The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) identifies significant challenges in scaling up retrofit coordination within the industry.
- Training in low-carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, is inadequate for achieving net-zero goals.
- The CLC’s Construct Zero Performance Framework update reveals only 865 retrofit coordinators trained so far.
- Despite recruitment efforts, the CLC sets an ambitious goal of 30,000 retrofit coordinators by 2028.
- The Future Homes Standard and PAS 2080 accreditation play crucial roles in advancing retrofit initiatives.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has raised concerns about the ongoing difficulties in expanding the construction industry’s capacity to implement retrofit low-carbon heating solutions. A lack of sufficient training, particularly in the area of heat pumps and other sustainable heating technologies, is impeding progress towards the ambitious net-zero targets set for the sector.
In its eighth quarterly update on the Construct Zero Performance Framework (CZPF), the CLC highlights that only 865 retrofit coordinators have been trained to date. These coordinators are crucial as they oversee the assessment, specification, monitoring, and evaluation of energy-efficient measures for building retrofits. This is far from the CLC’s target of recruiting 30,000 retrofit coordinators by 2028.
The CLC has positioned the CZPF as a critical sector-level dashboard that tracks progress towards achieving net-zero emissions. The Future Homes Standard, currently undergoing consultation, is deemed essential in driving changes in retrofit practices. The CLC has expressed its readiness to collaborate with governmental bodies to further these initiatives.
A pivotal focus of the CLC’s update is the push to have construction businesses adhere to the PAS 2080 accreditation, a standard for carbon management and reporting within the industry. Although there is growth in larger companies (with more than 250 employees) obtaining this accreditation, the CLC stresses the importance of continued monitoring and improvement.
Encouragingly, the CLC has noted the ability to measure environmental product declarations (EPD) for construction products by 2025, with annual updates anticipated from that year onwards. The existing data suggest positive advancements among suppliers, merchants, and distributors in this respect, signalling progress in environmental responsibility within the supply chain.
The update also sheds light on several small but impactful changes being made within the industry, such as a 15% reduction in idling by vehicles and plant machinery in 2023, contributing to lower site emissions. The commitment to delivering new homes and buildings with 75% fewer emissions compared to current standards remains on target.
Moreover, there is optimism surrounding the adoption of low-carbon building materials. By 2035, the goal is to reduce emissions from construction products by 66% compared to 2018 levels, illustrating the industry’s forward-thinking stance on carbon reduction.
The CLC’s stringent focus on training, standards, and innovative solutions is pivotal for achieving net-zero targets in the construction sector.
