Retirement Villages Group (RVG) says that 鈥� thanks to offsetting 鈥� its 196-home mixed use development at West Byfleet in Surrey will be the UK鈥檚 first 鈥榥et zero carbon鈥� scheme over its whole development and operational lifespan in the later living sector.
RVG is the first developer to use UK Green Building Council鈥檚 net zero carbon buildings framework definition in this sector, it says. The embodied carbon will be offset at practical completion; the operational carbon will be offset every year.
RVG is owned by AXA IM Real Assets, part of a French insurance conglomerate. It recently announced plans to acquire and develop up to 40 new later living schemes across the UK over the next 15 years and is committed to achieving 鈥榥et zero carbon鈥� across the whole development and operational lifespans for all its projects.
鈥極ffsetting鈥� usually means handing over money to a third party agent for remote 鈥榮ave the rain forest鈥� type projects. RVG is looking closer to home.
To reach its carbon reduction goals, RVG is establishing a decarbonisation fund (which it has set at 拢70/tonne of carbon) that will offset embodied carbon from all its future developments. The offset funds will be used in decarbonisation projects across RVG's existing operational assets. For example, the removal of gas boilers and replacement with all electric heating systems that use renewable energy, as it seeks to achieve net zero carbon across their estate well in advance of the 2050 deadline.聽聽
Chief executive Will Bax said: 鈥淥ur West Byfleet project sets a benchmark that I actively encourage others to follow by looking beyond industry requirements and assessing the carbon emission of a building throughout its life.
鈥淭he past year has given us all an opportunity to step back and reflect. There is no longer a choice of whether to act, it is imperative that we all recognise the need to do more, work harder, share knowledge, collaborate, and find a way to reverse the climate tide. This is not a race worth running alone, we鈥檙e looking for partners to work with us on our journey to be net zero carbon by 2030.鈥�
聽RVG worked with consulting engineer Hoare Lea on the West Byfleet scheme and to develop its sustainability strategy across the business.
Hoare Lea partner Mark Wilkinson said: 鈥淩VG aren鈥檛 just addressing the obvious net zero energy requirements for their scheme but are embracing every aspect of sustainable design and are creating fantastic spaces for people to live.鈥�
UK Green Building Council chief executive Julie Hirigoyen added: 鈥淢ake no mistake, achieving net zero carbon for construction, and maintaining this for energy in-use, lifts the bar on expectations for developers. Investing in a transition fund to accelerate wider decarbonisation of RVG鈥檚 portfolio is additionally commendable.鈥�
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