Along with many other cities around the world, London has committed to ensure all buildings in the capital are “net zero-carbon” by the year 2050.
What is “Net Zero-Carbon”?
A zero carbon building is a building with zero net energy consumption or zero net carbon emissions on an annual basis.
To achieve this, there will be a move towards new planning and the way buildings are constructed. For a building to be Net Zero-Carbon it must be extremely energy efficient, and it must make use of renewable energy sources to fulfil their energy needs.
London has already placed a significant amount of focus on cleaner air. In a few recent articles we have talked about how the Mayor of London has called for more powers for the capital to clean up toxic air in the city, which among many things include tighter limits for wood-burning stoves, and to create zones where the burning of solid fuels is forbidden.
We used this media coverage as a platform to highlight the real polluting issues around the burning of wood, which is the use of open fires – not high efficiency stoves.
High efficiency stoves could actually play a part in this Net Zero-Carbon focus, as burning wood correctly is virtually carbon neutral, which you can read more about in this article.
The Mayor of London on Net Zero-Carbon
Sadiq Khan has said the global strategy, which builds on other plans to limit carbon emissions will be targeting homes and workplaces alike. This will also be extended to all the new buildings in the capital from 2019 onwards.
London, along with other cities taking part in this Net Zero-Carbon will need to create support programmes and incentives to make sure standards are met. London will need to work alongside the UK government and local bodies to bring about the latest environmental aims as part of the World Green Building Councils Net Zero-Carbon Building Commitment for Business, Cities, States and Regions.
London has already committed to try and realise these building commitments along with 18 other cities around the world.
Who are the World Green Building Council?
According to their website:
“The World Green Building Council is a global network of Green Building Councils, which is transforming the places we live, work, play, heal and learn.
We believe green buildings can and must be at the centre of our lives. Our changing climate means we must reshape the way we grow and build, enabling people to thrive both today and tomorrow.”
In Conclusion:
Commitment and work is essential to ensure London meets it’s objectives and becomes Net Zero-Carbon by 2050. This date seems such an incredibly long way off. However, it’s as close to us on a year-on-year perspective as 1986, which on reflection was not actually that long ago after all.
