy performance benchmarks, improving building fabric and services, using on-site renewables, and efficient energy management. BREEAM also emphasises reducing embodied carbon in materials, as well as maximising recycled and reused materials.
- Embodied carbon emissions & BREEAM assessments: Accurately measuring and reporting on embodied carbon is one of the main challenges to achieving net zero carbon buildings. BREEAM assesses embodied carbon and encourages the construction of assets with lower embodied carbon and lower whole life carbon
- Reducing other carbon impacts: BREEAM certification encourages the minimisation of carbon emissions from water use and from refrigerant gases
- Renewable energy and BREEAM assessments: BREEAM recognises and rewards onsite/near-site renewables. It assigns carbon reductions resulting from any renewable electricity that is exported to the grid by the asset, so that assets can become carbon positive if they generate more electricity than they use
Not all buildings are net zero carbon and therefore they need to undergo a transition to meet climate targets. This allows them to continue to meet market expectations and manage risk to value.
BREEAM supports the net zero carbon transition in the built environment, real estate, and associated investments by:
- Taking a whole life carbon approach, minimising carbon emissions in the new development, refurbishment, and operation of assets
- For those buildings that are not already using BREEAM to achieve net zero carbon, BREEAM New Construction V7 now has an exemplary credit encouraging the creation of a net zero carbon transition plan
- For existing buildings, BREEAM In-Use Version 6 includes reporting that provides a clear, science-based view of an asset’s progress towards net zero carbon
- BREEAM New Construction V7 allows for consistent standards across a building’s life-cycle - from construction to ongoing use – to allow tracking of long-term progress towards net zero carbon buildings
Net zero in context
Climate context - Net zero buildings
To avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change, the 2016 Paris Agreement stated that we must limit global warming to 1.5°C. This was re-iterated at COP26, where the Glasgow Climate Pact had countries agree to revisit and strengthen emissions targets for 2030. The Glasgow Climate Pact only keeps 1.5C in sight if countries take concerted and immediate action to deliver on their commitments. Achieving net zero buildings is essential to reaching this target, which means considerable changes in society, the economy and our relationship with the environment, such as:
- High-performance net zero buildings, improving energy efficiency, and reducing energy demand.
- Switching to sustainable mobility including public transport and ultra-low emissions vehicles.
- Reducing land based emissions, and regenerating biodiverse landscapes for nature and climate.
- Utilising the potential for renewable heating and electricity to meet our energy needs.
What is a net zero building?
A net zero building is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year. This is achieved through a combination of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources.
Net zero is the internationally agreed upon goal for mitigating climate change and keeping warming to 1.5 °C. Net zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere.
All definitions of net zero carbon require for reducing emissions before offsetting them. This means reducing carbon emissions, including in-direct embodied carbon known as Scope 3 emissions, prior to offsetting through carbon removals.
Net zero buildings with BREEAM
Minimisation of carbon emissions through BREEAM
BREEAM certification focuses on reducing carbon emissions, while improving buildings energy efficiency with about 50% of its credits aimed at these goals. It promotes sustainability by minimising energy demand and emissions throughout a building's lifecycle, from construction to operation and end-of-life. Key strategies include accurate measurement of energy use and emissions, surpassing energy performance benchmarks, improving building fabric and services, using on-site renewables, and efficient energy management. It also emphasises reducing embodied carbon in materials, maximising recycled and reused materials, and minimising emissions from water use and refrigerant gases. BREEAM is a crucial tool for achieving and demonstrating net zero carbon status.
Embodied carbon emissions & BREEAM assessments
Accurately measuring and reporting on embodied carbon is one of the main challenges faced in achieving net zero carbon buildings. BREEAM assesses embodied carbon and encourages the construction of assets with lower embodied carbon and lower whole life carbon.
BREEAM intends to combine operational and embodied carbon credits into a dedicated carbon category. This will help demonstrate to stakeholders that embodied carbon is fully accounted for in BREEAM and that it needs to be considered alongside operational carbon to achieve an optimum outcome overall. We are developing this through consultation within our net zero carbon technical working group.
Renewable energy and BREEAM assessments
In line with prevailing energy and LCA standards, BREEAM includes onsite/near-site renewables. In addition, most (but not all) standards, including BREEAM, assign carbon reductions resulting from any renewable electricity that is exported to the grid by the asset. Therefore, assets can become carbon positive if they generate more electricity than they use. BREEAM will continue to recognise and reward onsite/near-site renewables.
Net zero in construction and real estate
We are introducing a dedicated module that harnesses your existing BREEAM data as part of an efficient process towards meeting multiple leading standards. The diagram below illustrates how core asset carbon performance data from a BREEAM assessment can be utilised by an organisation aiming for net zero carbon, with the net zero module providing a seamless add-on to fast-track this journey.
Net zero in construction and real estate
To help visualise what the net zero carbon module might look like, the diagram below illustrates how core asset carbon performance data from a BREEAM assessment may be utilised by an organisation wishing to operate an asset as net zero carbon, with the net zero module providing a seamless add on, fast-tracking your journey to net zero carbon.
Train with BREEAM
Train with us to provide built environment sustainability solutions and learn how to support projects in achieving their net zero goals.
The starting point for your sustainability learning journey, this online course introduces climate change, the drivers for achieving net zero carbon, what this means, and how organisations can apply it in practice.
Find out more about net zero carbon foundations training