News

As a leading provider of sustainability and net zero advisory services, Envision has experienced significant growth. In this rapidly evolving sector, strong leadership is crucial to navigating challenges and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth. Recognising the importance of diverse perspectives and strategic expertise, Envision is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Heyworth to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. With extensive experience in corporate finance, Chris brings valuable insights and leadership that will support the continued growth and strategic direction of the company.

Chris has a distinguished career spanning 21 years in corporate accounting, including in his current role as Group Chief Financial Officer of BC Partners, prior to which he was in leadership positions at Investec and Goldman Sachs. Chris has demonstrated exceptional expertise in corporate governance, growth and financial oversight, that is essential to our continued success.

Simon Rainsford, Managing Director of Envision commented: “We are delighted to welcome Chris to our Board. His proven track record and deep knowledge of financial management and governance will be instrumental as we navigate our continued growth. We look forward to his contributions and collaboration.”

Chris added: “I am honoured to join the Board of Envision. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an organisation that is at the forefront of sustainability in the built environment. I look forward to working with the leadership team to drive its vision forward.”

The Company

Envision is a leading sustainability and energy consultancy that provides specialist support towards sustainability within the built environment. With four directors at the helm, we have experienced a rapid growth over the last few years and are looking to expand our operations team to provide vital support services as we expand further.

Envision specialises in providing end-to-end support to its real estate clients. We pride ourselves on fostering a flexible, creative and fun working environment.

We take pride in our pro-active approach, supporting our clients with close and tailored support. Our pragmatic and hands-on approach means that we are retained by the largest UK property funds, publicly listed developers as well as leading constructors.

Our team (currently 27 employees) is based across two offices, one in London and one in Oxford. The Operations Team, consisting of three people, is based across the two offices.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Operations Administrator looking to take the next step in their career. Based in our London office, you will join our growing team, directly reporting to the Business Operations Manager, where you will provide business operations support across both our London and Oxford offices.

The role will involve, but will not be limited to:

• General Office Organisation:
  o First point of contact for incoming telephone enquiries & general queries across the business
  o Maintaining office supplies
  o Organising business cards & promotional stationary
  o Managing IT equipment & register
  o Organising software licenses
  o Liaising with our external IT Support team
  o Liaising with building management teams (London & Oxford)
  o Supporting the implementation of new IT systems
• Finance Support:
  o Supporting Finance Manager with invoicing and debtors/debt chasing
  o Managing staff Expenses & receipts
  o Co-ordinating the Company’s Carbon Footprint process
• HR administration:
  o Supporting staff recruitment, onboarding, training & personnel documentation
  o Undertaking DSE checks
• Organising Company insurance & registrations:
  o PL & EL insurance renewals, Healthcare and Life Assurance renewals, Atlas Citation (HR system), Synergy, etc
• Admin support for projects & proposals
• Supporting organisation of Company events, meetings & staff socials
• Supporting company marketing; LinkedIn, website, etc
• Deputising for the Business Operations Manager & Finance Manager when on leave
• Ad-hoc tasks as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the company.

About You

The successful candidate should be highly motivated, organised and possess excellent communication skills.

Essential Requirements:

• 3+ years’ experience in a similar role within the consultancy sector or a similar small
  organisation
• Strong organisational and planning skills in a fast-paced environment
• A creative mind with an ability to suggest improvements
• Good communication skills and excellent report formatting skills
• Proven experience in a senior administrator role with exceptional multi-tasking abilities
• An understanding of GDPR and dealing with confidential/sensitive information
• Knowledge of Office Administrator responsibilities, systems and procedures
• Highly proficient in MS Office (MS Word, MS Excel and MS Outlook, in particular)
• Experience of dealing with payments and financial queries
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Salary: £TBC (competitive)
Benefits: Company health insurance, Life assurance and Pension, Enhanced parental packages, Employee Assistance Programme, Remote working allowance, volunteering days, cycle to work scheme, social events, flexible hybrid working
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Location: Central London with visits to Oxford office

Various Green Building certifications can be applied to residential developments. Completing a Green Building Certification on a scheme has a number of benefits, including:

• Demonstrating the developer’s commitment to quality and sustainability.
• Fulfilling the ESG requirements of a funder.
• Being an attractive asset to tenants and homeowners, and providing confidence in the sustainability performance of their new homes.
• Schemes with Green Building Certifications can be submitted to improve a GRESB score.
• Sustainability measures included in a scheme as part of a Green Building Certification can reduce energy and running costs.

Two of the most common certifications in the industry for residential schemes are Home Quality Mark (HQM) and BREEAM In Use Residential (BIU), both delivered by the BRE, however their application will depend on the stage in which the project is within its lifecycle. 

What is Home Quality Mark?

Home Quality Mark (HQM), soon to be renamed BREEAM New Construction Residential, is a voluntary standard that provides an independent assessment of a new home’s performance in terms of sustainability, quality, and occupant well-being. Homes are assessed against a range of criteria, including running costs, health and well-being, environmental footprint, and digital connectivity. They are awarded stars depending on the number of features incorporated and can be awarded up to a 5-star rating.

An HQM assessment is completed during the design and construction of a development. The assessment phase ends when the development reaches Practical Completion (PC).

What is BREEAM In Use Residential?

BREEAM In Use (BIU) Residential is a sustainability assessment method for existing residential buildings, focusing on their operational performance, sustainability improvements, and certification. BIU aims to enable property investors, owners, and managers to drive sustainable improvements in their assets and showcase high ESG standards.

BREEAM In Use assessments are completed on existing, operational buildings or recently completed schemes.

Depending on the number of features evident on site, a building can achieve up to an ‘Outstanding’ rating. 

How do they align?

The fundamental difference between HQM and BIU is the phase of assessment within the building’s lifespan. HQM is completed during design and construction, whereas BIU can be conducted at any point throughout the operational life of the development.

Many credits achieved as part of a HQM assessment are equivalent to the requirements in BREEAM In Use. Developments that have undertaken HQM can more readily achieve BIU certification once the building is occupied, as many of the features designed and constructed into the scheme are recognised under the BIU process. There are also a number of credits where the requirements mostly align, with only minor additional evidence required to achieve the BREEAM In Use credits. Reviewing BREEAM In Use requirements during the design and construction phase, in line with an active HQM, can help achieve the highest possible rating for the scheme, once in use.

Envision has prepared a guide to how these credits align, which can be downloaded here. To find out how Envision can support you with your HQM or BREEAM In Use Assessment, please get in touch at contact@envisioneco.com.

GRESB has introduced changes to scoring BREEAM and other building certifications in the GRESB Real Estate Assessment methodology. Building certifications, such as BREEAM, WELL and LEED, can have a significant impact on an organisation’s GRESB scoring – certifications on new and operational assets can contribute up to 10.5% to the overall score, which could result in achieving the next star rating. Undertaking building certifications can also help contribute to the wider GRESB score, by driving efficiencies, and gaining a better understanding of assets and their operation.  

The way in which GRESB assesses building certification has been evolving in recent years. Two key changes were made for the GRESB Real Estate 2024 assessment:- 

• Timing of validity – to limit disadvantages through any delays in certification. Now, assets which did not receive final certification in the reporting year can be included, provided submission for certification took place before the end of the reporting year and the certificate is received prior to the GRESB submission deadline. 
• Time factor  – introduced for both construction and operational building certifications, the achieved score decreases over time, reflecting the decreasing relevance of building certifications over time to the asset’s current performance.  

Whilst no further changes have been made to scoring or reporting on building certifications for the GRESB Real Estate 2025 assessment, work has been undertaken to review the criteria for the building certification schemes themselves that are recognised in GRESB. The list of accepted schemes has been refined, so that those with the greatest credibility and impact are recognised, and after extensive public consultation, new evaluation criteria for accepting these certification schemes has been published. 

The current list of approved schemes will continue to be valid for the 2025 and 2026 GRESB assessments, however scheme providers, such as the BRE, will soon be required to submit evidence against these criteria in order to be recognised from 2027 onwards. Minimum requirements have been set for a scheme’s governance, process, and transparency, and for certification to be at an asset level. Schemes will be weighted based on how they fit into each of the three categories below: 

• Overarching (100%): Comprehensive certifications that address a broad spectrum of themes (e.g. energy, health & wellbeing) and topics (e.g. indoor air quality).
• Thematic (50%): Certifications focused on a specific theme.
• Single Attribute (25%): Certifications concentrating solely on individual topics

For schemes to be regarded as covering a theme or topic, they must meet the required level of stringency. These are topic-dependent and vary between performance-based, prescriptive, and qualitative. 

GRESB is due to publish monthly updates of schemes assessed under the new criteria from mid-2025 onwards, with the scoring impact to be implemented for the 2027 GRESB assessment. 

Get in touch with us via contact@envisioneco.com for support with your GRESB assessment and building certifications.

Introduction

The construction industry is having to address its significant contribution to climate change by reducing its associated embodied carbon. While reducing these emissions is a vital step toward a more sustainable future, achieving this goal is often easier said than done. Transitioning directly from traditional construction methods and materials to radically alternative methods and materials, such as steel frames to timber frames, for instance, presents both technical and logistical challenges for many design teams.

In this article, we explore three key construction materials that we are dubbing the “usual suspects”, as these are the materials that, from our experience with BREEAM, Net Zero and Whole Life Carbon Assessments, are often targeted for embodied carbon reduction due to their significant embodied carbon footprints: clay brick, concrete and steel. We will address why each of these materials have high upfront embodied carbon costs, we will then highlight the cutting edge innovative solutions that are beginning to be utilised within the industry in an attempt to dramatically reduce their carbon footprints without compromising on performance or feasibility and with as minimal impact on supply chains as possible. These design innovations demonstrate how the challenges of moving away from traditional methods can be overcome without considerable disruption to allow for easier uptake across the industry.

This article was inspired from a team visit to the Energy Revolution exhibition at the London Science Museum during an Envision team enrichment day. The experience highlighted the important role of innovation in addressing sustainability challenges and prompted a reflection on how similar advancements could help reshape the construction industry into a more forward thinking and progressive industry.

Suspect #1

Brick

Brick is a material often found in building facades, from smaller developments such as residential homes, to much larger developments such as offices and hospitals. This is mainly due to it being a material that is valued for its durability and versatility.

Whilst the overall use of brick has decreased since the 1970s, brick continues to be an important material, with approximately 80% of new build homes being brick built according to the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI). However, its production comes with significant upfront environmental costs. The process of firing clay bricks at high temperatures consumes substantial amounts of energy, often relying on fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas to achieve them. For a material as integral to building traditions, these challenges make reducing its carbon footprint a priority.

Fortunately, there is already a strong market for the use of reclaimed bricks within the industry once they have been salvaged from a refurbishment or demolition project. However the initial reclaiming of brick can sometimes be problematic, unlike traditional lime based mortar, modern cement-based mortars makes cleaning brick for reuse difficult. This issue can be circumvented in part by increasing the popularity of specifying lime mortar for a more circular approach. This is due to lime mortar being softer than traditional clay brick, so unlike with modern hard concrete mortars (e.g. Portland Cement Mortar) demolition contractors are less likely to damage the bricks as they are disassembling them.

Whilst the reuse of reclaimed bricks is proving to be helpful in reducing the industries reliance on the constant manufacturing process of new clay bricks they don’t ultimately solve the core issue, which is the carbon intense process of firing bricks due to the typical use of coal to achieve the high temperatures required for the process. 

This is where alternative brick types such as K-Briq and Hybrick excel as they not only utilise recycled construction and demolition materials, which minimises resource extraction and transportation impacts but also significantly reduces the amount of firing that is required. In Hybrick’s case the associated upfront embodied carbon is further reduced through the use of green electrolytic hydrogen generated via renewable electricity. A study funded by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) found that on average bricks fired by green electrolytic hydrogen produce around 88% less CO2e compared to traditional methods (BOF) per MJ of energy used as can be seen in Figure 1.1.

Key Links:

https://www.leti.uk/specification

https://www.mbhplc.co.uk/sustainability/hybrick/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649ac8f8f901090012818881/Michelmersh_Brick_Holdings_-_Deep_Decarbonisation_of_Brick_Manufacturing_-_IFS_Feasibility_Report.pdf

Suspect #2

Concrete

Concrete foundations, block frames and walling are also often found in many modern construction projects, often specified for their ability to sustain large amounts of weight across large expanses. Concrete, however, is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 8% of worldwide CO₂ emissions. This is largely due to the energy-intensive process of manufacturing cement, a key ingredient in concrete, which typically involves heating limestone to high temperatures.

When it comes to reducing the embodied carbon associated with concrete, there are two key strategies:

• Leaner design solutions that reduce the total volume of concrete required
• Enabling the production of concrete with a lower embodied carbon per m³

As a general guideline, it’s important not to have prescriptive specification but instead allow for performance based specifications for concrete, particularly regarding strength and curing time, and to permit the use of secondary cementitious materials (SCMs), also known as cement replacements, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), fly ash, and silica fume. A literature review performed by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) found that whilst global supplies of GGBS must continue to be fully utilised to reduce overall Portland Cement (PC) demand, due to a global GGBS shortage any local increase in the amount of PC substituted with imported GGBS is unlikely to decrease global emissions, which questions the benefit of the increased use of these on a project level as it may not be decreasing the overall global emissions. The primary strategy should always be to reduce quantity, however material innovations are continuing to develop, along with the supply chain, which will hopefully help with these global demand issues in the future. 

All concrete mixes compliant with BS 8500 are primarily based on Portland cement (CEM I), but most incorporate SCMs, which have significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to CEM I. In the UK, the most commonly used replacement cements are GGBS and fly ash, allowing for up to 85% cement replacement under the current BS 8500 guidelines. 

Additionally, there are innovative low-carbon cements, such as belite cement, pozzolan cement, and metakaolin, which are available and in development, but they are not yet included in BS 8500, limiting their current applications and availability.

A greener alternative for concrete blocks that is currently available on the UK market though is GreenBloc, which is a pioneering solution that replaces traditional Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) blocks with low-carbon alternatives and incorporates recycled aggregates. As a result, carbon reductions of up to 80% compared to conventional OPC-based concrete blocks have been found.  GreenBloc maintains the structural integrity and performance of traditional concrete blocks as it has a bulk dry material density of 1850-2000kg/m³, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including foundations, load-bearing walls, and partitions. 

Envision has performed a comparison assessment between a building specification utilising traditional British Concrete Blocks and the same building specification using the Greenbloc alternative, and found that a building design with the only significant difference being the concrete block type utilised, could achieve an overall reduction of circa 10 kgCO₂e/m² at the whole building level, see Figure 2.1.

Key Links:

https://www.leti.uk/specification

https://ccp.ltd/blocks/greenbloc/

https://www.istructe.org/resources/guidance/efficient-use-of-ggbs-in-reducing-global-emissions

Suspect #3

Steel

Steel is one of the most utilised materials in modern construction, as similarly to concrete it can also sustain large amounts of weight across large expanses. A key advantage of steel use over concrete, particularly in the construction of industrial buildings however, is it’s high strength to weight ratio which allows for significantly less material to be used for the same application. 

Traditional Steel production methods are, however, one of the most carbon-intensive industries, contributing around 7-9% of global CO₂ emissions. Traditional steelmaking processes, such as  the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) method, rely heavily on coal, both as a reducing agent and as a fuel source. This process is efficient but comes at a cost of releasing significant CO₂ emissions—approximately 2.5 tCO₂e/tonne of steel produced​. Moreover, the reliance on fossil fuels for energy-intensive smelting exacerbates the sector’s carbon footprint, making it a significant challenge in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Green steel can now be widely found within the industry. This refers to steel that is produced with significantly reduced carbon emissions compared to steel produced from traditional steelmaking processes. One of the key technologies enabling green steel production is Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology, which uses electricity to melt scrap steel or direct reduced iron, rather than relying on coal in blast furnaces. EAFs can be powered by renewable energy sources, making them a more sustainable option and are becoming more available in the UK and across Europe as a whole. 

Additionally, the integration of hydrogen into the steelmaking process offers a supplementary route for further reducing carbon emissions. By using hydrogen as a reducing agent instead of coal, the production of steel can shift towards a process that emits water vapor instead of carbon dioxide, significantly lowering the overall carbon footprint of steel manufacturing. In addition to hydrogen-based reduction, innovations in recycling scrap steel and the use of alternative energy sources further support the carbon-reducing potential of Green Steel. By increasing recycling rates, Green Steel reduces the need for primary iron production, thus lowering both environmental impact and resource extraction​. 

An example of Green Steel is ArcelorMittal’s xCarb. This product is produced in an EAF and includes innovative bio-coal which is derived from forestry and agricultural waste. It also utilises carbon capture and reuse from their current BOF plants and, most innovatively, uses Hydrogen to reduce the iron ore which significantly reduces the amount of carbon emissions associated with steel production. An EPD comparison assessment between UK Tata Steel, ArcelorMittal Standard Steel and ArcelorMittal xCarb steel, found that ArcelorMittal’s xCarb steel produces 64% less associated carbon emissions than standard ArcelorMittal hot rolled steel and 83% less than UK Tata steel standard structural steel, see Figure 3.1.

Key Links:
https://www.leti.uk/specification

https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/climate-action/xcarb

Conclusion

In closing, we have examined three construction materials (brick, concrete, and steel) that are key to the construction industry, that we have termed as the “usual suspects” in the context of embodied carbon reduction. This brief analysis, has highlighted the significant embodied carbon footprints associated with each of these materials and the reasons behind their high upfront embodied carbon costs. 

Innovative solutions that focus on circularity, reduction of manufacturing related emissions and reduction of carbon emissions associated with extraction and transportation have begun to emerge within the industry. These advancements can dramatically reduce the carbon footprints of these materials while maintaining performance and feasibility, all with the aim of having minimal disruption to supply chains to facilitate easy implementation. These material innovations illustrate that the transition away from traditional methods is not only possible, but can be achieved with currently available technology and ideally will be more broadly adopted across the construction sector as we progress towards 2030.

At Envision, we specialise in assessing and supporting the transition to more sustainable construction materials and practices through services that we offer such as LCA for BREEAM, Whole Life Cycle Assessment (WLCA) and Net Zero Carbon Life Cycle Assessment (NZC LCA). These services can enable us to evaluate the full environmental impact of a construction project from start to finish, helping clients make informed decisions about materials, design, and construction methods throughout the design and build process. By integrating sustainable material alternatives we assist our clients in achieving substantial reductions in embodied carbon, ultimately with the goal of driving the industry closer to a more sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

Written by: Jacob Broad

Reviewed by: Elise Hewat

ESG Building Blocks

Sustainable finance is a pragmatic approach that incorporates environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into financial decision-making to address global challenges. Valued at $5.49 trillion in 2023, the sustainable finance market is projected to grow to $38.19 trillion by 2034. Sustainable finance initiatives include ESG-focused asset investment and management, social impact investing, green investments/bonds, and sustainable banking. 

Flows Towards Decarbonisation

Sustainable finance market growth is dominated by European organisations such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), contributing €44.3 billion in 2023 towards sustainability and climate action. The EIB’s >€1 trillion for <1.5°C paper outlines its goals for sustainable finance investments, including the Energy Lending Policy to support decarbonisation of the energy supply. Sustainable finance also incentivises the construction of energy-efficient buildings through financing green building certifications. BREEAM Certification Schemes account for an 80% market share in Europe and align with the EU Taxonomy for sustainable practices. This establishes greater compliance, standardisation, and offers sustainable finance opportunities for BREEAM-assessed buildings, as explored in the BRE (2022) A Guide to the EU Taxonomy and BREEAM.

Additionally, the UK government’s Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million grant, provides funding towards decarbonising the heat network. Exeter Energy Network received £42.5 million towards building a Low-to-Zero Carbon heat network using air-source heat pumps and a high-temperature water source heat pump. Connecting homes and buildings to this network is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 65-75% compared to gas heating. By directing sustainable finance to energy efficiency schemes, the GHNF helps contribute to the UK’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Investing Responsibly 

A major driver for sustainable finance is ESG-related asset management and impact investing. Aviva Investors, a global asset manager, surpassed its target to finance £1bn in sustainable real estate after extending a £227 million ESG and sustainability loan to Romulus investment firm. The loan’s favourable borrowing rates are contingent upon meeting sustainability-related KPIs and evidencing measurable sustainability improvements in lent assets. 

Asset managers aim to create ESG policies and targets to improve the profile of their investments, to consider long-term risks, and to report on ESG performance. They face key challenges in ESG reporting including lack of standardisation in reporting methodologies and insufficient transparency in ESG data and policies. A survey completed by 300 US and European asset managers, titled Measurable Impact: Asset Managers on the Challenges and Opportunities of ESG Investment concluded that 64% of asset managers reported insufficient transparency and disclosure in ESG activities. This limits the extent to which asset managers can evaluate their fund’s ESG-related performance, assess risks and precisely direct sustainable finance investment. To meet growing investor demand, fund managers are increasingly reporting on their ESG via benchmarks such as GRESB, which commit to transparent reporting and third-party verification. 

Sustainable finance holds immense potential to drive the transition to a sustainable built environment. However, realising this potential requires greater standardisation of regulations, more effective funding allocation and enhanced transparency in ESG reporting.

Originally published Transform Dec 2024 © IEMA