Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 91
We recommend that the Government should change the term embodied energy to embodied carbon in...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government should change the term embodied energy to embodied carbon in the National Model Design Code and provide a clear definition of embodied carbon and whole-life carbon in the NMDC based on the WLCN, Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction 67 LETI and RIBA definitions. The Government should provide guidance on how to assess embodied carbon by setting a national methodology for whole-life carbon assessments, as we have recommended in Chapter 2 above.
Government Response Summary
The government is reviewing comments on the National Model Design Code and will assess these in light of reforms to the planning system, and are offering support on themes related to the coding process. However, they state that detailed guidance on how to assess embodied carbon should be defined separately to the NMDC.
Paragraph Reference:
91
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The National Model Design Code was published in July 2021 and since then Government has been working with a number of local authorities testing and applying the guidance. We are actively reviewing all comments on the National Model Design Code and will assess these in light of reforms to the planning system through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. We are actively engaging with local authorities through the National Model Design Code Pathfinders Programme. Through this programme we are offering support on themes related to the coding process, such as those that focus on sustainability and energy addressing whole life carbon targets, energy use in construction and environmental impact. We agree with the Committee that detailed guidance on how to assess embodied carbon should be defined separate to the NMDC and have outlined our position in the response to Recommendation 2 above.