Net Zero is attained when the levels of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere are no greater than those removed from the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases trap heat and have increased global temperatures over the last century, creating climate change. Carbon dioxide CO2 makes up the majority of greenhouse gasses.

The government and the Mayor of London have set targets to reach net-zero – the government by 2050 and the Mayor of London by 2030.

There are two sources of carbon emissions – operational carbon (produced during the use of a building – heating, cooling, running and managing them) and embodied carbon – (emitted in the construction of buildings – extracting materials for construction, transporting them to site, the construction itself and the disposals of supplies and demolition). 28% of carbon emissions from buildings is embodied carbon.

Gina Windley, Levitt Bernstein, gave a presentation about embodied carbon at our 2021 conference on Attaining Net-Zero in London – what that means to social housing tenants.

You can look at Gina’s slides (which you will have to download first) while listening to her presentation (link below).

You can also read the question and answer session between Gina and the conference attendees after her presentation.