Decarbonization or Demise – Sustainable Solutions for Resilient Communities

Table of Contents

1. Frontmatter

2. Building and Environmental Design

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Evaluating the Impact of Innovative Technologies on the Delivery and Affordability of South African Affordable Housing

      Jeffrey Jr. Mahachi, Alireza Moghayedi, Kathy Michell

      Abstract

      The study evaluated the impact of innovative technologies on the delivery and affordability of low-income housing in South Africa. Various technologies, including UAVs, building information modelling (BIM), geographic information systems (GIS), 3D printing, VR, AR, AI, smart sensors, and modular/prefabrication, were explored. A mixed-method approach was used, collecting qualitative data through expert interviews and quantitative data from 100 surveys. Thematic analysis and descriptive/inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Results showed that these technologies can accelerate housing delivery and improve cost-efficiency. Specific technologies such as 3D printing, modular/prefabrication, BIM, GIS, VR, OOP, and PPM were identified as beneficial for housing planning, design, and construction. Challenges such as high costs and limited social acceptance were also identified. The study emphasized government support through financial incentives and investment in research and development. Promoting the use of these technologies in both affordable and high-end housing projects was deemed important. Overall, the study highlights the significance of innovative technologies in addressing the affordable housing crisis in South Africa and calls for government intervention to overcome challenges and ensure affordable housing for all.

   3. Is Timber the Answer? Can the Use of Cross-Laminated Timber in the Multi-Storey Residential Development Contribute to Meeting the Key Sustainability Targets Set in Construction 2025?

      John Weirs, Robert Tant

      Abstract

      Global construction is forecast to grow by over 70% by 2025. To put the UK at the forefront of global construction, the industry and government created a joint strategy, ‘Construction 2025’, outlining targets based on cost, delivery, a reduction in imports and a reduction in emissions. It is the emissions target on which this chapter focuses. Latham, Egan, Wolstenholme and Farmer all criticised the industry’s lack of collaboration, with little improvement being made from these reports. If ‘Construction 2025’ emission targets are to be met, radical changes must be made. Timber, as a construction material, has progressed significantly over the last 15 years, particularly with the development of cross-laminated timber (CLT). Consequently, significant growth in its popularity in the multi-storey residential market has resulted. This study aims to establish if adopting CLT as the main structural element could be the multi-storey residential development sector’s solution to contribute to the reduction in emissions as set out in Construction 2025. A quantitative research methodology was adopted to gather data from industry professionals, exploring their views in relation to CLT’s sustainability credentials. The findings illustrate that a reduction in emissions was the highest priority among construction professionals. It also found that the adoption of CLT in the multi-storey residential sector can contribute to the sustainability targets set out in Construction 2025 as well as across the whole life cycle of the building.

   4. The Impact of Roof Design on Embodied Carbon and BIPV Energy of a Primary School Building: An LCA-Based Study on the Embodied Carbon and PV-Generated Energy of Seven Roof Designs on a Two-Form Entry Primary School in Leeds, UK

      Claire-Louise Pickard Wheen, Kambiz Rakhshanbabanari, Martin Fletcher

      Abstract

      Purpose: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method of quantifying the environmental performance of materials and products. It is also applied to whole buildings with the aim of reducing their carbon footprint. The purpose of this paper is to undertake the LCA of a building with varying roof designs, all with building-integrated photovoltaic panels (BIPVs), to determine their impact on embodied emissions. The reason for this is to tailor upfront building design to create low-carbon and eventually zero-carbon buildings as we strive for net zero carbon.

      Design/Methodology/Approach: The study has two main parts: (a) to calculate the solar energy generated by BIPVs on each roof design and (b) to carry out LCA cradle-to-practical completion (A1–A5) stages of the building options based on a 100-year lifespan.

      Findings: The two-storey buildings produce significantly less carbon than single-storey buildings of the same gross internal area. All roof designs assessed mitigate enough carbon from BIPV-generated energy to offset the embodied carbon within a year based on current UK electricity grid values. Upfront embodied carbon emitted during construction will generate a larger share of the whole life carbon (WLC) of the building as the electricity grid decarbonises, justifying the requirement to design for net zero carbon.

      Originality/Value: The findings of this study further develop the construction industry’s knowledge of LCA and progress the transition to net zero carbon. They can also support policy development to meet the government’s 2050 net zero target.

3. Reducing Consumption and Waste

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Exploring Potentials and Barriers of Industry 4.0 Technologies to Facilitate the Transition to Circular Economy in Construction: A Systematic Literature Review

      Oluwapelumi Abiodun, Mohamed Abadi, Obuks Ejohwomu, Patrick Manu

      Abstract

      The UK construction industry (CI) has made significant progress in recovering non-hazardous construction and demolition waste (CDW). Nevertheless, construction is still responsible for 60% (130 MT/year) of all waste produced. There have been claims in the literature that Industry 4.0 technologies have the potential to support the transition to a circular economy (CE); however, these claims have yet to be tested in the construction context. A systematic literature review including 31 hits was conducted to explore the potential of Industry 4.0 technologies, referred to as Construction 4.0, for supporting the transition to CE in construction and to identify barriers to their adoption. Findings revealed that the adoption of Construction 4.0 is still associated with technical and managerial barriers and requires the involvement of all stakeholders. The most prominent technical barriers were the lack of standards, fragmented data-sharing platforms and individual technologies’ lack of holistic capability for solving CE problems. The costs of purchase, implementation, training, maintenance and operation were prominent among the managerial barriers. Overall, Construction 4.0 solutions were limited to separate situations and did not support circularity throughout the whole construction process. Hence, a framework was developed mapping technologies to different stages in the construction process where they can support circularity. Future research will seek to develop a model to systematically employ Construction 4.0 technologies throughout the construction process to enhance its circularity.

   3. An Evaluation of Retrofit Toolkits for Multistakeholder Application

      Sharon Bhorkar, David Glew, Martin Fletcher

      Abstract

      Of the 28 million residential properties within the UK, 19 million are poorly insulated and hence energy inefficient. It is a challenge to improve the energy efficiency of these buildings. Retrofitting measures reduce energy consumption in homes and improve occupant comfort, make homes healthier and reduce fuel bills. Local authorities across the UK are undertaking thousands of retrofits each year; however, the measurement of the impact of these retrofit activities is haphazard. The retrofit assessments taking place are fragmented, complex to implement, expensive, inconsistent in their approach, and therefore not a comparable, standardised assessment of the retrofit work done. The lessons learnt and best practices are not being shared, and there remains uncertainty around the benefits that are being delivered to communities. This research aims to understand how to improve retrofit assessments.

      To address this problem, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) developed a toolkit called the Build Upon 2 Framework. It was meant to evaluate retrofit projects and standardise how to quantify social, environmental and economic benefits of projects. In addition to collecting technical data from energy models such as the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and economic data from contractors, the toolkit uses the occupant questionnaire as a central tool to understand the impact of the retrofit from the occupant’s perspective.

      However, the questionnaire is untested; this research aims to explore its effectiveness and make recommendations on its development and implementation. It analyses the results from a case study retrofit project in the North of England where it was deployed by a local council.

      This research may lead to the revision of the UKGBC toolkit, which may be adopted by other organisations wishing to undertake standardised evaluations of their retrofit projects and may also be used as a reference toolkit by organisations funding retrofit to ensure their projects include consistent retrofit evaluations.

4. Building Performance, Analysis and Evaluation

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Window Maintenance Versus Replacement: A Comparative Life Cycle Analysis from Subarctic Sweden

      Liza Sällström Eriksson, Sofia Lidelöw

      Abstract

      Previous building renovation studies have evaluated the life cycle (LC) impact of replacement to new, more energy-efficient windows, comparing it to optional renovation measures and base scenarios. However, periodic maintenance to avoid replacing existing windows has attracted less attention in research and practice, especially in subarctic climates with high heating demands by buildings. The objective here is to assess the LC impact of various scenarios of maintenance and replacement of different window types on a 1980s multi-residential building in subarctic Sweden. The scenarios were compared based on estimated climate impact and costs during product and operational stages. A reference study period (RSP) of 60 years was chosen. Results show periodic maintenance of existing windows to be the preferable option regarding LC climate impact and costs. In the replacement scenarios, the reduced heating energy use affected the climate impact more than the costs. The scenarios showed varied sensitivity to changes in RSP, intervention rate and discount rate, increasing the uncertainty of the assessment. The results highlight maintenance is worth considering among property owners when deciding on renovation measures, but also in future research studies.

   3. Discrepancy in Regulatory Provisions and Practices: The Design of Public Buildings in Lahore, Pakistan

      Maria Ali, G. A. Anjum, Shaker Mahmood Mayo, John Weirs, H. Saba Islam, Talib E. Butt

      Abstract

      Lack of clarity in building regulations and associated bylaws results in poor quality building design. This is the case in Lahore, where the quality of public buildings, including sensitive buildings such as hospitals, hostels, and family homes, is compromised, particularly in relation to building environment, building comfort and building function, impacting both users and neighborhoods. This study produces an account of the implications of the planning approval process and practice for erecting public buildings by public and private developers in Lahore. It seeks first, to review and analyze regulatory provisions and prevailing practices of erecting public buildings in the city. Second, to carry out a nontechnical/social evaluation of the performance of public buildings by the end users and, third, to consolidate the technical views of officials regarding regulations/bylaws and their implementation. A mixed-method research approach is applied to capture and analyze data collected from the identified target groups. The study establishes that the building regulations/bylaws for public buildings are not sufficient and are generic in nature, therefore seeking enhancement in terms of categorical specification. There should be additional regulations/bylaws devised and introduced which consider types, purpose, and activity levels in public buildings. In terms of practice, there is a lack of appropriate building and development control in relation to the erection of public buildings. This results in low satisfaction of the end user/occupant and the public. Further research areas are indicated which can attract interest of a diverse range of researchers, practitioners, and planners related to the construction and wider built environments.

   4. Energy Performance Certificates applied to Historic Buildings: A Clash Between Method and Context

      James Ritson, Graeme D. Larsen

      Abstract

      Many of the built environment’s sustainability and carbon reduction agendas are geared toward 2050. Yet, it is estimated that up to 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have in fact, already been built. It is therefore argued that if any of the climate change goals are to be met, we need to radically reduce the carbon emissions from our existing building stock. Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are vital in the UK government’s strategy around climate change and energy use reduction within the built environment. Worryingly, an increasing amount of literature is now questioning the reliability of the data from EPCs and if it is fit for purpose. The research will focus on the group of buildings most impacted by the use of EPCs, the historic (pre-1919) housing stock. Alarmingly, some of the most effective measures of reducing carbon emissions and energy usage in historic houses have only a small impact on the EPC score a building receives. The paper aims to understand the key issues that cause a performance gap and how many historic dwellings perform much better than their EPC might suggest. The research draws upon existing literature before mobilising primary case studies and supportive datasets. Analysis and subsequent findings challenge the current rhetoric, whereby many small benign changes can have a considerable effect on reducing carbon and energy usage, and that many of the recommendations that owners of historic buildings receive on the EPC report are either, at best, far more financially costly and, at worst, extremely damaging to the historic fabric and the heritage of the dwelling. The existing EPC framework is fundamentally ineffective in accurately predicting energy and carbon usage in historic dwellings.

   5. Analysis of a Best-Fit Web-Based Carbon Assessment Tool for SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) Projects that Evaluate Operational and Embodied Carbon in Housing Stock

      Jonathon J. Nodwell, Kirsten Stevens-Wood, John R. Littlewood, Tom Addiscott, Fausto Sanna

      Abstract

      Carbon reduction has become a global priority over the last 20 years. Different sectors are looking at ways to both reduce and, to a lesser extent, offset both their embodied and operational carbon. This paper outlines the process of selecting the best-fit software to carry out life Cycle assessment (LCA) of whole buildings.

      Selection criteria were identified from three categories of data: the software performance regarding LCA, the alignment with the software selection to a project implemented by a Welsh small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME), and the utility of the software to non-experts in the LCA field. A total of 17 applicable LCA software tools were identified through a systematic literature review and an investigation of the local market. Web-based carbon assessment tools (WBCATs) catering exclusively to LCA stages (i.e., use stage) or exclusive to limited components of buildings were eliminated from consideration. Five LCA software tools were targeted for further analysis using a qualitative Likert-scale rubric along with a financial comparison using quotes provided by the software development representatives. The results of the study illustrated a prominent level of consistency in the technical qualities of the software. The highest score variance was noted in categories relating to software applications concerning project-specific attributes, specifically concerning useability by LCA non-experts and the software design aligning with building analysis. Licensing prices were similar between products but served as a decisive factor in comparing the software options. One Click LCA was identified as most congruent with the required project needs and aligned best with the financial scope of the project. OneClick selection was supported by extant literature, which highlights both the useability for non-LCA experts, and the quality of the datasets incorporated into the One Click package. The results support the importance of the project design and intended use of the WBCAT in selecting the correct software tool. In this vein there is no one best WBCAT, but there will be a best-fit dependent on design needs. This conclusion is congruent with existing literature where the selection of a WBCAT for use in a study is determined through regional, resource, and LCA parameters.

   6. Evaluating the Impact of Modern Methods of Construction on the Lifecycle Carbon Emissions of Housing: Towards Net-Zero Emission House

      Alireza Moghayedi, Abubakar Koanda

      Abstract

      Housing is one of the significant contributors to carbon emissions in the UK, estimated to account for approximately 15% of the country’s total carbon emissions. This research evaluates the lifecycle carbon emissions of various modern methods of construction (MMC), particularly category 2 premanufacturing structural panels, compared to conventional brick houses for affordable housing in the UK. The study employs the EDGE application modelling software to estimate the lifecycle carbon emissions of different construction methods and overall housing systems. The comparison of carbon emissions from the four systems reveals that modifying construction methods and materials from conventional to MMCs and local-natural materials can result in significant reductions of up to 75% during the construction phase and up to 15% during the operational phase, contributing to an overall decrease of up to 35% in the total lifecycle carbon emissions of the houses. Moreover, the research highlights that changes in construction methods have a more substantial impact on carbon emissions during the construction phase than during the operational phase. Material and construction method selection in affordable housing is identified as a critical factor significantly influencing the lifecycle carbon emissions. In conclusion, the findings emphasise the importance of adopting sustainable building materials and construction methods in affordable housing to reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions produced by the construction industry. Such measures not only contribute to lowering environmental impact but also enhance the overall sustainability of houses and households.

   7. Field Testing for Envelope Construction Quality in Social Housing: In Situ Testing of Envelope Air Leakage to Estimate Energy Consumption Between the Current and Green Models

      Rana Muhammad, Salma Allam, Hend Farouh, Marian Nessim, Khalid Yousry, Sherif Goubran

      Abstract

      Air infiltration, the exchange of outdoor air with indoor air through leaks in the building envelope, is a crucial factor that influences the energy performance of buildings. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of air infiltration in social housing units in Egypt using blower door tests and estimates its impact on energy consumption using simulation modelling. A field study was conducted on four social housing units, consisting of two conventional and two green building models. Blower door tests were performed on each unit following ISO 9972. The assessments made in four residential structures show an average air permeability of 19.52 m³/h m², the traditional units’ average air change rates at 50 Pa (ACH) were measured to be 9.22 h⁻¹. The green model, in contrast, displayed average air change rates of 7.34 h⁻¹ and 13.94 m³/h m² for air permeability. By just improving the quality of the window frame, green building models are 20% more airtight than conventional ones in terms of ACH and 28% less in air permeability. Simulation modelling was conducted to understand the impact of air infiltration on energy consumption. The measured air infiltration rates were used in the simulation models, along with climate data, thermal properties of the building envelope, and HVAC system efficiency. The simulations demonstrate that in terms of cooling loads, heating loads, overall energy consumption, and energy use intensity (EUI), the total annual electricity use in the green models was reduced by 2.3% compared to the traditional models. These findings highlight the importance of reducing air infiltration to improve energy efficiency in social housing units. In conclusion, this study underscores the significance of addressing air infiltration in social housing. It recommends the adoption of green building practices to reduce air infiltration, leading to improved energy performance and greater sustainability in social housing units.

5. Energy Behaviour and Behaviour Change

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Intermittent vs Constant Gas Central Heating Usage

      Bill George, David Farmer, Grant Henshaw, Diyar Alan, Ioannis Paraskevas, Richard Fitton

      Abstract

      The current energy crisis requires us to re-evaluate our methods of energy usage. The UK government has committed to decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet a net zero target by 2050. With approximately 24.8 million households in England and Wales (ONS, Housing, England and Wales: census 2021), it is important that residents understand how energy is utilised efficiently. Misunderstanding energy usage will negatively impact achieving the UK government’s 2050 net zero goal.

      Regarding domestic energy usage, identifying areas of consumer uncertainty and evaluating them through experimentation will educate the consumer, promoting clarity and understanding. This will assist towards achieving the UK net zero target, whilst encouraging sustainability through informed, efficient consumer energy usage.

      It was found that increasing space heating duration from 9 h/day using an SAP intermittent heating pattern to a constant 24 h/day heating pattern only increased space heating energy use by 31%. This behaviour is attributed to heating the thermal mass of elements during heating periods rather than more efficient heating system operation.

   3. Using Innovation as a Tool to Enhance Sustainable Project Outcomes

      Thanyarat Jiamdecharat, David Thorpe

      Abstract

      A significant objective of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to provide a critical framework for COVID-19 recovery. This process is achieved through 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation. Innovation, particularly in the SME industry sector, is significant in developing sustainable engineering and technological developments and practices, thus fostering positive behavioural change in industry and the community. To improve the understanding of this process during the COVID-19 pandemic, research was undertaken to investigate the association between innovation practices in SMEs to better appreciate how innovation could be effectively used to enhance SMEs’ performance during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. A literature review assessed the impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had on SMEs’ performance, the role of innovation and the factors affecting its effectiveness. Subsequently, a survey was undertaken to collect and analyse data from 43 randomly selected SME engineering organisations in Australia with respect to their innovative processes during COVID-19. The research found that product, process, marketing, or management innovations have been introduced in SMEs where the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. These findings have led to the primary conclusion that enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic introduced more innovative solutions than those not disturbed by the crisis. Furthermore, consumer behaviour and digital technology skills were confirmed to positively influence the effectiveness of innovation during the COVID-19 crisis. In conclusion, this research has demonstrated the importance of ongoing innovation in engineering organisations in times of crisis, both as an agent of change and to develop areas like positive consumer behaviour and the digital economy. Its results can, therefore, be used as a guideline on how innovation can effectively be used to enhance SME performance and thus positively impact the achievement of sustainable development.

6. Sustainability, Ethics, and Responsibility

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Are Local Authorities on the Road to Net Zero or the Road to Nowhere? A Modified Delphi Approach to Assist Smaller Local Authorities Diagnose Improvements to Net Zero Governance and Decision-Making

      Peter Gudde, Peter Cochrane, Nic Bury, Nicholas Caldwell

      Abstract

      Local authorities in the United Kingdom face significant challenges in meeting local and national Net Zero commitments. They must work within defined legal, constitutional and democratic decision-making structures but without a unifying Central Government regulatory or policy mandate or a clear and consistent governance model to achieve area-wide decarbonisation. Much of the research and evidence presented in the literature draws upon the experiences of larger urban local authorities in the single (unitary) or upper tier of the two-tier (County Council-District Council) structure, where most investment will be needed to tackle Net Zero. Building on previous research, this paper proposes the use of a modified Delphi to work towards a consensus of solutions tailored to the organisation and its local area. The approach was developed and trialled on a sample of local authorities as a way of establishing a diagnostic tool to derive a suite of solutions to improve their decision-making and local governance arrangements to deliver Net Zero programmes of work in their areas.

   3. Decarbonising the UK Research Ship Fleet: Theory Meets Practice

      Chatelier Charlene, Oyegoke Adekunle, Ajayi Saheed, Jeffries Andre

      Abstract

      The global shipping industry, responsible for about 3% of artificial carbon dioxide emissions, faces a pressing need for decarbonisation due to its significant contribution to climate change and adverse impacts on human health and the environment. To address this challenge, a stringent reduction target of 80% by 2050 has been set for the marine sector. This study aims to comprehensively examine the decarbonisation process within the UK research ship fleet, analyse its broader environmental implications, and investigate risk mitigation strategies and challenges encountered. Two main objectives guide the research: (1) Understand the decarbonising process and its environmental effects, and (2) Identify key factors influencing or impeding decarbonisation process strategies to combat global emissions. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study retrospective reviews the fleet’s decarbonisation efforts. It assesses energy efficiency in three research vessels, potentially applicable to the broader UK marine research fleet. The research findings offer valuable insights into the decarbonisation of the UK maritime research fleet, highlighting crucial drivers and barriers. Additionally, the study provides short-term and long-term strategies for the industry to reduce emissions, shedding light on the underexplored relationship between oceanography decarbonisation and energy efficiency in the global research fleet. These findings hold relevance for various applications within the maritime and transportation sectors.

7. Sustainable Cities

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Towards the European Commission’s Road Safety Goal of ‘Vision Zero’: Intended Routes of the SOTERIA Journey

      Colin A. Booth, Panagiotis Georgakis, Babis Magoutas, Gargy M. Sudhakaran, Samuel J. Abbey, Abhinesh Prabhakaran, Amalia Bozinaki, Filippos Gkountoumas, Akrivi Kiousi, Marina Georgiou, Dorine Karvouniari-Matzakou, Antonio D. Masegosa, Ander Arriandiaga, Oliva G. Cantú Ros, Jerónimo Bueno-González, Javier Burrieza-Galán, Maria Pohle, Nora Strauzenberg, Vanessa S. Hilse, Susanne T. Günther, Alex Pazuchanics, Crispian Poon, Itir Coskun, Ousmane N’Guer, Akshay Kamthe, Peter Taylor, Ruth Anderson, Katie Parnell, Jason Taylor, Nimalan Chandranesan, Harris Siakantaris, Eirini Kostavara, Orestis Davlias, Michail Maragkakis, Jayant Sangwan, Maruša Benkic, Rémy Russotto, Agis Digkas

      Abstract

      The emergence of complex urban mobility environments, where unknown interactions between different types of vulnerable road users (VRUs) and between VRUs and motorised vehicles, poses the need for a clear understanding of user behaviours, fair and optimised use of public spaces, as well as age-friendly urban safety action plans and assessments, capitalising on the benefits that technological innovations and the plethora of available data can offer in advanced accident analysis, towards achieving EU’s ‘Vision Zero’ goal of zero fatalities on European roads by 2050. The SOTERIA project aims to accelerate the attainment of this goal for VRUs through a holistic framework of innovative models, tools and services that enable data-driven road safety intelligence, facilitate safe travelling of VRUs and foster the safe integration of micro-mobility services in complex urban environments. At the operational level, the SOTERIA project uncovers unexplored behavioural characteristics of VRUs and engages Living Lab communities (based in Germany, Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom) in social innovation activities for the co-creation of urban safety solutions and infrastructure designs. Simulation models and explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytics are developed for supporting policy decisions and informing interconnected services that support VRUs in safe and clean travelling. On-vehicle sensors and connectivity are fostered enabling minimisation of risky situations and behaviours. The approach will be validated in four thematic demonstrations within the SOTERIA network of cities, addressing different types of motorised VRUs (e.g. motorcycle, e-motorcycle, moped, e-moped, e-bicycle, e-scooter, hover-board (Segway), mobility scooter riders) and non-motorised VRUs (e.g. bicycle, scooter, skateboard and horse/pony riders, wheelchair users, babies/toddlers in prams, joggers, pedestrians). This article maps out the routes and inter-linkages of the activities and investigative axes that the project will take on its journey from 2022 to 2026, plus the expected impacts that will benchmark the project’s successes.

   3. Creating Social Value by Building Extreme Low Carbon Homes

      Greg Watts, Jing Zhao

      Abstract

      The construction industry is facing numerous demands. For example, a contractor will have to ensure they achieve their cost targets and time and quality contractual obligations whilst also meeting any social value and environmental expectations. Social value is an increasingly important concept within the UK construction industry. Its importance has been reinforced by legislation, its growing weighting in public sector procurement, and the enhanced expectations of private sector stakeholders. Construction contractors therefore need to evidence their social value credentials in order to increase procurement success and meet stakeholder expectations. Addressing climate concerns is also a topic of increasing focus. Achieving extremely low-carbon buildings has been proposed as one solution to this. The problem exists that there are numerous competing contemporary demands placed upon contractors. Such demands are often arguably viewed as disparate and competing and so potentially serve to restrict evolution and innovation across all areas. Practices that address both ultra-low carbon buildings and social value simultaneously could potentially serve to reduce the competing demands placed upon contractors and lead to a more focused and productive contractor output and greater benefits for the intended recipients. The links between social value and ultra-low carbon developments have not been well explored in the literature. This lack of research potentially hinders ultra-low carbon developments from achieving social value (SV), or at least the recognition of the SV impact such developments have. The aim of this research is to critically analyse both concepts to identify areas of cross-over and consider if ultra-low carbon design can satisfy multiple stakeholder demands. The findings indicate a focus on achieving ultra-low carbon projects would lead to increased levels of social value achieved.