Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon for Heritage, Culture and Listed Buildings

With a growing climate and energy crisis, and net zero carbon target dates fast approaching, it has never been more important to reduce carbon emissions.   

The built environment accounts for 30% of the UK’s carbon emissions and it is the responsibility of Facilities Managers as custodians of these buildings, to work with stakeholders to improve efficiency, drive down carbon emissions, and ensure their spaces positively impact the environment.  

In heritage, culture and listed buildings, balancing the need for preservation with the need for energy efficiency presents a unique challenge. Often these buildings have less efficient systems and infrastructure, higher levels of embodied carbon and specific listed building regulations. Additionally, these buildings are generally public facing, receiving high footfall, holding unique collections and needing to preserve an exquisite visitor experience; this means decarbonisation projects can be more complex to implement. The journey to net zero carbon will be challenging for the heritage and culture sector but can be successful with robust planning and fast action.   

Closing the Gap

Many heritage and culture buildings and organisations have publicly committed to net zero carbon targets, but some still need a well-defined, strategic plan to accomplish these goals. Are you finding it challenging to bring strategy to your objectives? No matter where you are on your journey, CBRE has experience in the sector and we’re here to help. 

Refer to the roadmap below to chart your course to net zero carbon.

Starting Out 

Establish Carbon Emissions Baseline 

Calculate Scope 1 & 2 emissions from energy and fuel consumption against selected base year. Work out building-related Scope 3 calculations. 

Identify Opportunities 

Bill Validation 

Review and demystify bills, reclaiming funds for charges on unconsumed energy and exempted levies. 

Energy Reporting & Analysis 

Analyse energy consumption and identify performance against targets – detect energy wastage and take action to minimise future energy consumption and cost. 

Low-Cost/No-Cost Energy Saving Measures 

Energy Managers audit sites for low-cost and no-cost measures that can reduce energy cost and consumption on site. 

Energy Audit 

Energy Managers conduct thorough audits of facility plants and control equipment, identifying energy reduction opportunities. Implementation costs, potential energy and carbon savings, cost savings, and investment payback estimated.  

Heritage buildings often cannot accommodate standard retrofitting, so customising energy efficiency measures that respect the building’s design will contribute to success. This includes using specialised insulation materials, lighting systems and other measures that maintain the building’s historical character. 

Decarbonisation Study 

Conduct a decarbonisation study to pinpoint opportunities for buildings to transition from fossil fuels, explore electrification and investigate renewable energy production options. Estimate implementation costs and calculate potential savings or return on investment (ROI). 

Planning 

Decarbonisation Strategy  

Hold workshop sessions to review the energy audit and decarbonisation study. Discuss future plans and implement an effective decarbonisation strategy for the building, displayed on a timeline with stages, magnitude and estimated costs. This forms your pathway to net zero carbon. 

Budget  

Energy Managers and Project Managers work together to provide an OpEx and CapEx plan that meets the needs of your decarbonisation strategy or pathway to net zero carbon. 

Funding Application  

Apply for public funding for decarbonisation projects, like the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund and Low Carbon Skills Fund. 

Implementation  

Plant Optimisation, Energy Reduction Projects, Asset Replacement and Renewable Energy Generation  

Engineers, Energy Managers, and Project Managers work together to deliver the changes that the facility requires to reduce energy consumption, operating cost, and carbon emissions on your journey to net zero carbon. Identify solutions that don't compromise the fabric or structure of heritage or listed buildings. Where possible, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources designed to blend with a building's aesthetics and comply with planning conditions of the buildings. 

Governance 

Energy and Carbon Reporting 

Create monthly and annual reports of carbon emissions from energy consumption. Other crucial reports include Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) and reports for the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and Display Energy Certificate (DEC). 

Training Stakeholders 

Train employees on-site to ensure the required changes in values and behaviours. Educate the building’s facilities team to ensure their working culture is set-up to deliver the net zero carbon plan. Engage supply chain partners towards your shared goals.  

Achieve Sustainability Goals 

Outcomes include: reduced energy consumption, reduced carbon emissions, reduced operating cost, decarbonisation of buildings and ultimately, net zero carbon. Stay on track by leveraging the power of data and reporting.  

Our work in action  

• CBRE can check energy bills and identify energy bill discount schemes like the Energy and Trade Intensive Industry (ETII) scheme CBRE successfully applied for a Climate Change Levy (CCL) exemption for the British Library
• CBRE has recently supported the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and The British Film Institute by completing energy audits and capability surveys on their sites. We also work alongside the RCGP offices to procure their electricity and gas 
• Recently, we supported The British Library in applying for public funding through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS)
• CBRE has supported installations of submeters and identification of leaks. Recently, CBRE recommended a water reduction solution to the British Library and Natural History Museum
• All these clients have full visibility of their carbon emissions through CBRE reporting dashboards