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February 2012

Navigating sustainability in the built environment Report from the UK-GBC Green Building Guidance Task Group

2 www.ukgbc.org Navigating sustainability in the built environment

About this report

This report was sponsored by the following UK Green Building Council members:

UK-GBC would like to thank the following organisations for their contribution to this report:

Aggregate Industries EPR Architects

Arup InterfaceFLOR

Halcrow Group John Lewis Partnership

Aviva Investors LUTRON EA

BAM Construct UK Ltd Marks & Spencer

BBC Morgan Sindall

BRE Savills

Citu Ltd

A number of other organisations contributed towards the research for the Task Group. These

organisations are listed on the Green Building Guidance Task Group page of the UK-GBC website:

www.ukgbc.org

UK-GBC would like to thank all of the Task Group participants for their valuable contributions

found in this document.

© Copyright 2012

UK Green Building Council

UK Green Building Council The Building Centre

26 Store Street

London WC1E 7BT

T: +44 (0)20 7580 0623

E: [email protected]

W: www.ukgbc.org


Contents

About this report 2

Introduction 4

Glossary 4

Task Group Recommendations 5

Part 1 - Researching the evidence base 6 Introduction 6 Objective 6 Lifecycle stages 6 Content 6 Planning 7

Part 2 – Communication 8 Introduction 8

Online platform 8 Availability of the online platform 8 Feedback and ratings 9 User journey 9 Adding information to the online platform 10 Maintaining the information 10 Endorsement 10 Launching the online platform 11

Part 3 – Encouraging action 12 Introduction 12 Member Commitment 12 Proposals for revised member commitment 12 Benchmarking 13 ‘Experts’ 13 Training and education 14 Case studies 14 Business case 14 Identifying barriers 14

Conclusion 16

Appendices 17 Appendix A – Summary Spreadsheet 17 Appendix B – Sub group spreadsheets 24 Appendix C - Case study template 24 Appendix D – Examples of a user journey using the platform 25 Appendix E - Member questions 35 Appendix F – Barriers to progress 35 Appendix G - Adding information to the online platform 36 Appendix H – UK-GBC Member Commitment Proposals 37

4

Introduction

One of the main reasons the UK Green Building Council was established was to facilitate the

sharing of good practice and advice, and to aggregate learning from within the membership so

industry could make demonstrable progress towards a sustainable built environment. It was

hoped that UK-GBC could provide a ‘first-port-of-call’ for any professional, from across the

building lifecycle or value chain, to be directed towards the most useful information appropriate

to the issue they faced.

In practice that has proved a continuous challenge, as the sheer volume of information, tools,

guidance, training courses, products and services all purporting to help create a sustainable built

environment has mushroomed over recent years. In many ways, this is to be welcomed, but for

organisations throughout the construction, products and property sector – whether as providers

or users of those products and services - navigating that landscape has become increasingly

complex.

Where should you go for the best information and advice? How can one product or service be

compared against another? What are the most progressive targets to set? How can ‘greenwash’

be avoided? How can we build the business case for sustainability? What is considered to be a

good or best practice? How can organisations be benchmarked against peers?

In September 2011, UK-GBC established the Green Building Guidance Task Group to tackle these

questions.

Glossary

For ease of reference the following glossary of terminology has been provided:

• Information – tools, guidance, targets, case studies, training and education etc. • Online platform – the means for communicating the ‘information’ to users.

• Summary spreadsheet Appendix A – a summary of the key ‘information’ collated by the sub groups.

• Sub-group spreadsheet Appendix B – the ‘information’ collated by the Task Group by sector which will be signposted to via the ‘platform’.

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Task Group Recommendations

The following recommendations have been drafted based on the proposals from the Task Group:

1. UK-GBC should take forward the development of a publicly available and easily accessible

online ‘platform’ which would enable technical and non-technical practitioners from

organisations (small to large) to be signposted to information that can contribute towards

sustainability within their business at a project, organisation or product level.

2. Information uploaded to the online platform should be maintained and moderated by UK-GBC

with regular review by existing UK-GBC advisory committees.

3. The online platform should not formally endorse, nor should it create new, products or

services, but it should enable practitioners to provide attributable user-feedback and ratings

via a membership-based forum.

4. All information within the online platform should conform to principles around consistent

metrics and standards, open and transparent data and where applicable be third party

verified.

5. The information prepared by the Planning sub-group should be hosted separately on the UK-

GBC website, and be publicly available for use by local authorities and developers, to help

inform local authority plans.

6. UK-GBC experts should be identified from the membership and relevant trade associations,

who can provide advice and guidance on specific topics.

7. The UK-GBC Membership Commitment could be strengthened and options that go beyond the

existing commitment are presented in the full report. One option would see a tiered

approach to the commitment, with sector specific actions for those organisations that wish

to demonstrate leadership. A further option would be to set prescriptive targets based on

best practice.

8. UK-GBC should look to highlight members that are making the most positive steps to drive

sustainability forwards, wherever they are at on their sustainability journey.

9. Barriers to progress, whether gaps in evidence or advice, or market barriers, identified by

the Task Group (see full report) or highlighted via the online platform, should be reviewed

by UK-GBC and considered as part of the organisation’s ongoing work programme.

6

Part 1 - Researching the evidence base

Introduction

The Task Group, which consisted of a steering group and eight sub-groups, began its work by

carrying out a comprehensive audit of the current landscape of existing ‘information’ available

to built environment practitioners throughout the value chain. This included measurement &

reporting tools, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), guidance, benchmarks, case studies, and

training and education that are available to different sectors.

The intention was to establish a framework that could provide the basis for a robust and

independent guide to sustainability in the built environment. The intention was not to create

new tools, guidance or advice where this already exists, but to signpost to the most relevant

information already out there.

The Task Group was also asked to make recommendations on how that information should be

communicated and, once it was available, how UK-GBC members could demonstrate progress

against their sustainability goals. This is addressed in Parts 2 and 3.

Objective

The overarching objective of the Green Building Guidance Task Group was to:

‘Make recommendations on how UK-GBC can sign post to independent, clear and technically

robust information, to assist UK-GBC members to better understand the complex landscape of

the information, products and services that are available in their efforts to address

sustainability in the built environment.’

The Task Group and UK-GBC hopes this work will assist and enable practitioners to deliver a

more sustainable built environment through better organisational sustainability performance,

project delivery and product development.

Lifecycle stages

The information collated by the Task Group’s eight sub groups covered the whole of the building

life cycle and relates to decisions that are made at the relevant stages:

• Corporate strategy

• Project feasibility

• Acquisition and disposal

• Planning

• Building design

• Product supply/Procurement

• New build demolition and construction

• Commissioning/building handover

• Operations

• Refurbishment

The information will address new build, in-use and refurbishment projects; all building types

including non domestic and domestic; all sustainability themes including environmental, social

and economic; and geographical applicability.

Content

The sub groups researched the following questions in relation to sustainability within their

sector; they provided background details for all information provided. This research is set out in

full in the sub-group spreadsheets in Appendix B and covers the following questions:

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• What measurement tools/standards, management systems and reporting frameworks are

available?

• What principles should measurement and reporting frameworks conform to?

• What KPIs, targets, benchmarks are available?

• What guidance is available?

• Are there any case studies that represent good practice?

• Are there any good examples of corporate policies and strategies?

• What existing training and education courses are available and where are the gaps?

• Are there any barriers to progress that exist for sectors?

Further information was added through the consultation process, which was held with UK-GBC

members in December 2011. The key information has been extracted and summarised in the

‘summary spreadsheet’ in Appendix B. Obviously further information will be added over time and

become superseded as new information is developed.

Planning

While many of the sub-groups were clearly able to signpost to information, the planning sub-

group found themselves in a unique position. They were unable to signpost to much existing

guidance because much of what currently exists will be removed when the National Planning

Policy Framework comes into effect. These issues have been elaborated on below.

PLANNING SUB GROUP

The UK-GBC responded to the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by broadly welcoming

efforts to simplify the planning system, but expressing concern about the lack of detail around the

definition of ‘sustainable development’ and the lack of guidance for planners regarding the

sustainability issues they should be considering when developing their local plans. UK-GBC also

expressed concern that the lack of clear guidance would lead to uncertainty for developers and that

the NPPF could result in a multitude of different definitions of sustainable development being created

at the local level, thereby threatening development viability and slowing the planning process.

The Task Group’s planning sub-group avoided creating prescriptive guidance for planners, since issues

and viability vary according to the local circumstance, and instead focused on the kinds of questions

and issues that planners, developers and neighbourhood forums should consider when they develop or

update their new local plans, or plan developments. The sub-group also wanted to signpost to places

where planners, developers and neighbourhood forums could seek advice about specific issues and

examples of good practice and case studies.

The planning sub-group information can be found on the UK-GBC website. The document is intended

to help Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) and the new neighbourhood forums to understand

sustainability issues, to ensure they achieve a balance between requiring robust sustainability

standards but also ensuring development remains viable. The document is also intended to be useful

to developers, who can use the same set of questions when developing planning applications. The

document is intended for use at the local plan making and outline application stage of the planning

process.

As with the other sections of the online platform, UK-GBC proposes to allow users of the document to

provide feedback, comments and submission of further information including case studies and

examples of good planning practice.

UK-GBC intends to continue discussions with members, local authorities and the Department for

Communities and Local Government (CLG) to disseminate this work and ensure it is useful and

relevant. The document will be referenced within the UK-GBC website.

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Part 2 – Communication

Introduction

As highlighted in Part 1 the Task Group has collated a wealth of information on measurement

tools, reporting systems, KPIs, guidance, case studies, training and education that are currently

available to industry. Based on the extensive volume of information, the Task Group has

developed recommendations around the most effective way of enabling industry professionals

and practitioners to navigate this information.

ONLINE PLATFORM

The Task Group considered a number of options for how best to communicate the raw data

collated by the sub-groups. This ranged from a simple PDF through to a sophisticated online

platform.

The Task Group believes that an online platform would be the most useful and accessible way to

navigate the information, and this view was endorsed by the consultation with UK-GBC members.

This platform should be hosted on the UK-GBC website1 and provide a web-based central point of

reference, and a rich resource. The navigation should be interactive and simple. It should not

require training to make use of it and should be useful to technical and non technical audiences

using plain English to reach as wide an audience as possible.

The intention would be to allow a user to filter through the library of information available and

to be sign posted to the key information they should consider as part of their research for taking

a project, organisation or product forward at any stage of the building.

It is hoped this will assist individuals and organisations, wherever they are at on their journey, to

understand what they can and should be doing to address sustainability within their business and

within their every day decision-making process. The platform will do this not only by signposting

information such as tools, guidance, targets and case studies for example, but will enable

practitioners to provide feedback and ratings on products and services, which in turn will make

them more useful for industry.

Many organisations offer information such as tools and guidance and would like to promote these

to the wider industry or receive feedback. This platform would be a neutral area to enable this.

Those tools, services etc. that are successful will ultimately have a higher take up. Where there

are gaps in available guidance or advice this will be identified and recommendations made for

further work.

The group have reviewed and set out the key features of and needs from the platform. These

should be taken forward by UK-GBC once funding for the web development is secured.

Availability of the online platform

The signposted information within the online platform should be made publicly available to

industry and it should be possible for any professional to add information to the platform. This

will help support the wider take up of sustainability across industry. However, in order to

safeguard benefits that are specifically for UK-GBC members, the Task Group recommends that

user ratings, feedback and discussion should be restricted to UK-GBC members only. However,

feedback would be provided to providers of products or services, regardless of whether that

provider is a UK-GBC member.

1 www.ukgbc.org

9

Any information that is uploaded to the platform can be restricted to UK-GBC members only if

there is concern about making it completely publicly available. The Task Group recommends that

the feedback to tool providers should be passed on even if those organisations are not members.

PUBLIC ‘VERSUS’ MEMBER ONLY

Giving the whole of industry access to the online platform, as opposed to restricting it for UK-GBC

members only, is a significant decision. The rationale is as follows:

There will remain some direct member-only benefits:

• Opportunity to provide ‘expert’ feedback in a member only forum

• Access to forums with ‘experts’ from the membership

• Option to provide feedback and ratings on the information within the portal

• Access to UK-GBC members’ feedback and ratings on the information within the portal. Where

feedback is provided to non-members’ information this will be provided to enable improvements

to be made.

There are important benefits to UK-GBC members in having the platform available to the public:

• It gives profile to members who demonstrate leadership, and consequently business benefits, by

highlighting performance to non members including major clients and Government for example

• UK-GBC members should be seen to practise sustainability and engage others who are not

involved

• The public availability of the online platform will be seen to support Government in their

aspirations for industry to take the initiative

• It will be more of a business benefit to promote tools, products and services more widely than the

UK-GBC membership

• There will be a wider pool of information available if the platform is open to the wider industry

• Any potential sponsors of the platform will have a wider audience.

Feedback and ratings

The UK-GBC is often approached for feedback on sustainability related tools, initiatives and

guidance. Through facilitating an online central platform it will allow industry to self regulate

through openly providing feedback and ratings by logging on using their membership login

details. This makes the process transparent and as seen in many other forums provides a useful

way of quickly identifying which information is of most use and should be considered.

User journey

Each organisation will have different needs when applying sustainability to their business.

Whether they are a global product supplier looking to research targets they should set if they are

to be recognised as leaders in their sector, a retailer looking to progress their procurement

policy, an occupier wanting to develop an internal operational sustainability strategy and they

don’t know where to begin or a developer who has found a really useful way of reporting data

and wants to share their lessons learned.

During development of the platform there will be an initial piece of work to understand the

types of user journey and how individual users might want to navigate in order to find the most

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useful and applicable information. UK-GBC already has a list of the types of questions we often

are asked in Appendix E which prompted this piece of work in the first place. Please see

Appendix D for examples of how a user might navigate this information and the outputs they will

arrive at. A beta version of the platform has been developed to illustrate how this online

platform will be navigated and will be found on the new UK-GBC website.

The user journey will take various forms, these include:

• a ‘guided browse’ to search for information to help inform a project, organisational

strategy or product for example

• a guided browse to search for training and education for an individual

• direct search for information

• to upload information (tools, guidance, case studies, training courses)

• to upload training and education

It should be possible to see the ‘bigger picture’ and the trail the user has taken to retrace steps.

The option to include a feature ‘people who viewed this also viewed’ will be considered during

development. As well as ‘you might also be interested in’ to sign post off to other relevant

information.

Adding information to the online platform

Initially any professional should be allowed to add information to the online platform. Those

looking to add information to the online platform will be required to provide specific details to

categorise the information. This is illustrated further in Appendix G and within the

demonstration online platform.

This process should allow information to be cross-referenced across the various lifecycle stages.

This will ensure that everyone in the building lifecycle is considering the relevant issues. For

example, demolition should be considered in the strategy, design process, construction stages,

not just at end-of-life.

The option of providing formal feedback from practitioners to information providers will be

made available. This evaluation process should consider the effectiveness of a tool from an

environmental, social and economic perspective which could then inform and feed into further

research and development.

The Task Group recognised that any information uploaded to the online platform should look to

align with emerging standards, be in line with future legislation and adhere to principles such as

common metrics, transparent data and third party verification where applicable. It will be

necessary for ‘information providers’ to clearly state where their information meets this criteria.

Maintaining the information

Over time the amount of information will grow as industry adds to it. Equally as information

becomes outdated this will need to be superseded or removed and it is important that only up to

date information is available. A limited lifetime will be attached to information when it is

uploaded and the onus will be on the information holder to provide an updated version as and

when appropriate.

Endorsement

The Task Group considered whether it would be helpful for UK-GBC to play a role in recognising

certain approaches or achievements. The Task Group strongly recommended that the UK-GBC

should remain independent and not endorse any tools, products, services, training etc. but

signpost and allow industry to self regulate through feedback and review. On a regular basis the

UK-GBC will review the information submitted on the platform, through existing groups such as

the Policy Committee and Membership & Marketing Committee.

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Launching the online platform

The UK-GBC should populate the platform with as much information as it has been able to

collate through the Task Group’s work and consultation process. The UK-GBC should approach

tool providers to ensure this information is to the right quality before formally uploading it to

the platform.

RECOMMENDATIONS – ONLINE PLATFORM

1 UK-GBC should take forward the development of a publicly available and easily accessible online

‘platform’ which would enable technical and non-technical practitioners from organisations (small

to large) to be signposted to information that can contribute towards sustainability within their

business at a project, organisation or product level.

2 Information uploaded to the online platform should be maintained and moderated by UK-GBC

with regular review by existing UK-GBC advisory committees.

3 The online platform should not formally endorse, nor should it create new, products or services,

but it should enable practitioners to provide attributable user-feedback and ratings via a

membership-based forum.

4 All information within the online platform should conform to principles around consistent metrics

and standards, open and transparent data and where applicable be third party verified.

5 The information prepared by the Planning sub-group should be hosted separately on the UK-GBC

website, and be publicly available for use by local authorities and developers, to help inform local

authority plans.

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Part 3 – Encouraging action

Introduction

The Task Group agreed that the UK-GBC should be continuously challenging its members. Indeed,

UK-GBC’s whole mission, established by its Founder Members is to seek ‘radical transformation

of the built environment’. So how do we improve the impacts from businesses, services and

products and ensure they have a positive impact on people, planet and profit?

Having collated a wealth of information that will help practitioners the Task Group then

reviewed how the information collated and the online platform could assist in driving

performance. This discussion revolved around strengthening the current UK-GBC member

commitment, gaining access to experts and signposting to existing benchmarking systems.

Member Commitment

UK-GBC prides itself on attracting members who are genuinely committed to achieving radical

change towards sustainability in the built environment sector and committed to driving and

improving their own performance as an organisation. When a new member joins the UK-GBC, it is

a condition of their membership that they sign the ‘UK-GBC Member Commitment’, which is

currently as follows:

“We hereby commit to actively support the mission and objectives of the UK Green Building

Council, and to continuously improve the way in which our organisation measures its

sustainability impacts, publicly reports on these impacts and sets targets to reduce any negative

impacts, in order to contribute to a more sustainable built environment.”

The Task Group reviewed some approaches to driving performance and proposed ideas for how

the member commitment can assist with demonstrating leadership within the UK-GBC

membership.

The Task Group were very conscious of the need to ensure that any approach did not unfairly

penalise smaller organisations that might not have the capacity to meet demanding targets. It

also acknowledged that it could not impose targets that were out of the control of organisations.

For example, it is not feasible to expect every project to achieve BREEAM Outstanding if the

client will not pay for it even although the consultancy suggests it should be achieved.

There were also concerns about the resource implications upon the UK-GBC, which would have

to verify compliance and police performance and which could become resource intensive, and

for which there is currently no additional capacity to resource this.

HIGHLIGHTING LEADERS

The Task Group recommended the UK-GBC website could potentially highlight how members are

conforming to the member commitment. It could highlight sustainability achievements setting out

which measurement and reporting systems organisations are using and KPIs they had met depending

on their sector, all linked to the UK-GBC member commitment. That way the membership becomes a

key place for customers to identify which organisations are leaders and possibly look to the

membership as a first port of call for procurement of services and products.

Proposals for revised member commitment

The Task Group was asked to consider whether the member commitment ought to be reviewed

and strengthened in order to drive change in the sector and demonstrate industry leadership.

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The group was also asked to consider how UK-GBC members who are going further and faster, in

terms of their sustainability performance, could be recognised and profiled.

MEMBER COMMITMENT PROPOSALS

The Task Group considered three options for a revised Member Commitment which have been set out

in more detail in Appendix H:

• Keep the existing member commitment as it currently stands.

• Introduce a tiered approach which is not prescriptive but sets out some suggested actions around

measurement and reporting that are sector specific.

• Introduce prescriptive targets for projects, organisations and product suppliers to meet which can

be chosen from a menu of options.

The Task Group agreed in principle that the member commitment should be reviewed to

compare and drive performance, but stressed that this should be a comprehensive review

process. The Task Group therefore recommended that the Membership and Marketing Committee

should advise the UK-GBC team and Board of how the member commitment could be

strengthened, based on the options set out above.

Benchmarking

The Task Group reviewed proposals to form a benchmarking system to enable like-for-like

comparison of members and drive improved performance. There was nervousness around the

complexities of such systems and exclusion of SMEs and new members who would not be able to

compete and be at a disadvantage. The suggestion was that UK-GBC should instead signpost to

existing benchmarking systems. This would enable leaders to be identified within a particular

sector and those could be highlighted on the UK-GBC website. The group also recommended that

users should be signposted to where they could provide data for benchmarking purposes. For

example, operational energy to inform Display Energy Certificate benchmarks, embodied carbon

data for embodied carbon benchmarks for buildings etc.

‘Experts’

The UK-GBC currently hosts a ‘Rapid Response Team’, a group which is made up of professionals

that span the value chain within the membership. They provide views from a range of sectors on

various themes. This is an invaluable source of information that enables the UK-GBC team to

take a considered view on a tool, topic, building or product. It was suggested a similar system

could be established in conjunction with the online platform, to provide an information resource

for UK-GBC members. This service would be available to UK-GBC members only and only

members would be considered to provide expertise.

Members with specific expertise would sit on a forum and be referred to as ‘experts’ on certain

issues. There would have to be some form of application process, similar to the process that

members go through to apply for a Task Group. The UK-GBC membership has various trade

associations and member groups who focus on certain areas of the value chain such as products,

energy, renewable and occupiers for example. These groups would be signposted within the

online platform and act as ‘experts’ for further review.

The UK-GBC has initiated a series of Sustainability Training and Education Programme (STEP)

master classes and it is envisaged the speakers from this series will form a pool of industry

experts for the online platform which will be added to over time.

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Training and education

Existing training and education courses have been collated by the Task Group for inclusion within

the online platform, these will be further added to by a comprehensive list of sustainability

training and education courses has been collated by the UK-GBC STEP team.

The Task Group also looked at training and education needs of professionals working within the

value chain and identified where there were gaps. The gaps that were highlighted were sector

specific in terms of the need for professionals who need to relate sustainability directly to their

role and responsibilities, for example property agents and investors.

This correlates very closely to the feedback received in the survey on training and education

which was undertaken in September 2011 by the STEP team. The STEP Task Group, which is

currently underway, is recommending the development of additional STEP courses and master

classes to plug gaps in the current training provision. Some of the content will address topics

covered within the online platform including tools, setting targets, corporate reporting, site

visits and product development. The courses and master classes could provide an opportunity for

members who are leading in a particular area to raise their profile and share their experience

with others who are just embarking on that particular aspect of their sustainability journey for

example around measurement and reporting.

Case studies

Sharing case studies among the membership was considered the best way of communicating good

practice performance and associated cost/saving information. The UK-GBC has produced a

standard template in Appendix C which will be made available for uploading case study

information. The case study would be tagged to enable them to be highlighted during relevant

searches.

Case studies should be easy to add to over time, and allow for other parties to add their views on

a particular project. For example an engineering organisation may add a case study about their

involvement on a project but the contractor and building users should be able to add ‘their view’

to get a range of perspectives and lessons learned.

Whilst organisations are happy to share success stories, there are challenges around collecting

information of cases where problems occurred and lessons learned. Informal blogs and forums

could be used to share anecdotal evidence of anonymous projects on what went wrong and how

it was addressed and fixed.

Business case

The Task Group considered information on ‘the business case’ to be important evidence

available to industry. The platform will sign post users to information on the business case where

these exist in case studies. It will be important to have industry experts available to review any

content and provide some feedback, comment and rating to reflect the quality of the

information. The purpose would be to reflect a balanced and robust view of the value and

business case around sustainability.

Identifying barriers

Whilst industry can do all it can to review options to drive performance this will likely lead to

the identification of barriers, which pose challenges – perhaps that are specific to a particular

sector. For example competing systems of measurement that use different metrics, or the lack

of any data on which to base design decisions. These issues will be gathered and fed back into

the UK-GBC programme and used to inform policy work, STEP and other activities that UK-GBC

carries out.

The Task Group identified where they thought there were current barriers to progress, these are

set out in Appendix F.

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RECOMMENDATIONS – ENCOURAGING ACTION

6 UK-GBC experts should be identified from the membership and relevant trade associations, who

can provide advice and guidance on specific topics.

7 The UK-GBC Membership Commitment could be strengthened and options that go beyond the

existing commitment are presented in the full report. One option would see a tiered approach to

the commitment, with sector specific actions for those organisations that wish to demonstrate

leadership. A further option would be to set prescriptive targets based on best practice.

8 UK-GBC should look to highlight members that are making the most positive steps to drive

sustainability forwards, wherever they are at on their sustainability journey.

9 Barriers to progress, whether gaps in evidence or advice, or market barriers, identified by the

Task Group (see full report) or highlighted via the online platform, should be reviewed by UK-GBC

and considered as part of the organisation’s ongoing work programme.

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Conclusion

UK-GBC aims to offer clarity, cohesion and leadership to a disparate sector, bringing together

everyone involved in the complex process of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and

operating buildings. The research conducted and the recommendations made by this Task Group

will help deliver on these aims by paving the way for an independent platform that sign-posts to

the information needed to inspire individuals and businesses to take action and build knowledge.

Once completed the platform will provide a central point of reference, and rich resource, which

will help businesses – wherever they are on their journey – to understand what they can and

should be doing to address sustainability. By using the platform as the basis for recognising and

highlighting leadership, UK-GBC can demonstrate that membership of the organisation reflects a

genuine and measurable commitment to sustainability. In turn we hope this will lead to business

benefits for clients, customers or procurers looking to work with leaders in the field.


Appendices

APPENDIX A – SUMMARY SPREADSHEET

This is a summary of all information taken from the sub-group spreadsheets which are categorised into application building life cycle stages. There is undoubtedly more information to be included, please contact [email protected] if

you would like to add any information to this for inclusion in the future development of the online platform.

Measurement - tools, standards, management systems

Reporting – ways of reporting data

Targets – suggested targets and benchmarking

Guidance Organisational policies

Case studies *Further case studies have

been identified which will be included in the online

platform

Training & education *Over 500 courses have been identified by the STEP Task

Group which will be included in the online platform*

- Arup Passive Design Assistant

http://www.arup.com/Publications/Passive_De

sign_Assistant.aspx

- Association for Environmentally Conscious

Builders (AECB) Energy Standards – ‘Carbon

Lite’ (Silver, Passivhaus & Gold)

http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/ener

gystandards.php

- Association for Environmentally Conscious

Builders (AECB) Water Standards

http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbonlite/wate

rstandards.php

- ATHENA Ecocalculator for Assemblies &

Impact Estimator for Buildings

http://www.athenasmi.org/our-software-

data/ecocalculator/

- Autodesk Building Integrated Modelling (BIM)

http://usa.autodesk.com/building-information-

modeling/

- Autodesk Project Vasari

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/vasari/

- Better Building Partnership (BBP) Better

Metering Toolkit

http://www.betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk/

working-groups/sustainability-

benchmarks/better-metering-toolkit/

- Better Building Partnership (BBP) Green

Building Management Toolkit

http://www.betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk/

working-groups/owner-occupier-

partnerships/green-building-management-

toolkit/

- BES 6001 – Responsible sourcing of

construction products

http://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=1514

- Butterfly Low carbon design and decision

tool / giving you control of green design

http://www.blpinsurance.com/sustainability/b

utterfly/

- Building Research Establishment

Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)

In-Use

http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=373

- AccountAbility AA1000 Series

http://www.accountability.org/sta

ndards/index.html

- Business in the Community (BitC)

Corporate responsibility index

http://www.bitc.org.uk/cr_index/

- Carbon Disclosure Project

https://www.cdproject.net/en-

US/Pages/HomePage.aspx

- Carbon Trust Standard

http://www.carbontruststandard.c

om/pages/home

- Connected Reporting Framework

http://www.connectedreporting.ac

countingforsustainability.org/

- Considerate Constructors

Scheme

http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/

- Carbon Reduction Commitment

Energy Efficiency Scheme

(CRCEES)

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/conte

nt/cms/emissions/crc_efficiency/c

rc_efficiency.aspx

- Dow Jones Sustainability Index

http://www.sustainability-

index.com/

- European Public Real Estate

Association (EPRA) Best Practice

Recommendations for

Sustainability Reporting

http://www.epra.com/media/EPR

A_BPR_2011_Sustainability.pdf

- Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Construction and Real Estate

Sector Supplement (CRESS)

https://www.globalreporting.org/r

eporting/sector-

guidance/construction-and-real-

estate/Pages/default.aspx

- Green 500

http://www.green500.co.uk/

- Global Real Estate Sustainability

- Better Building Partnership

Sustainability Benchmarking

Toolkit

http://www.betterbuildingspartn

ership.co.uk/working-

groups/sustainability-

benchmarks/sustainabilty-

benchmarking-toolkit/

- Building Research

Establishment Environmental

Assessment Method (BREEAM) In-

Use

http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp

?id=373

- Building Research

Establishment Environmental

Assessment Method (BREEAM)

New Construction

http://www.breeam.org/podpage

.jsp?id=369

- Building for Life

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk

/our-work/cabe/localism-and-

planning/building-for-life/

- Business in the Community

(BitC) Corporate responsibility

index

http://www.bitc.org.uk/cr_index

/

- Centre for Construction

Innovation

http://www.ccinw.com/

- Code for Sustainable Homes

http://www.planningportal.gov.u

k/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.p

df



- Constructing Excellence

http://www.constructingexcellen

ce.org.uk/

- Design Quality Indicators

http://www.dqi.org.uk/website/d

- DECC 2050 Pathway

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/conten

t/cms/tackling/2050/2050.aspx

- Association for Environmentally

Conscious Builders (AECB) Energy

Standards – ‘Carbon Lite’ (Silver,

Passivhaus & Gold)

http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/carbo

nlite/energystandards.php

- Better Building Partnership (BBP)

Better Metering Toolkit

http://www.betterbuildingspartners

hip.co.uk/working-

groups/sustainability-

benchmarks/better-metering-

toolkit/


Low Carbon Retrofit Toolkit


hip.co.uk/download/bbp-low-

carbon-retrofit-toolkit.pdf


Managing Agents Toolkit and

Checklist


hip.co.uk/download/bbp-managing-

agents-sustainability-toolkit.pdf


Green Building Management Toolkit


hip.co.uk/working-groups/owner-

occupier-partnerships/green-

building-management-toolkit/

- Biodiversity in planning and

development – code of practice

http://www.biodiversityplanningtool

kit.com/stylesheet.asp?file=351_goo

d_practice_and_technical_standards

- Business in the Community (BitC)

Corporate responsibility index

http://www.bitc.org.uk/cr_index/


(BRE)

- Achilles

http://www.achilles.com/en/

- British Land Brief for Sustainable

Developments

http://files.the-

group.net/library/britishland/files/

pdf_118.pdf

- GLA Sustainable Procurement

Policy

http://www.london.gov.uk/rp/poli

cy/

IPF Environmental Best Practice

https://www.ipf.org.uk/MainWebSi

te/Resources/Document/Environme

ntal%20Best%20Practice%20Investm

ent%20Management%20Policies%202

010%20update.pdf

- ODA Sustainable Development

Strategy

http://www.london2012.com/docu

ments/oda-publications/oda-

sustainable-development-strategy-

full-version.pdf

- London 2012 PVC Policy


ments/imported/use-of-pvc-

policy.pdf

- London 2012 HFC Policy


ments/imported/use-of-hfc-

policy.pdf

- Supplier Ethical Data Exchange

(Sedex)

http://www.sedexglobal.com/

- Adaptation New Build Retrofit

and case stsudies

http://www.london.gov.uk/trccg/d

ocs/pub1.pdf

- Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth

Form College, UK

http://www.excellencegateway.or

g.uk/node/3541

- Carbon Table

http://www.carbontable.com/

- Empire State Building

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

publish/us/en/products/building_e

fficiency/esb.html

- Envirowise

http://envirowise.wrap.org.uk/cha

nge/casestudies.html

- InterfaceFLOR EPD

http://tinyurl.com/6cv5wy8

- ODA Learning Legacy website

http://learninglegacy.london2012.c

om/

- Tata Steel's Shotton plant case

study of sustainable product

manufacture

http://www.colorcoat-

online.com/en/sustainability/color

coat_sustainable/

- Technology Strategy Board

http://www.innovateuk.org/public

ations/case-studies.ashx

- Usable Buildings Trust

http://www.usablebuildings.co.uk/

- Vulcan House, Sheffield, UK

http://www.tatasteelconstruction.

com/file_source/StaticFiles/Constr

uction/Library/Sections/FIS_Vulcan

_House.pdf

- Waste Resource Action

Programme (WRAP) case studies

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construct

ion/case_studies/

- AECB Carbonlite

http://www.carbonlite.org.uk/

- Apres

http://apres.lboro.ac.uk/resources.p

hp


(BRE)

http://www.bre.co.uk/training.jsp

- Certified Passivhaus Designer

course

http://www.passivhaus.org.uk/page.

jsp?id=24

- CIBSE

http://www.cibsetraining.co.uk/

- CIBSE Low Carbon Assessors

http://www.cibseenergycentre.co.uk

/assessors.html

- Concrete Sustainability for

Managers

http://nrmca.org/education/Certific

ations/Sustainability.htm

- Construction Skills training courses

http://www.cskills.org/supportbusin

ess/courses/

- RIBA CPD - Product Transparency

and EPDs

http://www.ribaonlinecpd.com/strea

ming/03781_facts/index.asp

- Timber Trade Federation

http://www.ttf.co.uk/TTF_Education

/On_Line_Learning.aspx

- UK-GBC Sustainability Training &

Education Programme (STEP)

http://step.ukgbc.org/



Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)

New Construction

http://www.breeam.org/podpage.jsp?id=369

- BS 8555:2003 Environmental management

systems. Guide to the phased implementation

of an environmental management system

including the use of environmental

performance evaluation

http://shop.bsigroup.com/en/ProductDetail/?pi

d=000000000030077920

- BS EN ISO 14040:2006 Environmental

management. Life cycle assessment.

Principles and framework


d=000000000030154435

- BS EN 16001:2009 Energy management

systems. Requirements with guidance for use

http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=0

00000000030172146

- BS8555 Guide to the phased implementation

of an environmental management system

including the use of environmental

performance evaluation

http://www.iema.net/ems/acorn_scheme/bs85

55

- Building for Environmental and Economic

Sustainability (BEES) software

http://www.wbdg.org/tools/bees.php

- Carbon Buzz

http://www.carbonbuzz.org/

- CEEQUAL

http://www.ceequal.com/

- European Standards Mandate M350

Sustainability of Construction Works

http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Standards-and-

Publications/Committee-

Members/Construction-committee-members-

area/M350-Standards/

- Code for Sustainable Homes

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/co

de_for_sust_homes.pdf




http://www.constructingexcellence.org.uk/

- Cradle to Cradle

http://www.mbdc.com/detail.aspx?linkid=2&su

blink=8

- Daysim

http://daysim.com/

- Display Energy Certificates (DEC)

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/

planningandbuilding/displayenergycertificates

- Design Quality Indicator (DQI)

http://www.dqi.org.uk/website/default.aspa

- Ecohomes

Benchmark (GRESB)

http://gresb.com/

- ISO 26000 – Social responsibility

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalo

gue/management_and_leadership_s

tandards/social_responsibility/sr_di

scovering_iso26000.htm

- Royal Institution of Chartered

Surveyors Ska Rating

http://www.rics.org/ska

- Supplier Ethical Data Exchange

(SEDEX)

http://www.sedexglobal.com/

- SMARTWaste

http://www.smartwaste.co.uk/

- Sustainability Report Assurance

(SRA)

http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Asse

ssment-and-certification-

services/management-

systems/Standards-and-

Schemes/Sustainability-Report-

Assurance/

- Sustainable Concrete Forum

http://www.sustainableconcrete.or

g.uk/


Programme (WRAP) halving Waste

to Landfill

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construct

ion/halving_waste_to_landfill/

efault.aspa

- Display Energy Certificate (DEC)

http://www.communities.gov.uk/

publications/planningandbuilding/

displayenergycertificates

- Dow Jones Sustainability Index

http://www.sustainability-

index.com/

- ENDS Directory 2010

http://www.endsdirectory.com/in

dex.cfm?action=articles.home

- Energy Performance Certificate

(EPC)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Ho

meAndCommunity/BuyingAndSelli

ngYourHome/Energyperformancec

ertificates/DG_177137

- Environment Agency

Performance

http://www.environment-

agency.gov.uk/business/topics/pe

rformance/default.aspx - League

Table (PLT)

- European Public Real Estate

Association (EPRA)

http://www.epra.com/regulation-

and-reporting/sustainability/

- Green Guide to Specification

http://www.bre.co.uk/greenguid

e/podpage.jsp?id=2126

- Green Rating Alliance

http://www.green-rating.com/

- Greenprint Foundation

http://www.greenprintfoundation

.org/Default.aspx

- GRESB Green Star

http://gresb.com/benchmark


Construction and Real Estate

Sector Supplement (CRESS)

https://www.globalreporting.org/

reporting/sector-



- Housing Quality Indicators

http://www.homesandcommuniti

es.co.uk/hqi

- International Sustainability

Alliance

http://www.internationalsustaina

bilityalliance.org/

- International Property

Database (IPD) Benchmarking

http://www.ipd.com/OurProducts

Services/WorkingwithinthePublicS

ector/PropertyBenchmarkingservi

ce/tabid/2427/Default.aspx

http://www.bre.co.uk/what-we-

do.jsp


Environmental Assessment Method

(BREEAM) In-Use

http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id

=373


Environmental Assessment Method

(BREEAM) New Construction

http://www.breeam.org/podpage.js

p?id=369


(BRE) Post Occupancy Evaluation

http://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=

1793

- British Council for Offices Best

Practice Guide

http://www.bco.org.uk/research/

- BS 8900:2006 Guidance for

Managing Sustainable development

http://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductD

etail/?pid=000000000030118956

- BSRIA & Usable Buildings Trust–

soft landings

http://www.bsria.co.uk/services/de

sign/soft-landings/

- BSRIA Commissioning Guide Set

https://www.bsria.co.uk/bookshop/

books/commissioning-guide-set-

compak1/

- Business Council on Climate

Change (USA) Green Tenant Toolkit

http://www.bc3sfbay.org/green-

tenant-toolkit.html

- CABE/Design Council

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/ou

r-work/CABE/Design-Review/

- CABE Sustainable Places

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.

gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.

cabe.org.uk/sustainable-places

- Chartered Institute of Buildings

(CIOB) Carbon Action 2050

http://www.carbonaction2050.com

- Carbon Disclosure Project

https://www.cdproject.net/en-

US/Pages/HomePage.aspx

- Carbon Trust

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-

carbon-reduce-

costs/pages/default.aspx

- Considerate Constructors Scheme


- CIBSE research & guidance

http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?go

=page.view&item=453

No website addresses:

Bank of America Tower, New York

Beijing’s City Plan

ITC Headquarters, India

Lisneal College, Derry, N. Ireland

Los Angeles Department of Public

Works, CA, USA

Low Energy Database

Lowestoft Sixth Form College

Mauritius Commercial Bank

Mayor of London Green Awards

(Green 500)

National Energy Foundation

Newport City Footbridge

NRC

O’Hare International Airport North

Air Traffic Control Tower

The Address, Dubai



- Ecohomes XB


- Ecotect

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/inde

x?id=12602821&siteID=123112

- EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

http://www.bsigroup.co.uk/Assessment-and-

Certification-services/Management-

systems/Standards-and-Schemes/EMAS/

- BS EN 15804 Sustainability of construction

works. Environmental product Declarations.

Core rules for the product category of

construction products

http://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/Ho

me/Project/201100664

- BS EN 15942:2011

Sustainability of construction works.

Environmental product declarations.

Communication format business-to-business


d=000000000030200469

- BS 8902:2009 Responsible sourcing sector

certification schemes for construction

products. Specification


00000000030191223

- BS 8903:2010 Principles and framework for

procuring sustainably


00000000030203003

- ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management

- Life cycle assessment - Requirements and

guidelines

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnu

mber=38498

- EnergyPlus

http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/content/view

/29/44/

- Envest 2

http://envest2.bre.co.uk/

- Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommu

nity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/Energyperform

ancecertificates/DG_177137

- Environmental Design Solutions Limited

(EDSL) TAS Software

http://www.edsl.net/main/

- EPODA

http://epoda.co.uk/live/

- eQuick Energy Simulation Tool (eQuest)

http://doe2.com/equest/

-Forest Stewardship Council

http://www.fsc.org/

- GaBi Build-it

http://www.gabi-software.com/software/gabi-

build-it/


Database (IPD) Eco-Ledger

Benchmark tool

http://www.ipd.com/LinkClick.as

px?link=downloads%2Fprodukter%2

FEco-Ledger-

Flyer.pdf&tabid=1904&mid=6531


Database (IPD) Environment

Code

http://www.ipdoccupiers.com/De

fault.aspx?TabId=1632

- ISO 14025:2006 Environmental

labels and declarations Type III

environmental declarations

Principles and procedures

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue

_detail?csnumber=38131

- Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

Sustainability benchmarking

http://www.joneslanglasalle.co.u

k/UnitedKingdom/EN-

GB/Pages/Sustainability_Benchma

rking_Definition.aspx

- US-Green Building Council

Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design (LEED)

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPag

e.aspx?CategoryID=19

- London Benchmarking Group

http://www.lbg-

online.net/about-lbg.aspx

- ODA Sustainable Development

Strategy

http://www.london2012.com/doc

uments/oda-publications/oda-

sustainable-development-strategy-

full-version.pdf

- Passivhaus

http://www.passivhaus.org.uk/

- Secured by design

http://www.securedbydesign.com

/

- Strategic Forum for

Construction

http://www.strategicforum.org.u

k


http://www.sustainableconcrete.

org.uk/

- Sustainable timber

procurement

http://www.cpet.org.uk/uk-

government-timber-procurement-

policy

- Target Zero

http://www.targetzero.info/inde

- CIBSE TM22: Energy Assessment &

Reporting Methodology


=publications.view&item=43

- CIBSE TM25 Understanding

building photovoltaics



- CIBSE TM31: Building log book

toolkit



- CIBSE TM 36 Climate change and

the indoor environment: impacts

and adaptation



- CIBSE TM39: Building Energy

Metering



- CIBSE TM46: Energy Benchmarks


=page.view&item=1190

- CIBSE TRY/DSY Hourly Weather

Data Set



- CIBSE Guide A: Environmental

design



- CIBSE Guide B: Heating,

Ventilating, Air Conditioning and

Refrigeration



- Construction Industry Research

and Information Association (CIRIA)

http://www.ciria.org/service/Home

/AM/ContentManagerNet/HomePage

s/CIRIA_1502_20080929T115140Hom

ePage.aspx?Section=Home

- CIBSE Guide D: Transportation

systems in buildings



- CIBSE Guide G: Public health

engineering



- CIBSE Guide H: Building control

systems



- CIBSE Commissioning Codes: Set

of Seven Codes


- Green Globes

http://www.greenglobes.com/

- Green Guide to Specification

http://www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/podpage.jsp

?id=2126

- Green Building Council Australia Green Star

http://www.gbca.org.au/green-star/

- GreenSpec

http://www.greenspec.co.uk/

- Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE)

database

http://www.bath.ac.uk/mech-

eng/sert/embodied/

- IPD Environment Code

http://www.ipdoccupiers.com/Default.aspx?Ta

bId=1632

- ISO 14000 series

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_14000_essentials

- ISO 14025:2006 Environmental labels and

declarations -- Type III environmental

declarations -- Principles and procedures


mber=38131

- ISO 14044:2006 Environmental management

Life cycle assessment - Requirements and

guidelines


mber=38498

- ISO/WD 14046 Life cycle assessment --

Water footprint -- Requirements and

guidelines

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogu

e_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=43263

- ISO/DIS 14067 Carbon footprint of products -

- Requirements and guidelines for

quantification and communication



- ISO 21930:2007 Sustainability in building

construction - Environmental declaration of

building products


mber=40435

- ISO 9001:2008 Quality management systems

– Requirements


mber=46486

- BS EN 16001:2009 Energy management

systems. Requirements with guidance for use


00000000030172146

- ISO/TS 21931-1:2006 Sustainability in

building construction -- Framework for

methods of assessment for environmental

performance of construction works -- Part 1:

Buildings


x.php?/

- TM46 – CIBSE

http://www.cibse.org/index.cfm?

go=page.view&item=1190

- UK Construction Key

Performance Indicators

http://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?i

d=1478

- UK Contractor Group

http://www.ukcg.org.uk/home/

- Urban Land Institute (ULI)

LESSEN

http://www.less-en.org/

Timber Trade Federation

Responsible Purchasing Policy

requirement for continuous

Improvement on an annual basis.



- Considerate Constructors Scheme



http://www.constructingexcellence.

org.uk/

- Construction Product Association

(CPA)

http://www.constructionproducts.or

g.uk/aboutus/Page.aspx?Id=16

- Institute of Environmental

Management & assessment (IEMA)

Environmental Impact Assessment

(EIA) Quality Mark

http://www.iema.net/qmark

- Energy Saving Trust best practice

guide

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.u

k/Publications2/Local-authorities-

and-housing-associations/Existing-

housing/Area-Based-Approach-Best-

Practice-Guide

- Environment Agency – NetRegs


agency.gov.uk/netregs/

- Flood Risk Assessment Guidance

for New Development,

Environment Agency and Defra

(2005)


agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/3166

2.aspx

- Neighbourhood Forum/Village

Design Statement

http://www.pas.gov.uk/pas/core/p

age.do?pageId=1562794

- GPA common metrics

http://www.bpf.org.uk/en/files/bpf

_documents/sustainability/Common_

Metrics_Paper_FINAL.pdf

- Green Book Live

http://www.greenbooklive.com/


Construction and Real Estate Sector

Supplement (CRESS)

https://www.globalreporting.org/re

porting/sector-




Programme (WRAP) halving Waste

to Landfill

http://www.wrap.org.uk/constructi

on/halving_waste_to_landfill/

- Institution of Civil Engineers

http://www.ice.org.uk/Information-


mber=40434

- ISO 15686-1:2011 Buildings and constructed

assets -- Service life planning -- Part 1:

General principles and framework



- ISO 15392:2008 Sustainability in building

construction -- General principles



- US-Green Building Council Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Categ

oryID=19

- Lifetime homes

http://www.lifetimehomes.org.uk/

- London Housing Design Guide

http://www.lda.gov.uk/publications-and-

media/publications/design-guide.aspx

- Minergie

http://www.minergie.ch/home_en.html

- Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES)

http://www.iesve.com/

- NaturePlus

http://www.natureplus.org/nc/fr/presse/actua

lites/seite/4/news/asbp-

launch/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=3

- Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050

http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Standards-and-

Publications/How-we-can-help-

you/Professional-Standards-Service/PAS-

2050/PAS-2050/

- Passivhaus

http://www.passivhaus.org.uk/standard.jsp?id=

37

- Programme for the Endorsement of Forestry

Certification

http://www.pefc.co.uk/

- Radiance

http://radsite.lbl.gov/radiance/

- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

SKA


- Specialist in Land Contamination (SiLC)

http://www.silc.org.uk/

- Standard Assessment Procedure for the

Energy Rating of Dwellings (SAP)

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/emi

ssions/sap/sap.aspx

- Simplified Building Energy Modelling (SBEM)

http://www.ncm.bre.co.uk/

- SimaPro

http://www.simapro.co.uk/

- Smart Waste

http://www.smartwaste.co.uk/

- Society of Construction and Quantity

Surveyors Whole life Costing

resources

- Institution of Mechanical

Engineers (IMechE)

http://www.imeche.org/knowledge

- Home Builders Federation (HBF)

http://www.hbf.co.uk/

- Good Homes Alliance (GHA)

http://www.goodhomes.org.uk/reso

urces/


Management and Assessment

(IEMA) Vol12 - Environmental

management plans

http://www.iema.net/shop/product

_info.php?cPath=27_29&products_id

=9472



(IEMA) Vol13 - Adapting to climate

change: a guide to its management

in organisations



=9848



(IEMA) Vol14 - Climate Change

Mitigation: a guide for

organisations



=10006



(IEMA) Principles considering

climate change mitigation and

adaptation in EIA

http://www.iema.net/eia-cc

- International Property Database

(IPD) Environment Code

http://www.ipdoccupiers.com/Defa

ult.aspx?TabId=1632

- IPD Sustainable Property Index

Monitor (ISPI) Monitor Code

http://www1.ipd.com/Pages/DNNPa

ge.aspx?DestUrl=http%3A//www.ipd.

com/sharepoint.aspx%3Ftabid%3D221

5

- Institution of Structural Engineers

(IStructE)

http://www.istructe.org/resources-

centre

- GUT (Gmeinschaft

umweltfreundlicher Teppichboden)

http://www.ecolabelindex.com/ecol

abel/gut

- Landlord Energy Statement –


http://www.wholelifecosting.co.uk/

- Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine

(SPeAR)

http://www.arup.com/Projects/SPeAR.aspx

- TRACE 700

http://www.trane.com/Commercial/Dna/View.

aspx?i=1136

- Transient System Simulation Tool (TRNSYS)

http://www.trnsys.com/

- Timber Trade Federation Responsible

Purchasing Policy (RPP)

http://www.ttf.co.uk/Environment/Responsibl

e_Purchasing_Policy.aspx

- United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS

9001)

http://www.ukas.com/

- United Nations Environment Programme

Sustainable Buildings Climate Initiative (UNEP

SBCI) Common Metrics

http://www.unep.org/sbci/Activities/CCM_Pilo

t.asp

- Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP):

Designing Out Waste in Buildings

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/tools_an

d_guidance/designing_out_waste/dow_building

s.html

- Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP)

Net waste and minimising waste

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/19279-

02_Design_Guide_online_pdf_version.06dc831f.

7167.pdf


Designing Out Waste Tool for Buildings

http://www.wrap.org.uk/downloads/19279-

02_Design_Guide_online_pdf_version.06dc831f.

7167.pdf


Recycled content Toolkit

http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/

Tenant Energy Statement (LES-TER)

http://www.les-ter.org/page/home

- Local/regional historic building

trusts

http://www.savebritainsheritage.or

g/your_campaign/

- Better Buildings Partnership - Low

Carbon Retrofit Toolkit


hip.co.uk/working-

groups/sustainable-retrofit/low-

carbon-retrofit-toolkit/

- National Building Specification

(NBS)

http://www.thenbs.com/resources/i

ndex.asp


Programme (WRAP) Netwaste

Toolkit

http://nwtool.wrap.org.uk/Docume

nts/NW%20Tool%20Manual.pdf

- National Industrial Symbiosis

Programme (NISP)

http://www.nisp.org.uk/

- Natural England guidance

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/

ourwork/enjoying/outdoorsforall/ac

cesstonature/guidance.aspx

- ISO 21930:2007 - Sustainability in

building construction --

Environmental declaration of

building products

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_d

etail?csnumber=40435

- Strategic Forum - Reducing the

Footprint of the Construction

Process

http://www.strategicforum.org.uk/

pdf/06CarbonReducingFootprint.pdf

- Royal Institute of British

Architects (RIBA) Green Overlay

http://www.ribabookshops.com/upl

oads/9a0204f4-8775-d644-c9d1-

b2d508c5924b.pdf

- Royal Institute of Chartered

Surveyors (RICS) SKA


- Robust Details Certification

Scheme

http://www.robustdetails.com/

- Site Waste Management Plan

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/

2008/314/contents/made

- Society for the Protection of

Ancient Buildings

http://www.spab.org.uk/advice/

- Sustainable Business Toolkit for


Construction Skills

http://www.cskills.org/uploads/cat

11_tcm17-24365.pdf


http://www.sustainableconcrete.org

.uk/

- Technology Strategy Board (TSB)

http://www.innovateuk.org/

- EU Timber Regulation

http://www.cpet.org.uk/eu-timber-

regulation

- The Alliance for Sustainable

Building Products

http://www.asbp.org.uk/

- UK Climate Impacts Programme

(UKCIP), Environmental Change

Institute

http://www.ukcip.org.uk/

- UK Contractor Group

http://www.ukcg.org.uk/home/

- UK Green Building Council (UK-

GBC)

http://www.ukgbc.org/site/home

- United Nations Environment

Programme Sustainable Buildings

Climate Initiative (UNEP SBCI)

Common Metrics

http://www.unep.org/sbci/Activitie

s/CCM_Pilot.asp

- Building for Tomorrow Today -

Sustainable Design and

Construction: Leeds Local

Development Framework

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/housing/P

lanning/Planning_consultations/Build

ing_for_tomorrow_today__sustainabl

e_design_and_construction__SPD_(L

DF).aspx Statement/Neighbourhood

planning

Waterwise

http://www.waterwise.org.uk/


Programme (WRAP): Recycled

content Toolkit

http://www.wrap.org.uk/

- Zero Carbon Hub http://www.zerocarbonhub.org/


APPENDIX B – SUB GROUP SPREADSHEETS

Please see separate document on UK-GBC website.

APPENDIX C - CASE STUDY TEMPLATE

The following structure has been prepared as a suggested outline for developing case studies to

ensure consistency of information. There will be an option for making case studies anonymous or

restricted to members only. It will be possible to easily update the information and add

comments/views.

Names of those involved in writing the case study Abstract Summary of the project, product, corporate/operational approach with key stats What was done?

• Project name

• Location

• Objectives and specifications – link to sustainability strategy

• Key stakeholders and partners

• Project period

• Classification (new/refurb, domestic/non-domestic, product, community infrastructure

project, etc)

• Sustainability guidance/tools used (WRAP toolkit, BBP Green Lease toolkit)

• Third party certification achieved (BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes, BES6001,

Environmental Product Declaration etc.)

• Investment and payback

How was it done? • Brief description of the sustainability initiative and how it was delivered

• Consideration of new technologies/innovation

• Barriers to implementation and strategies used to overcome barriers

• Resources used to deliver the initiative and relevant costs

Results • Results and achievements (environmental, social and economic)

• Lessons learned (what worked what did not work?)

• Conclusions drawn (what will do differently next time?)

• Legacy and long-term management

• Value – commercial and other

• Comparison to relevant benchmarks

Attachments • Photos


APPENDIX D – EXAMPLES OF A USER JOURNEY USING THE PLATFORM

This Appendix looks to provide an idea of some possible user journey’s and some possible outputs, please note that the outputs will be reviewed during

the development process, this is just for illustrative purposes only.

The user here is looking to prepare a holistic sustainability strategy for a new housing development. They would go through an initial selection process

which will then provide a set of results which can be found on the following page.

Selection process What stage in the building lifecycle are you at?

Strategy Acquisition

Master

planning

Building

design

Product

supply/

Procurement

New build

construction

Commissioning/

building

handover

Transaction/

change of

use Operations Refurbishment Disposal

What type of project is it?

New Build Refurbishment Fit-out In use CSR

Product

development

What building use is it?

Office Retail School Industrial Healthcare Sports Domestic

What impacts are you looking to address?

Holistic Energy Carbon Water Waste Materials Biodiversity Social Economic

What geographical scope do you want to address?

UK England Wales Scotland N. Ireland Europe International


Results

Measurement

Adapting to climate change impacts - A good practice guide for sustainable communities

BRE Sustainability Checklist, BREEAM

Building for Life

CABE

Carbon Trust Standard

Code for Sustainable Homes

Design for Homes

EA Flood Map

Ecohomes/BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment

Good Homes Alliance Standard

Heritage at Risk register, English Heritage. Save Britain’s Heritage Buildings at Risk register. Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland

Heritage Gateway & National Heritage list for England

ISO 14001

ISO14044

Landscape character assessment

Lifetime Homes

Local Transport Plan

Manual for Streets

Passivhaus

SHIFT

UK-GBC Example Decision Framework - Waste

UK-GBC Example Decision Framework - Water

Reporting

ISO14001

Credit 360

SEDEX

Examples of

progressive KPIs

and benchmarks

%of new homes built to levels 4 and above of CSH

Strategic Forum

WRAP Halving Waste to Landfill

ODA Sustainable Development Strategy


Guidance and

toolkits

Biodiversity in planning and development – code of practice

CABE Sustainable Places

Carbon Trust

CIBSE research & guidance.

CIBSE TM22: Energy Assessment & Reporting Methodology

CIBSE TM39: Building Energy Metering

EIA Quality Mark

Energy Opportunity Plans

Energy Saving Trust

Flood Risk Assessment Guidance for New Development, Environment Agency and Defra (2005) Neighbourhood Forum/Village Design Statement

Industry bodies - e.g. HBF, Good Homes Alliance

Local/regional historic building trusts.

NPPF; Where relevant, AONB authorities; Natural England guidance

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

UK Climate Impacts Programme, Environmental Change Institute

Various Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs), e.g.Building for Tomorrow Today - Sustainable Design and Construction: Leeds Local Development

Framework

Village Design Statement/Neighbourhood planning

WRAP

Zero Carbon Hub

Policies for

borrowing

British Land Brief for Sustainable Developments

London 2012 PVC Policy

London 2012 Sustainable Development Strategy

Case studies

Carbon Trust low carbon building accelerators case studies

ODA Learning Legacy website

Training &

education UK-GBC STEP Introduction


The user here is a commercial tenant looking to address its internal operational performance around energy and carbon. They would go through an

initial selection process which will then provide a set of results which can be found on the following page.



Master

planning

Building

design

Product

supply/

Procurement

New build

construction

Commissioning/

building

handover

Transaction/

change of

use Operations Refurbishment Disposal


New Build Refurbishment Fit out In use CSR

Product

development


Office Retail School Industrial Healthcare Sports Domestic






Results

Measurement

BBP Better Metering Toolkit

BBP Green Building Management Toolkit

BREEAM In Use

EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

EPODA

ISO EN 16001

ISO14001

RICS SKA

Reporting

BiTC – CR Index

Carbon Disclosure Project

Carbon Trust Standard

Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Green 500

GRI

SEDEX

Ska Rating

Examples of

progressive KPIs

and benchmarks

IPD Eco-Ledger Benchmark tool

IPD Health Check tool

London Benchmarking Group

ULI LESSEN


Guidance and

toolkits

British Council for Offices Best Practice Guide

BS 8900:2006 Guidance for Managing Sustainable development

Building User Guide for BREEAM compliant buildings

Business Council on Cliamate Change (USA) Green Tenant Toolkit

Carbon Disclosure Project

CRC

GPA metrics

Green 500

GRI CRESS

IPD Environment Code

ISPI Monitor Code

LES-TER

RICS Maintenance Schedules

SKA

UNEP Common Carbon Metrics

Case studies

Carbon Table

Mayor of London Green Awards (Green 500)

Training &

education

BREEAM

UK-GBC STEP Introduction


The user here is a product manufacturer. They would go through an initial selection process which will then provide a set of results which can be found

on the following page.



Master

planning

Building

design

Product supply/

Procurement

New build

construction

Commissioning/

building

handover

Transaction/

change of

use Operations Refurbishment Demolition


New

Build Refurbishment Fit out In use CSR

Product

development


Office Retail School Industrial Healthcare Sports Domestic All






Results

Measurement

tools

Environmental Profiles

ICE database

Measurement

standards

BES6001

BS EN ISO 14040 (Environmental Management. Life Cycle Assessment. Principles and Framework)

BS EN ISO 14044 (Environmental Management. Life Cycle Assessment. Requirements and Guidelines)

CEN TC 350

Cradle to Cradle

ISO 14025

ISO 14044

ISO 21930

EN 15804(dev)

EN 15942

ISO 14067(dev)

ISO 14046(dev)

Management

Systems

There are no management systems as such for measuring products. There are systems in existence which sets out how to go about putting in place an

Environmental Management System, e.g. ISO 14001.

Less widely used is ISO 9001, which applies to the processes that create and control the products and services an organisation supplies and prescribes

systematic control of activities to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met

Principles

that

measurement

systems

should

conform to

Based on a full lifecycle approach.

Common transparent independently verified LCA database.

Consistent with European activities.

Recognise the importance of Responsible Sourcing. Consistent across all construction products.

Product measurement tools should be fair, create a level playing field for all product manufacturers, be based on agreed standards and be easily applied

and understood. They must also be compatible with higher policy requirements. So, for example, product measurement tools should not drive products

from the market. Should be based the full Life cycle of a product, verified by a qualified third party and conducted to transparent methodology, so

different products can be compared objectively.


Reporting

There are relatively few, if any, obligatory reporting frameworks in existence. Most product manufacturers have to report on their performance in meeting

statutory requirements on allowable emissions, for example and this is a significant issue for them. More recently, we have seen the introduction of the

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, a mandatory carbon emissions reporting and pricing scheme to cover all organisations using more than 6,000MWh per year

of electricity per annum. There is a huge raft of initiatives in existence to encourage product manufacturers to improve their environmental performance

and the best known of these is probably the Government's Sustainable Construction Strategy. However, this relies on voluntary leadership and

implementation of best practice rather than any formal framework.

GRI

Sustainable Concrete Forum

What

principles

should

reporting

frameworks

conform to

GRI, AA1000, ISO 26000

Based on existing management systems


Examples of

progressive

KPIs and

benchmarks

Government Sustainability Strategy

UK Contractors Group

BREEAM

GRI

Constructing Excellence

Strategic Forum


How do you

compare

product

performance?

The Green Guide

EPD

Various Carbon Calculators


Guidance and

toolkits

Carbon Trust

Waterwise

The Institute for the Built environment (IBU), together with industry associations for the flooring sector, has developed Product Category Rules (PCR)

outlining the information needed for a ‘Floor Coverings’ EPD. IBU acts as the third party verifier and for both the LCA and the process and ensures the EPD

follows IBU’s standardised scheme.


Case studies

A case study of sustainable product manufacture at Tata Steel's Shotton plant can be found at http://www.colorcoat-

online.com/en/sustainability/colorcoat_sustainable/

An example of a InterfaceFLOR EPD can be found here on the IBU website : http://tinyurl.com/6cv5wy8

Over 60% reduction in waste from the concrete industry. 88% of concrete certified to responsible sourcing standard BES 6001.

Example

policies

See http://www.tatasteeleurope.com/en/company/procurement/ for an example of the procurement policy at Tata Steel. Also, Tata Steel Colors was used

as a pathfinder within the company to achieve certification to BES 6001, the BRE standard on sustainable procurement. See http://www.colorcoat-

online.com/en/company/news/tata_steel_colors_certified_BES_6001.

Sustainable Procurement Policy,

UK Contractors Group,

Achilles

Sedex

CEEQUAL

Training &

education

STEP

RIBA CPD - Product Transparency and EPDs

Apres

Concrete Sustainability for Managers


APPENDIX E - MEMBER QUESTIONS

1. We’re fitting out our retail spaces which tools should I use to measure impacts?

2. As a contractor what is the best way to report performance?

3. Is there anywhere independent I can provide my project data for benchmarking?

4. How can I make my products as sustainable as possible?

5. What do I need to do/is expected of me as a UK-GBC member?

6. Where can I get examples of embodied carbon benchmarks for a new build office block?

7. What progressive targets should I set for a new school?

8. How do I write an environmental/sustainability policy?

9. How do I develop a sustainability strategy for an SME organisation?

10. Is GRI CRESS appropriate for me?

APPENDIX F – BARRIERS TO PROGRESS

The Task Group identified some barriers to progress that require further help from UK-GBC and

other groups to lead on or work with Government for resolution. These are set out here:

• A clear business case for sustainable buildings

• Better links between design and end use of energy management

• Clarity of zero carbon definition

• Plans around allowable solutions, FiTs and RHI

• Clear international common metrics

• Consolidating information

• Addressing the gap between design and as built

• Designing for commissioning – good discrete access

• District Network operators

• Embodied carbon database and benchmarks

• Project team integration

• Lifecycle carbon

• Transparent product performance database and benchmarks at building level

• Compatibility with higher level strategies emerging from Europe

• Fewer but more focused initiatives.


APPENDIX G - ADDING INFORMATION TO THE ONLINE PLATFORM

Those looking to add information to the online platform will be required to provide the following

details:

Uploading General (case studies, guidance, KPI’s etc.)

• Title of information

• Summary of information

• Who uploaded it and organisation

• When it was uploaded

• Whether it is open to members only or the wider public

• Cost

Specifically for tools

• Its status in the regulatory market

• How it conforms to principles around common metrics such as UNEP SBCI Common

Carbon Metrics2, Green Property Alliance Common Metrics3, standards, transparency,

sharing data etc.

For training courses

• Title of course

• Summary of course

• Training provider type

• Course location

• Cost

• Whether it is open to members only or the wider public

• Who uploaded it

• When it was uploaded

Tagging There will be a requirement to tag the information being uploaded based on the following:

Information

• Stage of the building lifecycle it is applicable to

• Building type (new, existing, refurbishment)

• Building function (office, home)

• Themes (energy, carbon, water, waste, materials)

• Geographical scope

Training

• Stage of the building lifecycle interested in

• Type of training provider

• Length of course

• Themes (energy, carbon, water, waste, materials)

• Cost

• Location

2 http://www.unep.org/sbci/pdfs/UNEPSBCICarbonMetric.pdf 3 http://www.bpf.org.uk/en/files/bpf_documents/sustainability/Common_Metrics_Paper_FINAL.pdf


APPENDIX H – UK-GBC MEMBER COMMITMENT PROPOSALS

The following three proposals were put forward to initiate a discussion around strengthening the

UK-GBC member commitment:

1. Keep the existing member commitment as it currently stands

2. Introduce a tiered approach which is not prescriptive but sets out some suggested

actions that are sector specific, for example:

a. Base level – as per current member commitment

b. First level – a commitment to measure performance as suggested by UK-GBC and

provide data where necessary for benchmarking purposes. For example:

i. Projects – Part L – Data to Carbon Buzz ii. Organisations – DEC – Data to CIBSE iii. Products – embodied carbon – data to WRAP?

c. Second level - publicly display a comparable, transparent, third party verified performance label. For example:

i. Projects – e.g. BREEAM, RICS Ska, LEED ii. Organisations – e.g. DEC, GRI CRESS iii. Products – e.g. EPD, BES6001

3. Introduce prescriptive targets for projects, organisations and product suppliers to meet

which can be chosen from a menu of options, for example:

a. Projects – 15% improvement over Part L, 50% carbon reduction, >90% reuse and recycling of construction waste, >90% demolition waste, BREEAM Excellent, CSH

Level 4, 50% local employment, 100% accessible design etc.

i. Dark green projects achieve 100% targets

ii. Light green projects achieve >50% targets

iii. Yellow projects achieve >10% targets

b. Organisations – 50% carbon reduction by 2020,etc.

c. Products –targets should include compliance with a responsible sourcing method, reduction of embodied impacts including carbon and energy, elements of reuse

and recycling and safe and healthy materials.

i. Dark green products achieve 100% targets

ii. Light green products achieve >50% targets

iii. Yellow products achieve >10% targets

The member commitment targets could link back to those KPIs identified in the online platform.

UK Green Building Council The Building Centre

26 Store Street

London WC1E 7BT

T: +44 (0)20 7580 0623

E: [email protected]

W: www.ukgbc.org