Whole Life

The first objective of this module is to reduce carbon emissions from the sourcing, transportation, fabrication and construction of all materials and products (A1-A5). Secondly, to ensure that the choices that are made will also help reduce future carbon emissions through subsequent life-cycle stages (B, C, D), a close understanding of the supply chain is needed. For example, whether virgin or recycled material sources are being used (A1); the energy sources and local energy grid associated with the manufacture of products (A1); the location of manufacturing plants in relation to the site, the transport methods and travel distances from material sources to fabrication plants (A2), and from fabrication to site (A4); the level of waste associated with the manufacture of the product (A1, A3); and the on-site assembly of products into the finished scheme (A5). Emissions should be estimated using manufacturers’ recommendations and Environment Product Declarations (EPDs) where possible, identifying the source of the EPDs.

The processes used in fabricating products (A3) are also important, as well as the methods used to construct the building, including contractor related items such as temporary works, shuttering type and energy use (A5). Off-site or modern methods of construction (MMC) can have significant benefits in reducing waste (A1, A3, A5) and the extent of repair and maintenance as part of the ‘snagging’ process (A5). Whilst the focus of module A is on the materials and processes up to project completion, the selections made should also take account of the future life-cycle of the building (modules B, C, D).

The objective of this module is to understand, at the design stages, how the building will perform post-construction and how to ensure that in-use emissions (B1-B7) will be minimised. This includes the in-use emissions of some products, for example, some refrigerants and paints (B1). There are materials and products which are capable of being ‘regenerative’, in that they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (B1) over the life-cycle of the building, and these should be accounted for in the assessment.

Designing to minimise future emissions from maintenance (B2), repair (B3) and replacement (B4) across all building element categories over the future lifecycle of the building will have long-term carbon (and financial) benefits. Reasonable maintenance scenarios should be developed based on facilities management information.

Emissions from maintenance, repair and replacement should be estimated using manufacturers’ recommendations and Environment Product Declarations (EPDs) where possible (identifying the source EPD). Alternatively, warranty periods for the replacement of major systems such as windows, cladding, services, plant should be used unless scenarios are provided, supported by evidence, for periods longer than the provided warranties. A possible source of life-span data is from Building Cost Information Service. Where warranty periods are unavailable, reasonable life span periods should be assumed supported by suitable evidence. See item 3.5.3.4 of the RICS PS for details of replacement assumptions that should be made. If there is an alteration or refurbishment (B5) planned from the outset of the project, then steps can be taken during the design stages to ensure that this will be facilitated with minimum or zero waste, or damage to existing fabric. Specific future alterations or improvements that are known and planned at the point of practical completion should be included.

Operational energy use (B6) should be minimised by considering the overall resource efficiency of the building. In completing this module, applicants should use the estimate of operational energy use provided in the energy assessment and insert this figure directly into the WLC assessment. This should reflect the estimated figures calculated as part of the SAP and CIBSE TM54 analyses for domestic and non-domestic uses respectively. This is in line with Section 3 of the ‘Be Seen – energy monitoring guidance’. Modules A1-A5 and module B6 should be considered together. Any energy use and emissions associated with water related systems i.e. operational water use (B7) should be captured under operational energy use (B6). Module B7 covers carbon emissions related to water supply and wastewater treatment.

This module captures the emissions from when the building has reached the end of its useful life, i.e. at the end of the 60-year reference study period. It covers deconstruction and demolition (C1), transport (C2), waste processing for reuse, recovery or recycling (C3) and disposal (C4), until the site is cleared, level and ready for further use. Suitable project-specific scenarios should be used to establish the anticipated end-of-life carbon emissions impacts of these actions (C1-C4). The carbon reduction activities undertaken for module C3 will be set out as part of the Circular Economy Statement (see Policy SI 7 and Circular Economy Statement Guidance). The potential carbon costs or benefits associated with these activities should be calculated and included in the appropriate section of the WLC assessment.

Designing to enable future disassembly and dismantling will reduce the likely carbon impacts of these activities and facilitate the potential carbon benefits (see module D) from a future circular outcome.

Deciding what will happen to a building after it has been dismantled or demolished many years in the future is clearly speculative. However, in order to transform London to a resource-efficient, zero-carbon economy, it is essential that these issues are given careful consideration at the design stage. The Circular Economy Statement for the development will set out the carbon reduction activities undertaken for this module. The potential carbon costs or benefits associated with these activities should be calculated and included in the appropriate section of the WLC assessment.

The objective is to facilitate future reuse, recovery and recycling at the highest possible level. The applicant is required to develop realistic and feasible scenarios, supported by evidence, to support any carbon benefits included in the reporting of module D. Due to the speculative nature of these scenarios this module is reported separately. Module D is essentially (in combination with module C3) the ‘circular economy’ module. Its importance is that it provides a carbon emissions quantification of the potential circular benefits of a scheme.

Figures provided should be accompanied by the circular scenarios assumed (as per ‘material quantity and end of life scenarios’ table in the template file). The principle is that for a project that follows the ‘end of life’ of the applicant’s project, the future carbon cost of making a component (e.g. an appropriately specified steel beam) or an entire structural frame will be avoided and the saving will be the same as the process of providing a new component or system (subject to grid decarbonisation, see 3.8). As this potential future carbon benefit is the result of a design decision made today, it is recorded in this module.