Decarbonise Your House NOW!

Decarbonise Your House NOW! is the culmination of a year of research undertaken by Editional Studio funded by the RIBA looking at how to sustainably improve our homes. 49% of UK carbon emissions are attributed to buildings. Our homes have a huge part to play in how much energy we consume, accounting for almost 20% of carbon emissions in the UK. To put this into context, we have the poorest performing housing stock in Europe and with 80% of the buildings that exist today expected to remain in 2050 there is little alternative but to take action. This guide aims to inform you of the significant effect our buildings have on the planet and ourselves, and what you can do to improve the situation. The good news is that we know how to reduce the energy consumption of our existing homes by 90% from their current poorly-performing state. With highly insulated homes, we are then in a position to offset the remaining energy with renewable sources in order to reach Net Zero Carbon. With the added benefit of saving you money on your heating bills. Achieving this requires a step-change in how we live, invest, extend and renovate our homes. There is untapped creative potential in how we adapt and upgrade our houses; improving our built environment and well-being, adding character and using beautiful natural materials. We need to move beyond sustainable design, where we minimise the negative impact of construction, to regenerative design, where our activities restore, renew and revitalise natural systems. The question is not how, but when? The answer is most definitely NOW!