WorldGBC Advancing Net Zero Status Report 2022 Net Zero Trends & Innovations Embedding Retrofit & Renovation Policy Across Europe, we are seeing increased ambition and action on embedding retrofit and renovation policies to decarbonise existing building stock. This will help reduce operational emissions through improved energy efficiency and limit embodied carbon incurred through new developments. As part of Italy’s post-pandemic recovery strategy, the government introduced a superbonus 110% scheme to encourage green home renovations through tax credit, covering interventions such as renewable installation, insulation systems and heat pumps. Over 122,000 applications were approved and approximately €21bn spent as of March 2022. In April 2022, the Dutch Government started the Energy Saving Campaign, ‘Zet ook de knop om (Flick the switch)’, to stimulate households and entrepreneurs with practical energy saving tips. The National Insulation Programme was also launched to tackle poorly insulated homes with a goal of improving 2.5 million homes by 2030 at the latest. In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, stated that all private households that have a gas boiler must switch to another energy source between the next five to seven years. According to Dansk Fjernvarme, the industry organisation for district heating companies, out of the 400,000 households with a gas boiler, two thirds will be offered district heating. Embodied Carbon Tools, Targets & Benchmarks Industry is reacting to increased calls to action to tackle embodied carbon as part of a whole life carbon approach to decarbonising the built environment. In order to take effective action, stakeholders need measurement tools, constructive benchmarks and targets, as well as supportive policy and regulation from all levels of government. Industry organisations such as The Institution of Structural Engineers have created The Structural Carbon Tool. Developed from the ‘How to calculate embodied carbon’ guidance, the tool helps structural engineers estimate carbon amounts, identify opportunities for reduction and communicate impacts with design teams. Other tools include One Click LCA and Building Transparency’s Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3). Ramboll’s ‘Towards embodied carbon benchmarks for buildings in Europe’ series aims to incentivise EU policymakers and industry actors to tackle embodied carbon through the establishment of science-based aligned baselines, targets and benchmarks. LETI’s industry guidance and benchmarks seeks to help establish clear industry benchmarks and guidelines for the UK market. WBCSD and Arup’s ‘Net-zero buildings: Where do we stand?’ and Carbon Leadership Forum’s Embodied Carbon Policy Toolkit provides further guidance. The World Economic Forum introduced the Net Zero Carbon Cities Building Value Framework, which proposes a more holistic decision-making approach, recognising the importance of social and environmental outcomes, as well as system performance. We are also seeing GBCs provide crucial interventions from a locally relevant perspective. Singapore GBC has developed a unified Embodied Carbon Calculator to help inform decision makers on the carbon intensity of materials and products chosen. USGBC has launched a materials finder called Better Materials . Kenya GBC have launched the Jenga Green Library, a directory of PAGE 32
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