NZGBC’s practical guide to upfront carbon reductions

This NZGBC practical guide to upfront carbon reductions, launched in December, explores effective ways to significantly decrease carbon in materials and construction processes. As buildings become more energy-efficient and our grid undergoes decarbonisation, it is crucial to focus on upfront carbon (emissions produced during the manufacturing of materials and during construction; A1 to A5 in the Life Cycle Analysis).

In simple terms, building smaller with fewer resources and using carbon-sequestering and low-carbon materials is key to tackling upfront carbon. The guide includes plenty of useful diagrams and illustrations, provides context, definitions, guidance on setting reduction targets, defines roles, and offers quick tips on how to implement these changes today.

I highly recommend it as a kickstart to 2024. We collectively need to decarbonise our buildings as soon as possible!